NETW701

Wireless Communications
Dr. Wassim Alexan
Winter 2018

Lecture 5
 NETW705

Mobile Communication
Networks
Dr. Wassim Alexan
Winter 2018

Lecture 5

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 Outdoor Propagation Models
◆ Radio transmission in mobile communications systems often takes place over
irregular terrain

◆ The land profile of a particular area needs to be taken into account for estimating the
path–loss

◆ Such a profile may vary from a simple curved earth profile to a highly mountainous
profile

◆ The presence of trees, buildings and other obstacles must also be taken into account

◆ A number of propagation models is available to predict the path loss over irregular
terrain

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 Outdoor Propagation Models
◆ Examples of such models are:

◆ Longley–Rice model

◆ Durkin’s model

◆ Okumura’s model

◆ Hata model

◆ PCS extension to Hata model

◆ Walfisch and Bertoni model

◆ Wideband PCS Microcell model

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 Okumura’s Model
◆ This is one of the most widely used models for signal predictions in urban and
suburban mobile communications areas

◆ It is applicable for frequencies ranging from 150 MHz to 1920 MHz (but typically
extrapolated up to 3000 MHz)

◆ It covers distances ranging from 1 km to 100 km and for ht and hr in the range of 30
m to 1000 m

◆ The model is based on empirical data collected in detailed propagation tests over
various situations of irregular terrain and environmental clutter in Tokyo

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 Okumura’s Model
◆ Okumura’s model is expressed as

L50 = L f + Amu( f , d) - G(hte) - G(hre) - GAREA (1)

◆ L50 is the 50th percentile value of the propagation path loss

◆ L f is the free space propagation path loss

◆ Amu( f , d) is the median attenuation relative to free space

◆ G(hte) is the base station antenna height gain factor

◆ G(hre) is the mobile antenna height gain factor

◆ GAREA is the gain due to the type of environment (correction factor)

◆ Once the terrain–related parameters are calculated, further necessary correction

factors can be added or subtracted

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 Okumura’s Model: Amu Curves

Fig. 1. Median attenuation relative to free space (Amu( f, d)), over a quasi–smooth terrain.
(Rappaport, Wireless Communications: Principles and Practice, 2nd edition)

◆ Amu is determined from Fig. 1 for different frequencies

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 Okumura’s Model: GAREA Curves

Fig. 2. Correction factor, GArea, for different types of terrain.

(Rappaport, Wireless Communications: Principles and Practice, 2nd edition)

◆ GAREA is determined from Fig. 2 for different frequencies

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 Okumura’s Model: Height Gain Factors
◆ The height gain factors are given by

hte
G(hte) = 20 log  → 30 m < hte < 1000 m ( 2)
200

hre
G(hre) = 10 log  → hre ≤ 3 m (3)
3

hre
G(hre) = 20 log  → 3 m < hre ≤ 10 m (4)
3

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 Exercise 1
Find the median path loss using Okumura’s model for d = 50 km, hte = 100 m and
hre = 10 m in a suburban environment. If the base station transmitter radiates an effec-
tive isotropic radiated power (EIRP) of 1 kW at a carrier frequency of 900 MHz, find
the power at the receiver.

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 Exercise 1 Solution
The free space path loss can be calculated as
2
λ2 3 × 108  900 × 106
L f = 10 log  = 10 log = 114.5 dB
(4 π)2 d2 (4 π)2 × (50 × 103)2

From the Okumura curves

Amu(900 MHz , 50 km) = 43 dB

and
GAREA = 9 dB

Using equations (2) and (4), we have

hte 100
G(hte) = 20 log  = 20 log  = - 6 dB
200 200

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 Exercise 1 Solution
and
hre 10
G(hre) = 20 log  = 20 log  = 10.46 dB
3 3

Using equation (1), the total mean path loss is

L50 = L f + Amu( f , d) - G(hte) - G(hre) - GAREA

= 114.5 dB + 43 dB - (- 6) dB - 10.46 dB - 9 dB
= 144.04 dB

Therefore, the median received power is

Pr(d) = EIRP(dBm) - L50(dB)

= 60 dBm - 144.04 dB
= - 84.04 dBm

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 Hata Model
◆ The Hata model is a Japanese empirical formulation of the graphical path loss data
provided by Okumura

◆ It is valid for frequencies ranging from 150 MHz to 1500 MHz

◆ Hata presented the urban area propagation loss as a standard formula and supplied
correction equations for the application to other situations

