In microwave links, radios can control their power in two main ways:
- ATPC
- RTPC
ATPC – Automatic Transmit Power Control
ATPC is a smart system that helps the radio decide how much power to send.
Imagine two radios talking to each other.
One radio is listening to the signal. It checks if the signal is strong and clear.
- If the signal becomes weak, it tells the other radio:
“Please send a little more power.” - If the signal is strong enough, it says:
“You can send less power.”
So the radio increases or decreases power little by little (very small steps).
This helps the link stay stable and clear.
ATPC also tries to keep the power as low as possible, only increasing it when needed.
This saves energy and reduces interference with other radios.
RTPC – Receive Threshold Power Control
RTPC works in a similar way, but it focuses on keeping the signal above a minimum level.
Think of it like this:
- If the signal drops close to a danger level, the radio increases power.
- If the signal is much stronger than needed, the radio reduces power.
This keeps the microwave link safe and reliable without always using maximum power.
RTPC is very useful in places where the signal can change, for example:
- During heavy rain
- In very long microwave links
- In places with many microwave radios nearby
By adjusting the power automatically, RTPC helps keep the connection working well all the time. 
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