Mobile Radio Propagation

 Mobile radio channel is an important factor in

wireless systems.

 Wired channels are stationary and

predictable, while radio channels are random
and have complex models.

 Modeling of radio channels is done in

statistical fashion based on receiver
measurements.
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 Types of propagation models
 Large scale propagation models
 To predict the average signal strength at a

given distance from the transmitter

 Controlled by signal decay with distance

 Small scale or fading models.

 To predict the signal strength at close

distance to a particular location

 Controlled by multipath and Doppler

effects.
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 Radio signal pattern
-30
Received Power (dBm)

-40

-50

-60

-70
14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28
T-R Separation (meters)
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 Measured signal parameters
 Electrical Field (Volts/m)
Magnitude E = IEI
Vector
Direction E = xEx + yEy + zEz
 Power (Watts or dBm)

Power is scalar quantity and easier to

measure.
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 Relation between Watts and dBm
 P (dBm) = 10 log10 [ P (mW)]

P(mW) P(dBm)
10 10
1 0
10-1 -10
10-2 -20
10-6 -60

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 Physical propagation models
 Free Space Propagation
 Transmitter/receiver have clear LOS (Line Of

Sight) path
 Reflection
 Wave reaches receiver after reflection off surfaces

larger than wavelength

 Diffraction
 Wave reaches receiver by bending at sharp edges

(peaks) or curved surfaces (earth).

 Scattering
 Wave reaches receiver after bouncing off objects

smaller than wavelength (snow, rain)

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 Free Space Propagation
 Transmitter and receiver have clear,
unobstructed LOS path between them.

(Courtesy: webbroadband.blogspot.com)
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 LOS (Friis) transmission equation
Pr = Pt Gt Gr 2
(4)2 d2 L
Pt = Transmitted Power (W)
Pr = Received Power (W)
Gt = Transmitter antenna gain
Gr = Receiver antenna gain
L = System loss factor
 Due to line losses, but not due to propagation

 L  1

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 Antenna Gain
 Power Gain of antenna

G = 4  Ae /  2 ,

 Ae is effective aperture area of antenna

 Wavelength  = c / f (Hz)
= 3 • 108 / f , meters

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 Example
A transmitter produces 50W of power.
If this power is applied to a unity gain antenna
with 900 MHz carrier frequency, find the received
power at a LOS distance of 100 m from the
antenna. What is the received power at 10 km?
Assume unity gain for the receiver antenna.

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 Solution
Pr = Pt Gt Gr 2
(4)2 d2 L
Pt = 50 W, Gt = 1, Gr = 1, L = 1, d = 100 m
 = (3 • 108) / (900 • 106) = 0.33 m

Solving, Pr = 3.5 • 10-6 W

Pr (10 km) = Pr (100 m) • (100/10000)2
= 3.5 • 10-6 • (1/100)2
11 = 3.5 • 10-10 W
 Electric Properties of Material Bodies
 Fundamental constants
Permittivity  = 0 r , Farads/m
Permeability  = 0 r ,Henries/m
Conductivity , Siemens/m
 Types of materials
 Dielectrics – allow EM waves to pass

 Conductors – block EM waves

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 Metamaterials – bend EM waves
 Ground Reflection (2-Ray Model)

T (transmitter) Pr = PLOS +Pref

PLOS
Pi R (receiver)
ht Pref
hr

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 Ground Reflection Equations

For d > 20hthr / ,

Received power Pr=

2 2
Pt Gt Gr ht hr
d4

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 Example
A mobile is located 5 km away from a base
station, and uses a vertical /4 monopole
antenna with a gain of 2.55dB.
Assuming carrier frequency of 900 MHz and
transmitted power of 100 W with 10 dB
antenna gain, find the received power at the
mobile using the 2-ray model if the height of
the transmitting antenna is 50 m and receiving
antenna is 1.5 m above the ground.

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 Solution

T (transmitter) Pr = PLOS +Pref

PLOS
Pi R (receiver)
50
Pref 1.5

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 Gain of receiving antenna = 2.55 dB => 1.8
Gain of transmitting antenna = 10 dB => 10

Received power Pr=Pt Gt Gr ht 2 hr 2

d4
= 100 • 10 • 1.8 • 502 • 1.52
(5 • 103)4

= 0.0162 W
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 Diffraction
 Diffraction allows radio signals to propagate
around the curved surface or propagate
behind obstructions.

(Courtesy: electronics-notes.com)

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 Knife-edge Diffraction Geometry

T 
 h
h’ R

d1
d2
ht
hr

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 Diffraction Parameter and Gain
 Diffraction parameter

2( d1  d 2 )
v= h
d1d 2

 Diffracted power = LOS power+ Diffraction Gain

Pd = PLOS + Gd (dB)

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 Empirical formula for Gain

v Gd (dB)
v  -1 0
-1  v  0 20 log (0.5 – 0.62 v)
0  v 1 20 log (0.5 e-0.95v
-0.95v )

1  v  2.4 20 log (0.4 – √ [0.1184 – (0.38 – 0.1 v)22]

v  2.4 20 log (0.225 / v)

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 Example
Compute the diffraction power at the receiver
assuming:
Transmitter frequency = 900 MHz
LOS received power = 50 mW
d1 = 1 km
d2 = 1 km
h = 25 m

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 Solution
Diffraction parameter v = 2( d1  d 2 )
h
d1d 2
 = (3 • 1088) / (900 • 1066) = 0.33 m
2(1000  1000)
=> v = 25 (0.3)(1000)(1000)
= 2.74

Using the table,

Gdd (dB) = 20 log (0.225/2.74) = -22 dB
Hence diffracted power Pdd = PLOS
LOS
+ Gdd (dB)
= 10 log(50) -22
= -5.01 dBm => 0.316 mW
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 Scattering
 When a radio wave impinges on a rough surface, the
reflected energy is spread out in all directions

 Examples of scattering surfaces: lamp posts,

trees, cars, rain, snow.

