Mobile Radio Propagation :

Large Scale Path Loss

The radio
propagation
channel exhibits
many different
forms of channel
impairments, as a
result of timevarying signal
reflections,
blockage and
motion.

Mobile Radio Propagation :

Large Scale Path Loss

Free Space Propagation Loss

Power levels :

Free Space Propagation Loss

The free-space path loss:

Free space propagation loss

Assumes far-field (Fraunhofer region)

d >> D and d >> , where
D is the largest linear dimension of antenna
is the carrier wavelength
No interference, no obstructions
Black board 4.2
Effective isotropic radiated power
Effective radiated power
Path loss
Fraunhofer region/far field
In log scale

Exercise
An antenna with a gain of 60 dB transmits
2kW to a satellite at 6 GHz. The satellite is at
a distance of 36000 km and receives 5nW.
Determine the satellite antenna gain. (Ans :
23 dB)

Free Space Propagation Loss

The received power predicts to fall 6dB when

the distance to the transmitter is double (or
10dB per decade). The loss increases by 6dB
if the frequency is double.
Different from practical observation! Need to
improve the model.

Free Space Propagation Loss

Free Space Propagation Loss

Reflection, diffraction and scattering are the

three major causes which impact propagation
in a mobile communication system.

Radio Propagation Mechanisms

Reflection
Conductors & Dielectric materials (refraction)
Propagation wave impinges on an object which is large as
compared to wavelength
- e.g., the surface of the Earth, buildings, walls, etc.
Diffraction
Fresnel zones
Radio path between transmitter and receiver obstructed by
surface with sharp irregular edges
Waves bend around the obstacle, even when LOS (line of
sight) does not exist
Scattering
Objects smaller than the wavelength of the
propagation wave
- e.g. foliage, street signs, lamp posts
Clutter is small relative to wavelength

Reflection

Perfect conductors reflect with no attenuation

Dielectrics reflect a fraction of incident energy

Like light to the mirror

Grazing angles reflect max*
Steep angles transmit max*
Like light to the water

Reflection induces 180 phase shift

Why? See yourself in the mirror

qr
qt

Reflection

Reflection coefficient of ground

(a) vertical polarization (v) or E field in the plane of

incidence.
(b) horizontal polarization (h) or E field
perpendicular to the incident plane

Reflection from smooth surface

0 r j '

Reflection

Reflection

Reflection

Reflection coefficients

Equation 4.26, example 4.4, Brewster angle,

perfect conductors

Reflection coefficients

A dielectric material is a substance that is a

poor conductor of electricity, but an efficient
supporter of electrostatic fields.
For earth, at frequency 100MHz

Propagation over smooth plane

The received signal is the phase sum of the

direct wave and the reflected wave from the
plane (2-ray model).

Propagation over smooth plane

One

line of sight and one ground bound

Method of image

Propagation over smooth plane

Propagation over smooth plane

Propagation over smooth plane

Propagation over smooth plane

Diffraction occurs when waves hit the edge of an obstacle

Diffraction

Secondary waves propagated into the shadowed region

Water wave example

Diffraction is caused by the propagation of secondary wavelets into
a shadowed region.
Excess path length results in a phase shift
The field strength of a diffracted wave in the shadowed region is the
vector sum of the electric field components of all the secondary
wavelets in the space around the obstacle.
Huygens principle: all points on a wavefront can be considered as
point sources for the production of secondary wavelets, and that
these wavelets combine to produce a new wavefront in the direction
of propagation.

Diffraction

Estimating the signal attenuation caused by

diffraction of radio waves over hills and
buildings is essential in predicting the field
strength in a given service area. It is
mathematically difficult to make very precise
estimates of the diffraction losses over
complex and irregular terrian. Some cases
have been derived, such as propagation over
a knife-edge object.

Diffraction

Diffraction geometry

Derive of equation 4.54-4.57

Diffraction geometry

Diffraction geometry

Fresnel-Kirchoff distraction parameters, 4.56

Diffraction

Diffraction

Fresnel Screens

Fresnel zones relate phase shifts to the positions of obstacles

Equation 4.58
A rule of thumb used for line-of-sight microwave links 55% of the
first Fresnel zone is kept clear.

