Chapter 2- Technical Challenges of Wireless
Communications
AF Molisch
Major technical challenges to wireless communications systems are as
follows:
• multipath propagation: i.e., the fact that a transmit signal can reach
the receiver via different paths (e.g., reflections from different houses
or mountains);
• spectrum limitations;
• energy limitations;
• user mobility
Multipath
Propagation-
In case of LOS
transmission
multiple version
of the same
signal reaches to
the receiver and
this is called
multipath
propagation.
In general, radio wave propagation consists of three main attributes : reflection, diffraction
and scattering
Reflection occurs when radio wave
propagating in one medium imposes
upon another medium with different
electromagnetic properties.
The amplitude and phase of the
reflected wave are strongly related to
the medium’s intrinsic impedance,
incident angle, and electric field
polarization.
Part of the radio wave energy may be absorbed or propagated through the reflecting
medium, resulting in a reflected wave that is attenuated.
Diffraction is a phenomenon by
which propagating radio waves bend
or deviate in the neighborhood of
obstacles.
Diffraction results from the
propagation of wavelets into a
shadowy region caused by
obstructions such as walls, buildings,
mountains, and so on.
Scattering occurs when a radio signal hits
a rough surface or an object having a size
much smaller than or on the order of the
signal wavelength.
This causes the signal energy to spread out
in all directions.
Scattering can be viewed at the receiver as
another radio wave source.
Typical scattering objects are furniture, lamp posts, street signs, and foliage.
ISI
Multipath Propagation Results in Fading (small scale
fading)
• intersymbol interference (ISI) is a form of distortion of a signal in which one symbol
interferes with subsequent symbols. This is an unwanted phenomenon as the previous
symbols have a similar effect as noise, thus making the communication less reliable. The
spreading of the pulse beyond its allotted time interval causes it to interfere with
neighbouring pulses. ISI is usually caused by multipath propagation or the inherent linear
or non-linear frequency response of a communication channel causing successive
symbols to blur together.
• The presence of ISI in the system introduces errors in the decision device at the receiver
output. Therefore, in the design of the transmitting and receiving filters, the objective is
to minimize the effects of ISI, and thereby deliver the digital data to its destination with
the smallest error rate possible.
The time variation of received signal power due to changes in transmission medium or paths or obstacles
is known as fading.
Wireless system consists of transmitter, receiver and channel. In fixed scenario, fading depends on
variation in the channel parameters due to atmospheric conditions such as rainfall, lightening etc. In mobile
scenario, fading depends on variation in the channel parameters due to obstacles over the path which are
varying with respect to time.
Shadowing-
Spectrum limitation:
General Spectrum allocation :
• Below 100 MHz: at these frequencies, we find Citizens’ Band (CB) radio, pagers, and analog cordless phones.
• 100–800 MHz: these frequencies are mainly used for broadcast (radio and TV) applications.
• 400–500 MHz: a number of cellular and trunking radio systems make use of this band. It is mostly systems that need good
coverage, but show low user density.
• 800–1000 MHz: several cellular systems use this band (analog systems as well as second- generation cellular). Also some
emergency communications systems (trunking radio) make use of this band.
• 1.8–2.1 GHz: this is the main frequency band for cellular communications. The current (second generation) cellular systems
operate in this band, as do most of the third-generation systems. Many cordless systems also operate in this band.
• 2.4–2.5 GHz: the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band. Cordless phones, Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs)
and wireless Personal Area Networks (PANs) operate in this band; they share it with many other devices, including microwave
ovens.
• 3.3–3.8 GHz: is envisioned for fixed wireless access systems.
• 4.8–5.8 GHz: in this range, most WLANs can be found. Also, the frequency range between 5.7 and 5.8 GHz can be used for
fixed wireless access, complementing the 3-GHz band. Also car-to-car communications are working in this band.
• 11–15 GHz: in this range we can find the most popular satellite TV services, which use 14.0–14.5 GHz for the uplink, and
11.7–12.2 GHz for the downlink
Spectrum limitation
Frequency Reuse-
Co-Channel Interference
Limited Energy
SNR
Receiver sensitivity ( GSM: -100dBm)
User Mobility-
Fading
HLR/VLR
Handover