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 Hata Model
◆ The standard formula for the median path loss in urban areas is given by Hata in dB
as

L50(urban) = 69.55 + 26.16 log fc - 13.82 log hte - a(hre) + (44.9 - 6.55 log hte) log d ( 5)

◆ L50 is the median (middle) value or the 50th median (percentile) value of the
propagation path loss

◆ fc is the carrier frequency in MHz

◆ hte is the effective transmitter (base station) height, ranging from 30 m to 200 m

◆ hre is the effective receiver (mobile) height, ranging from 1 m to 10 m

◆ d is the T–R separation in km

◆ a(hre) is the correction factor for effective mobile antenna height

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 Hata Model
◆ For a small to medium sized city, the mobile antenna correction factor is given in dB
by

a(hre) = (1.1 log ( fc) - 0.7) hre - (1.56 log ( fc) - 0.8) (6)

◆ While for a large city, it is given by

a(hre) = 8.29 (log (1.54 hre))2 - 1.1 for fc ≤ 300 MHz ( 7)

a(hre) = 3.2 (log (11.75 hre))2 - 4.97 for fc > 300 MHz ( 8)

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 Hata Model
◆ To obtain the path loss in a suburban area, the standard Hata formula in (5) is
modified to

fc 2
L50(suburban) = L50(urban) - 2 log  - 5.4 (9)
28

◆ While for path loss in open rural areas, the formula in (5) is modified to

L50(rural) = L50(urban) - 4.78 (log fc)2 + 18.33 log fc - 40.94 (10)

◆ Hata model is well–suited for large cell mobile systems but not personal
communication systems (PCS) which have cells on the order of 1 km in radius

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 Exercise 2
Find the median path loss using the Hata model for d = 2.3 km, hte = 180 m and
hre = 3 m, for wireless communication taking place in Cairo at a frequency of 870
MHz. How would your answer change if such wireless communication took place in El
Ain El Sukhna instead?

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 Exercise 2 Solution
◆ For the wireless communication taking place in Cairo at a frequency of 870 MHz and
hre = 3 m, we use the appropriate correction factor

a(hre) = 3.2 (log (11.75 hre))2 - 4.97 for fc > 300 MHz
a(3) = 3.2 (log (11.75 × 3))2 - 4.97 (11)

= 2.6899

◆ Then, we use the standard formula for the median path loss in urban areas, with
hte = 180 m and d = 2.3 km

L50(urban) = 69.55 + 26.16 log fc - 13.82 log hte - a(hre) + (44.9 - 6.55 log hte) log d
= 69.55 + 26.16 log 870 - 13.82 log 180 - a(3) + (44.9 - 6.55 log 180) log 2.3
(12)
= 69.55 + 26.16 log 870 - 13.82 log 180 - 2.6899 + (44.9 - 6.55 log 180) log 2.3
= 123.49 dB

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 Exercise 2 Solution
◆ For the wireless communication taking place in El Ain El Sukhna at a frequency of
870 MHz and hre = 3 m, we use the appropriate correction factor

a(hre) = (1.1 log( fc) - 0.7) hre - (1.56 log fc - 0.8)

a(3) = (1.1 log(870) - 0.7) 3 - (1.56 log 870 - 0.8) (13)

= 3.8148

◆ Then, we use the standard formula for the median path loss in rural areas, with
hte = 180 m and d = 2.3 km

L50(rural) = L50(urban) - 4.78 (log fc)2 + 18.33 log fc - 40.94

= (69.55 + 26.16 log fc - 13.82 log hte - a(hre) + (44.9 - 6.55 log hte) log d) -
4.78 (log fc)2 + 18.33 log fc - 40.94
= (69.55 + 26.16 log 870 - 13.82 log 180 - a(3) + (44.9 - 6.55 log 180) log 2.3) -
4.78 (log 870)2 + 18.33 log 870 - 40.94
(14)

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 = (69.55 + 26.16 log 870 - 13.82 log 180 - 3.81478 +
(44.9 - 6.55 log 180) log 2.3) - 4.78 (log 870)2 + 18.33 log 870 - 40.94
=
94.002
dB

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 PCS Extension to the Hata Model
◆ This is a European extended version of the Hata model, specifically developed for the
2 GHz range

L50(urban) =
(15)
46.3 + 33.9 log fc - 13.82 log hte - a(hre) + (44.9 - 6.55 log hte) log d + CM