(Courtesy:http://www.tpub.com/)
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 Radar Cross Section (RCS) Model
RCS (Radar Cross Section) =

Power density of scattered wave

in direction of receiver
Power density of radio wave incident
on the scattering object

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 Scattering Power Equation

PRR = PT • GT • 22 • RCS

(4)33 • dTT 22 • dRR 22

PTT = Transmitted Power

GTT = Gain of Transmitting antenna
dTT = Distance of scattering object from Transmitter
dRR = Distance of scattering object from Receiver

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 Practical Propagation models
 Most radio propagation models are derived
using a combination of analytical and
empirical models.

 Empirical approach is based on fitting curves

or analytical expressions that recreate a set
of measured data.

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 Pros and cons of empirical models

 Takes into account all propagation

factors, both known and unknown.

 Disadvantages:
New models need to be measured for
different environment or frequency.

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 Path Loss (PL) Model
 Transmitter – receiver model
T d0 R
PT PR(d0) PR(d)
 Logarithmic model ( dB)
PL(d) = PL(d0) + 10n log10 (d/d0)
 Received power( dBm)
PR(d) = Pt – PL(d)
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 Emprical values of path loss factor n

Environment n

Free space 2
Urban area cellular radio 2.7 – 3.5
LOS in building 1.6 – 1.8

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 More accurate propagation models
 Logarithmic path loss normal gives only
the average value of path loss.

 Surrounding environment may be vastly

different at two locations having the
same T – R separation d.

 More accurate model includes a

random variable with standard deviation
 to account for change in
environment.
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 Practical propagation model development
 Values of n and  are computed from
measured data.

 Linear regression method which minimizes the

difference between measured and estimated
path

 Estimated over a wide range of measurement

locations and T – R separations.
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 Random Propagation Model equation

Probability [ PR (d) >  ] =    PR (d ) 

Q 
  

 PR (d )   
Probability [ PR (d) <  ] = Q 
  

• Average received power PR (d ) is calculated

using logarithmic model

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 2
2
ee  zz // 22
Q
Q(( zz )) ~~

 zz 22

Calculation of Q Function
x 2
1 x e  2 /2
 x 2
x
 Q(z) = Q function = 2 zz e dx

 Q(z) table from Appendix F of book

(Rappaport), for z values 0 < z < 3.9
 For z > 3.9, use the approximation:
2
ez /2
Q( z ) ~
z 2

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 Q Function Table

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 Example
 Four received power measurements were
taken at the distances of
100m, 200m, 1 km and 3 km from a
transmitter.
T-R distance Measured Power
100 m 0 dBm
200 m - 20 dBm
1 km - 35 dBm
3 km - 70 dBm

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 Example
a. Find the minimum mean square error
(MMSE) estimate for the path loss
exponent n, assuming d0 = 100m.
b. Calculate the standard deviation
about the mean value.
c. Estimate the received power at
d = 2 km using the resulting model.
d. Predict the likelihood that the received
signal at 2 km will be greater than
–60 dBm.
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 Solution

Let Pi be the average received power

at distance di :
Pi (d) = P (d0) – 10n log (d /100)
d = d0 = 100m
= Pi (d0) = P0= 0 dBm

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 a.
d1= 200 m, P1= -3n,
d2= 1 km, P3= -10n,
d3= 3 km, P4= -14.77n
Mean square error J =  (P – Pi)2
= (0 – 0)2 + [-20 – (-3n)] 2
+ [-35 – (-10n)] 2 + [-70 – (-14.77n)] 2
= 6525 – 2887.8n + 327.153n2
Minimum value = > dJ(n) / dn
= 654.306n – 2887.8 = 0  n = 4.4
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 b.
Variance 2 = J / 4 = ( P – Pi)2 / 4
= (0 + 0) + (-20 +13.2)2 + (-35 + 44)2 + (-70 + 64.988)2
4
= 152.36 / 4 = 38.09
  = 6.17 dB

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 c.
Pi (d = 2 km)
= 0 – 10(4.4) log (2000/100)
= -57.24 dBm

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 d.
Probability that the received signal
will be greater than –60 dBm is:
_____
PR = [PR(d) > -60 dBm] = Q [(- PR (d)) /  ]
= Q [(-60 + 57.24) / 6.17 ]
= Q [- 0.4473]
= 1 – Q [0.4473]
= 1 – 0.326
= 0.674 = > 67.4%
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 Percentage of Coverage Area
 Given a circular coverage area of radius R
 In the area A, the received power
PR  
 The area A is defined as U()
r R

Area

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 Calculation of Coverage Area U()
Use Figure 4.18 from book (Rappaport)

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 Example
For the previous problem, predict the percentage
of area with a 2 km radius cell that receives
signals greater than –60 dBm.

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 Solution
From solution to previous example,
Prob [PR (R) > ] = 0.674
=>( / n) = 6.17 / 4.4
= 1.402
From table 4.18,
Fraction of total area = 0.92 => 92%

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 Outdoor Propagation Models
 Longley Rice model
point-to-point communication systems
(40MHz–100MHz)

 Okumara’s model
widely used in urban areas
(150 MHz – 300 MHz)

 Hata model
graphical path loss
(150 MHz – 1500 MHz)
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 Indoor Propagation Models
 Log-distance path loss model

 Ericsson multiple breakdown model

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