Wireless communication and Netorking

Characteristics of wireless channels and propagation path loss models

Lecture-1
Mobile Radio wave propagation
Large scale Path loss
Long term slow variation in the mean
signal level caused by the mobile unit
moving between Tx-Rx
Small Scale fading or fading
Rapid fluctuations of the received signal
strength over very short distance
Free space propagation
model
Used to predict received signal strength
when the transmitter and receiver have
a clear, unobstructed line of sight path
between them
Satellite communication systems and
microwave line-of-sight radio links
typically undergo free space
propagation.
The free space model predicts that
received power decays as a function of
the T-R separation distance raised to
some power (i.e. a power law function).

Fig. 1 Small scale and large scale fading

The free space power received by
a receiver antenna which is
separated from a radiating
transmitter antenna by a
distance d, is given by the Friis
free space equation,
where
Pt = Tx power (W)
G = Tx or Rx antenna gain (unitless)
relative to isotropic source (ideal antenna which
radiates power uniformly in all directions)
Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP)
EIRP = PtGt
Represents the max. radiated power available
from a Tx in the direction of max. antenna
gain, as compare to an isotropic radiator
 = wavelength = c / f (m).
L = system losses (antennas, transmission lines between
equipment and antennas, atmosphere, etc.)
unitless
L = 1 for zero loss
L > 1 in general
d = T-R separation distance (m)
Signal fades in proportion to d2
We can view signal strength as related to the
density of the signal across a large sphere.
This is the surface area of a sphere with radius d.
So, a term in the denominator is related to distance
and density of surface area across a sphere.
Basic Propagation Mechanisms
There are three basic propagation
mechanisms in addition to line-of-sight
paths
Reflection
Diffraction
Scattering
Reflection
occurs when a propagating electromagnetic wave impinges
upon an object which has very large dimensions when
compared to the wavelength of the propagating wave.
Reflections occur from the surface of the earth and from
buildings and walls.
Diffraction
occurs when the radio path between the transmitter and
receiver is obstructed by a surface that has sharp
irregularities (edges). The secondary waves resulting from
the obstructing surface are present throughout the space
and even behind the obstacle, giving rise to a bending of
waves around the obstacle, even when a line-of-sight path
does not exist between transmitter and receiver.
Scattering
occurs when the medium through which the wave
travels consists of objects with dimensions that are
small compared to the wavelength, and where the
number of obstacles per unit volume is large.
Scattered waves are produced by rough surfaces,
small objects, or by other irregularities in the channel.
In practice, foliage, street signs, and lamp posts
induce scattering in a mobile
communications system.
Small Scale fading or fading
It is the rapid fluctuation of the
amplitude of the radio signal over a
short period of time or travel distance.
Fading is caused by interference
between two or more versions of the
transmitted signal that arrive at the
receiver at slightly different times.
These waves are known as multipath
waves.
Small scale fading effects
Multipath in the radio channel creates
small scale fading effects
o Rapid changes in signal strength over a small
travel distance
o Random frequency modulation due to varying
doppler shifts on different multipath signals
o Time dispersion (echoes) caused by multipath
delays
Factors influencing small scale
fading
Multipath propagation
Speed of the mobile
Speed of surrounding objects
Transmission bandwidth of the signal
Multipath propagation
The presence of reflecting objects and
scatterers in the channel creates a constantly
changing environment that dissipates the
signal energy in amplitude, phase, and time.
These effects result in multiple versions of the
transmitted signal that arrive at the receiving
antenna, displaced with respect to one
another in time and spatial orientation. The
random phase and amplitudes of the different
multipath components cause fluctuations in
signal strength, thereby inducing small-scale
fading, signal distortion, or both.
Multipath propagation
Speed of the mobile
The relative motion between the base
station and the mobile results in
random frequency modulation due to
different Doppler shifts on each of the
multipath components. Doppler shift
will be positive or negative depending
on whether the mobile receiver is
moving toward or away from the base
station.
Speed of surrounding objects
If objects in the radio channel are in motion,
they induce a time varying Doppler shift on
multipath components. If the surrounding
objects move at a greater rate than the
mobile, then this effect dominates the small-
scale fading. Otherwise, motion of
surrounding objects may be ignored, and
only the speed of the mobile need be
considered.
Different types of transmitted signals undergo
different types of fading depending upon the relation
between the
Signal Parameters: Bandwidth, Symbol Period
&
Channel Parameters: RMS Delay Spread,
Doppler Spread
In any mobile radio channel a wave can be
dispersed either in Time or in Frequency.
These time and frequency dispersion mechanisms
lead to four possible distinct effects which depend
on the nature of transmitted signal, the channel and
the velocity.
 Fading Channel

Large-scale Fading Small-scale Fading

Path Loss Shadowing Effect Multipath Doppler

Delay Spread Spread

Propagation Mobile Speed

Environment
Flat Frequency Fast Slow
Fading Selective Fading Fading
Fading
High Doppler spread Low Doppler spread
Signal BW << Channel BW Signal BW > Channel BW
Symbol period > Coherence Symbol period << Coherence
Symbol period < Delay spread
Symbol period >> Delay spread
Time Time
Signal variation < Channel Signal variation >>Channel
variation variation
Thank you all for being patient
listener..!!!