◆ Where the mobile antenna correction factor a(hre) was already defined in equations
(9), (10) and (11)

◆ fc is the carrier frequency, ranging from 1500 MHz to 2000 MHz

◆ hte is the effective transmitter height, ranging from 30 m to 200 m

◆ hre is the effective transmitter height, ranging from 1 m to 10 m

◆ d is the T–R separation, ranging from 1 km m to 20 km

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 ◆ CM = {0, 3} dB for {medium sized city and suburban areas, metropolitan centers}

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 Indoor Propagation Models
◆ The proliferation of WiFi, Bluetooth and later introduction of smart home and IoT
devices has led to a burst of indoor wireless communications

◆ The indoor radio channel differs from the traditional mobile radio channel in a
number of aspects:

◆ They have much smaller distances

◆ They have much greater variability of the environment for a much smaller range of
T–R separation distances

◆ It becomes much more difficult to insure far–field radiation

◆ A number of propagation models is available to predict the path loss over irregular
terrain

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 Indoor Propagation Models
◆ Signal propagation within buildings is strongly affected by specific features such as

◆ The building layout

◆ The construction materials used in the buildings

◆ Building type

◆ Open/closed doors

◆ Location of antennas

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 Indoor Propagation Models
◆ Examples of such models are:

◆ Partition Losses (same floor)

◆ Partition Losses (between floors)

◆ Log–distance Path Loss model

◆ Ericsson Multiple Breakpoint Model

◆ Attenuation Factor Model

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 Partition Losses on the Same Floor
◆ Buildings have a wide variety of partitions and obstacles which form the internal and
external structure

◆ Office buildings have large open areas and the offices are separated by moveable
partitions. Often, metal reinforced concrete between floors are used

◆ The buildings at the GUC also have moveable partitions, but the main structure is
made of steel beams

◆ Partitions vary widely in their physical and electrical characteristics, making it

difficult to apply general models to specific indoor installations

◆ Extensive databases of losses for a large number of partitions are performed as

shown in Table 1 (next slide)

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 Partition Losses on the Same Floor

Table 1. Average signal loss measurements reported by various researchers for radio paths obstructed by common building materials.
(Rappaport, Wireless Communications: Principles and Practice, 2nd edition)

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 Partition Losses Between Floors
◆ Losses between floors of a building are determined by the external dimensions and
materials of the building, as well as the type of constructions used to create the floors
and the external surroundings

◆ The number of windows in a building and the presence of tinting (which attenuates
radio energy) can impact the loss between floors

◆ Table 2 (next slide) shows values for floor attenuation factors (FAF) in buildings

◆ It is clear that the attenuation through a single floor is greater than the incremental
attenuation caused by each additional floor

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 Partition Losses Between Floors

Table 2. Average floor attenuation factor in dB for 1, 2, 3 and 4 floors in two office buildings.
(Rappaport, Wireless Communications: Principles and Practice, 2nd edition)

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 Log–Distance Path Loss Model
◆ This model shows that indoor path loss can be near–perfectly modeled using the log–
normal shadowing model, which we used before, as

d
PL(d) = PL(d) + Xσ = PL(d0) + 10 n log  + Xσ (16)
d0

◆ Such that the value of n depends on the surroundings and building type

◆ Xσ is a normal RV in dB having a SD of σ dB

◆ Typical values for various buildings are provided in Table 3 (next slide)

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 Log–Distance Path Loss Model
σ

Table 3. Path loss exponent and standard deviation measured in different buildings.
(Rappaport, Wireless Communications: Principles and Practice, 2nd edition)

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 Attenuation Factor Model
◆ This is an in–building propagation model that includes

◆ The effect of building type

◆ Variations caused by obstacles

◆ This model reduces the SD between measured and predicted path loss to around 4 dB
compared to 13 dB when only the log–distance model is used

d
PL(d) = PL(d0) + 10 nSF log  + FAF + ΣPAF (17)
d0

◆ nSF represents the path loss exponent for the same floor measurements

◆ FAF represents the floor attenuation factor (selected from Table 2)

◆ PAF represents the partition attenuation factor for a specific obstruction encountered
by a ray drawn between the Tx and the Rx

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 Attenuation Factor Model
◆ FAF may be replaced by an exponent that accounts for the effects of multiple floor
separations

d
PL(d) = PL(d0) + 10 nMF log  + ΣPAF (18)
d0

◆ nMF represents the path loss exponent based on measurements through multiple
floors

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