Unit 1: The wireless channel

Wireless communications course

Ronal D. Montoya M.
http://tableroalparque.weebly.com/radiocomunicaciones.html
ronalmontoya5310@correo.itm.edu.co

August 11, 2017

1/13
Outline I
1. Path Loss (ITU-R P.341 and P.525 Recs.)
Concepts

2. Free space path loss

LOS - nLOS - NLOS
System model
Excercise

3. Use of the decibel (ITU-R V.574 Rec.)

Definitions
Exercises with decibels

2/13
 Path loss (ITU-R P.341 and P.525 Recs.) I

The signal s (t) is transmitted with power Pt .

The signal r (t) is received with power Pr .
Path loss is the ratio between the transmitted power and the
received power: PL = PPrt .
 
PL [dB] = 10 log10 PPrt [dB]
In general the path loss is a nonnegative number since the
channel does not contain active elements, and thus can only
attenuate the signal.

1. Path Loss (ITU-R P.341 and P.525 Recs.) 3/13

 Path loss (ITU-R P.341 and P.525 Recs.) II

Shadowing affects the received power. An additional random

component due to blockage from objects needs to be added to
path loss.

1. Path Loss (ITU-R P.341 and P.525 Recs.) 4/13

 LOS - nLOS - NLOS

Figure: LOS - nLOS - NLOS definitions.

2. Free space path loss 5/13
 System model

Tx Rx

PT PR
PL GTx
GTx
s(t) c(t)
r(t)
u(t) v(t)
n(t)
Figure: System model.
2. Free space path loss 6/13
 Free space path loss I

The received signal r (t) is given by:

 
c Gl exp j2d
c
r (t) = R u (t) exp (j2fc t) (1)
4d

Where:
Gl : product of the Tx and Rx antenna gains obtained from the
field radiation patterns, in the LOS direction.
fc , c : carrier frequency and wavelength, respectively.

2. Free space path loss 7/13

 Free space path loss II
d: distance between Tx and Rx antennas.
The ratio between received and transmitted power is given by:
 2
Pr c Gl
= (2)
Pt 4d
Applying the decibel definition to the previous expression:

Pr [dB] = Pt [dB] + 10 log10 (GT x GRx ) + 20 log10 (c )

(3)
20 log10 (4) 20 log10 (d)

2. Free space path loss 8/13

 Free space path loss III
Arranging terms into the equation:

Pr [dB] = Pt [dB] + GT x [dBi] + GRx [dBi] 20 log10 (fc [Hz])

(4)
20 log10 (d [m]) + K

Where:

K = 20 log10 (c) 20 log10 (4) = 147.56 [dB] (5)

Question: which is the value of K in order to place into the
equation fc [M Hz] and d [Km]? (Ans: K = 32.44 [dB]).
2. Free space path loss 9/13
 Excercise

Consider a WLAN with fc = 2.4 GHz, with a cell radius of 50 m.

The AP and the CPE use dipole antennas. Under the free-space
path loss model, what transmit power is required at the AP such
that all CPEs within the cell receive a minimum power of 10 W?
How does this change if the system frequency is 5.8 GHz?

2. Free space path loss 10/13

 Use of the decibel (ITU-R V.574 Rec.) I

The bel (symbol B) expresses the ratio of two powers by the

decimal logarithm of this ratio. This unit is not often used,
having been replaced by the decibel (symbol dB) which is
one-tenth of a bel.
The decibel may be used to express the ratio of two field
quantities, such as voltage, current, sound pressure, electric
field, charge velocity or density, the square of which in linear
systems is proportional to power.

3. Use of the decibel (ITU-R V.574 Rec.) 11/13

 Use of the decibel (ITU-R V.574 Rec.) II
To obtain the same numerical value as a power ratio, the
logarithm of the field quantity ratio is multiplied by the factor
20, assuming that the impedances are equal.

V 2 /R
 
P [dBW ] = 10 log10 [dBW ] =
1W
(6)
2
 
V /R
10 log10 [dBW ] = 20 log10 (V ) [dBW ]
1V 2 /R []

3. Use of the decibel (ITU-R V.574 Rec.) 12/13

 Exercises with decibels

dBm to dB: 1 dBm = -30 dB.

dB to dBm: 1 dB = 30 dBm.
Increasing the power twice: Pf [dB] = Pi [dB] + 3 dB.
Decreasing the power twice: Pf [dB] = Pi [dB] - 3 dB.
Gain and decibels worksheet.

3. Use of the decibel (ITU-R V.574 Rec.) 13/13