Which Radio? — LinkZoneTools

⚠ Please Read Before Using

LinkZoneTools LLC · Radio Selector · Terms of Use

📋 Reference Only

This Radio Selector provides general guidance based on your answers. It is not a professional engineering recommendation. Radio selection depends on many site-specific factors not captured by this questionnaire. Always verify suitability with the manufacturer and a qualified RF engineer before procurement.

⚠ Estimated Specifications

Specifications shown for non-Proxim radios are estimated from published datasheets. Proxim specs are verified against manufacturer datasheets as of June 2026. All specifications are subject to change without notice. Verify current specs before purchasing.

⚖ No Warranty

LINKZONETOOLS LLC PROVIDES THIS TOOL "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY. USE OF THIS TOOL'S RECOMMENDATIONS DOES NOT OBLIGATE LINKZONETOOLS LLC FOR ANY OUTCOME. THE USER ASSUMES ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR EQUIPMENT SELECTION AND PROCUREMENT DECISIONS.

I understand this tool provides general guidance only. I will independently verify radio suitability and specifications before making any procurement decision.

Which Radio Should I Use?

📡 Which Radio Should I Use?

Answer a few questions about your deployment and we'll recommend the best-fit radios from our verified database.

📖 How the Radio Selector Works

What does this tool do?

This wizard helps you figure out which wireless radio is the best match for your project — without needing to be an RF engineer. You answer six plain-language questions about what you need, and the tool compares your answers against a verified database of radios from Proxim, Cambium, and Mimosa to suggest the top matches.

The six questions explained

Link type (PtP vs PtMP): Are you connecting exactly two locations (tower to tower = Point-to-Point), or one base station serving many customers (like a cell tower = Point-to-Multipoint)?
Distance: How far apart are the two sites in a straight line?
Throughput: How much data per second needs to flow across the link? More cameras and users = more throughput needed.
Frequency: Unlicensed (like Wi-Fi) is free to use but can get crowded. Licensed frequencies cost money to coordinate but are legally protected from interference.
Environment: A city rooftop has lots of buildings blocking the signal. A farm field doesn't. This affects which radios work best.
Priority: Are you most worried about cost, speed, reliability, or getting online fast?

What do the results mean?

The tool ranks radios by how well they match your answers. The #1 result is the closest match — but always check the specs carefully. Use the Link Budget Calculator button on each result to verify the radio can actually close the link at your specific distance.

💡 Good to know: This tool gives you a starting point, not a final answer. A qualified RF engineer or your equipment distributor should confirm the right choice before you order anything.

Scoring Algorithm

Each radio in the database is scored against your six answers using a weighted point system:

Topology: Hard filter — topology mismatch immediately eliminates the radio (score = -1)
Distance: 30 pts for exact match, 15 pts for one tier adjacent (e.g. you need "mid", radio is "short"), hard fail if too far outside range
Throughput: 25 pts exact match, 10 pts one tier over-spec, no penalty for higher-capacity radios
Frequency: 25 pts match, -10 pts mismatch, 15 pts if user selects "any"
Environment: 15 pts if environment tag matches
Priority: 20 pts if priority tag matches
Verified specs: 5 pt bonus for radios with manufacturer-verified specs

Top 3 radios by score are returned. Maximum achievable score is approximately 120 pts.

Radio Database

Current database includes 10 verified radios: Proxim Stratum X1/X3/X5, GX60, GX80 (verified against Proxim datasheets June 2026); Cambium PTP 550, ePMP 3000; Mimosa B6x, C6x (verified June 2026). The 6 GHz Stratum X3 AFC variant and Mimosa B6x/C6x are noted as pending USA outdoor approval.

Propagation Assumptions

The selector is frequency-band aware but does not compute link budgets — use the Link Budget Calculator or Wireless Link Calculator for that. Distance categories map to rough operational ranges assuming clear LOS at recommended antenna heights. The "environment" dimension maps to interference risk and obstruction profile, not to specific propagation models.

Limitations

Database is limited to Proxim, Cambium, and Mimosa — not a comprehensive market survey
Regulatory licensing requirements, country-specific spectrum rules, and interference environment are not modelled
No rain fade, multipath, or Fresnel zone analysis — use the full link budget tools for that
Specs marked "Estimated" are derived from published datasheets but not independently measured

📋 Standard reference: Scoring weights are qualitative engineering judgement, not derived from ITU or IEEE standards. Always validate recommendations with a full ITU-R P.530 link availability analysis for SLA-grade deployments.

⚠ Important: These recommendations are based on your answers and general radio characteristics from our database. Many factors not captured here — terrain, interference environment, regulatory requirements, budget, existing equipment compatibility — affect the best choice for your specific deployment. Use the Link Budget Calculator to verify the recommended radio on your specific path before purchasing. Always confirm current pricing and availability with your distributor.