How to Calculate Antenna and Cable Needs for Your Warehouse Radio System

From Guesswork to Precision

Installing a professional radio system in your warehouse is a game-changer for operational efficiency. But one question stops many managers in their tracks: "How much equipment do I actually need?" Guessing can lead to costly overrouting or frustrating dead zones.

The good news is, you can move from uncertainty to a solid, data-backed estimate. This guide provides a straightforward, step-by-step approach to calculating the key components for your system: antennas and cable. By the end, you'll have a clear idea of your requirements, making you better prepared to purchase and plan your installation.

Step 1: Plan Cable Routing and Calculate Length

Coaxial cable is the signal transmission channel connecting central equipment and individual antennas. Its length and quality directly affect signal performance.

Cable Types and Loss:

1/2” Cable: Commonly used choice; approximately 5dB loss per 100 feet at 400MHz.

7/8” Cable: Better suited for long-distance transmission; approximately 3dB loss per 100 feet.

How to Calculate Cable Length:

Draw the Path: On the floor plan, draw the exact path of the cable from the equipment room to each antenna. Remember that cables are typically laid along ceilings and walls, not in straight lines.

Measure the Length of Each Cable: Measure the length of each antenna cable to scale with the drawing.

Pro Tip: Centralizing signal amplifier placement helps minimize average cable length and reduce signal loss.

Step 2: Step 2: Determine the Number and Location of Antennas

The goal is to ensure that any location within the warehouse is within the effective range of the antennas.

Key Metric: Coverage Radius

With our standard indoor antennas, in environments with moderate obstructions, the effective coverage radius is approximately 65 feet 20 meters (20 meters). In areas with very high density of metal shelving, a conservative estimate of the coverage radius should be 50 feet (15 meters).

Simplified Calculation Method:

① Obtain Your Floor Plan: Use CAD drawings of the warehouse or a simple scaled-down layout.

② Draw a Map: Draw overlapping “coverage circles” on the floor plan with a radius of 25 meters. Start from the proposed location of the repeater/equipment room and extend outwards.

③ Formula:

Estimated Antenna Count ≈ (Total Area to Cover) / (π × (Coverage Radius)²)

Practical Example：

For a rectangular warehouse measuring 350 ft x 150 ft (≈106 m x 45 m):
Total Area = 52,500 sq ft (≈4,770 sq m)
Coverage Area per Antenna (65 ft radius) ≈ 3.14 × (65)² ≈ 13,266.5 sq m
Theoretical Antenna Count ≈ 52,500 / 13,266.5 ≈ 3.95 antennas.

Real-world Testing:

This theoretical figure is only a minimum. In reality, you need to consider more factors:

① Signal Obstruction: Place antennas along aisles, not directly on top of sturdy shelves.

Complex Layout: Offices, mezzanines, and cold storage require their own dedicated antennas.

② Redundancy: Overlapping coverage ensures no single point of failure. ③ For this warehouse example, a more realistic number of antennas would be 5-7.

Step 3: Consider Couplers

You don't need to lay separate cables from the repeater to each antenna. You can use a splitter to efficiently distribute the signal.

Couplers: Used to "spin off" a small amount of signal from the main line to feed the antennas, while allowing most of the power to continue along the line. Each antenna branch requires a coupler.

Tips：An omnidirectional indoor antenna is typically connected by a 3-way coupler.

Integrating All Steps: A Simple Checklist

①Gather Information: Obtain a scaled-down warehouse layout diagram.

②Trace Cables: Draw and measure the cable paths leading to each antenna.

③Calculate Total Cable Length: Add up the lengths of all cables, adding an extra 10% margin.

④Draw Antenna Diagram: Place and count the number of antennas within a 65ft radius, considering the impact of obstacles.

⑤Determine Splitter Locations: Mark the locations of the required power dividers and couplers on the floor plan.

Your Blueprint for Success

By following these steps, you can transform a complex project into a manageable plan. You'll be able to generate a preliminary equipment list and budget with confidence, understanding exactly why you need each component.

Let Us Do the Math For You!

While these calculations give you a great starting point, every warehouse is unique. Why risk it?
Our experts offer a FREE warehouse radio system plan. Send us your layout, and we will provide a customized diagram with antenna locations, cable length estimates, and a complete equipment list.