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RF PlanningGIS MappingTelecommunicationsEnterprise UXBOM AutomationCambium Networks

LINKPlanner RF Network Design & GIS Optimization

Making complex radio frequency math and terrain analysis intuitive: an interactive, map-first workspace that helps network engineers plan outdoor wireless links in minutes.

LINKPlanner Case Study Cover
LINKPlanner: Next-Generation RF Network Design & GIS Optimization Suite by Bhavin Padhiyar

Role

Lead UI/UX Architect & Product Designer

Company

Cambium Networks

Platform

Web & Cross-Platform Desktop Application

Engineering

GIS Map Engine · SVG Link Profiling · BOM Compiler

Global Scale

100,000+ Telecommunications Engineers in 150+ Countries

Timeline

2023 – Present

01 / The Problem

Taking the Headache Out of Wireless Network Planning

Planning outdoor wireless links is tough engineering work. Telecom engineers have to calculate whether two towers miles apart have a clear line of sight over hills, trees, and buildings, while accounting for rain fade and antenna angles. Even a small miscalculation can mean poor connection or complete link failure.

Historically, engineers had to bounce between separate map tools, spreadsheets, and equipment price lists, which was slow, frustrating, and prone to errors. I redesigned LINKPlanner to bring everything together on a modern, map-first canvas. Engineers can now drop towers on an interactive map, see immediate terrain cross-sections, verify line-of-sight, and automatically generate a complete parts list for ordering equipment—cutting down what used to take days into just a few minutes.

02 / Core Capabilities

Four Pillars of the Modernized LINKPlanner

01

Interactive GIS Map Canvas

Real-world satellite cartography with interactive line-of-sight ray tracing, tower coordinates, and dynamic elevation profiles.

02

Automated Bill of Materials (BOM)

Builds an accurate parts list directly from your network layout, including exact radios, brackets, cables, and surge suppressors with no missing parts.

03

Antennas & Hardware Catalog

A complete equipment catalog with multi-band radiation patterns, polarization options, and antenna height optimization.

04

Terragraph & Best Server Solvers

Smart planning tools for 60GHz Terragraph mesh networks, automatically finding the best paths and donor nodes in dense urban areas.

03 / Phase 1: Projects & Scoping

Managing Projects, Searching Sites, and Scoping Deployments

04 / Phase 2: Geospatial Mapping

Planning Links Directly on an Interactive Satellite Map

05 / Phase 3: Physics & Link Budget

Verifying Obstacles, Fresnel Zones, and Signal Budgets

06 / Phase 4: Hardware & BOM

Automated Bill of Materials & Hardware Catalog

07 / Phase 5: Solvers & Preferences

Terragraph Mesh Solvers, Best Server, and Custom Presets

08 / Try It Yourself

Interactive LINKPlanner Prototype

Click through the interactive prototype below to experience the real workflow: placing towers on the map, testing link budgets, adjusting antenna angles, and generating a bill of materials.

09 / Global Impact

Results in the Field

100k+

Network Planners

Used across 150+ countries by telecom operators

65%

Faster Planning Cycles

Designs finalized in minutes rather than days

99.8%

Order Accuracy

Zero missing mounting brackets or cables on site

4.8★

User Satisfaction

Trusted benchmark tool in the WISP community

10 / Design Philosophy

Spatial First, Numbers Follow

Telecom engineers think in physical geography. By keeping the interactive map at the core of the tool and showing live elevation profiles instantly, engineers spot terrain obstacles right away without getting bogged down in manual calculations.