Fresnel diffraction geometry

Knife-edge diffraction

Fresnel integral, 4.59

Knife-edge diffraction loss

Gain
Exam. 4.7
Exam. 4.8

Multiple knife-edge diffraction

Multiple Knife-edge diffraction : For the presence of two

knife edges, replace it by an equivalent knife edge.

Scattering

Rough surfaces
Lamp posts and trees, scatter all directions

Critical height for bumps is f(,incident angle), 4.62

Smooth if its minimum to maximum protuberance h is less
than critical height.
Scattering loss factor modeled with Gaussian distribution,
4.63, 4.64.
Nearby metal objects (street signs, etc.)
Usually modeled statistically
Large distant objects
Analytical model: Radar Cross Section (RCS)
Bistatic radar equation, 4.66

It is therefore expected that the received

signal is stronger than predicted from
reflection and diffraction models alone.

Measured results

Measured results

Propagation Models

Large scale models predict behavior averaged

over distances >>

Function of distance & significant environmental

features, roughly frequency independent
Breaks down as distance decreases
Useful for modeling the range of a radio system and
rough capacity planning,
Experimental rather than the theoretical for previous
three models
Path loss models, Outdoor models, Indoor models

Small scale (fading) models describe signal

variability on a scale of

Multipath effects (phase cancellation) dominate,

path attenuation considered constant
Frequency and bandwidth dependent
Focus is on modeling Fading: rapid change in
signal over a short distance or length of time.

Log Distance Path Loss Models

Log Distance Path Loss Models

Log Distance Path Loss Models

Log Distance Path Loss Models

Typical large-scale path loss

For Example
Sometime

different values are used for n

depending on the distance from the transmitter.

For Example

For Example
n does not directly reflect the strength of the received power

Log-Normal Shadowing Model

Shadowing occurs when objects block LOS

between transmitter and receiver
A simple statistical model can account for
unpredictable shadowing

PL(d)(dB)=PL(d)+X0,
Add a 0-mean Gaussian RV to Log-Distance PL
Variance is usually from 3 to 12.
Reason for Gaussian

Measured large-scale path loss

Determine n and by mean and variance
Equ. 4.70
Equ. 4.72
Basic of Gaussian
distribution

Area versus Distance coverage model with

shadowing model
Percentage for
SNR larger than
a threshold
Equ. 4.79
Exam. 4.9

Okumura
Model
The major disadvantage with the model is its low response to rapid

changes in terrain, therefore the model is fairly good in urban areas,

but not as good in rural areas.
Common standard deviations between predicted and measured path
loss values are around 10 to 14 dB.
G(hre)

hte
G (hte ) 20 log

200

1000m hte 30 m

hre
G (hre ) 10 log
3

hre 3 m

hre
G (hre ) 20 log
3

10m hre 3 m

Okumura and Hatas model

Example 4.10

Hata
Model
Empirical formulation of the graphical data in the Okamura model.

Valid 150MHz to 1500MHz, Used for cellular systems

The following classification was used by Hata:
LdB A B log d E
Urban area
Suburban area
LdB A B log d C
Open area
L A B log d D
dB

A 69.55 26.16 log f 13.82hb

B 44.9 6.55 log hb

C 2(log( f / 28)) 2 5.4

D 4.78 log( f / 28) 2 18.33 log f 40.94

E 3.2(log( 11.75hm )) 2 4.97

for large cities, f 300MHz

E 8.29(log( 1.54hm )) 2 1.1

for large cities, f 300MHz

E (1.11log f 0.7)hm (1.56 log f 0.8) for medium to small cities

PCS Extension of Hata Model

COST-231 Hata Model, European standard

Higher frequencies: up to 2GHz
Smaller cell sizes
Lower antenna heights

LdB F B log d E G

F 46.3 33.9 log f 13.82 log hb

f >1500MHz

3 Metropolitan centers
G Medium sized city and suburban areas
0

EE 552/452 Spring 2007