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Radio Propagation Theory and

Propagation Models

ISSUE 3.0

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 Preface
The radio propagation theory is an important
lesson in the radio communication curriculum.
This lesson answers the following questions:
How are radio waves transmitted from one
antenna to the other antenna?
What features does the radio wave have
during the propagation? Which factors affect
the propagation distance?
What fruits are achieved by predecessors in
the radio wave propagation theory? How to
apply the theory to practice?

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Target

By learning this lesson, you would understand:

Propagation modes of radio waves and theory
Classification of radio propagation environment
Radio propagation models

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 Chapter 1 Radio Propagation Theory

Chapter 2 Radio Propagation Environment

Chapter 3 Propagation Models Introduction

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What is propagation?

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Spectrum Allocation

Frequencies in different bands have different propagation features.

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If the Fresnel zone is obstructed, some additional path losses will occur.

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Propagation Condition of Mobile System (Real-life)

Building reflection wave

Diffraction wave
Free-Space wave
Ground reflection wave

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Fading Type

Slow fading

Slow fading occurs as the user moves and

due to shadowing by local obstructions
Power control will overcome slow fading

Rapid fading
Fast fading occurs as signals received from
many paths drift into and out of phase.
the fades are roughly /2 apart in space
Fades are typically 10-15 db deep,
occasionally deeper
Rayleigh distribution is a good model
for these fades

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 800MHz:greater than 4m
1900MHz:greater than 2m
450MHz:greater than 7m

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 It is Important!

Frequency diversity
The bandwidth of the CDMA system is 1.23M. It has the function of frequency diversity.

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Combating Rayleigh Fading: Rake Receiver

CDMA system use rake receiver, and support soft handoff.

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Combating Rayleigh Fading: Rake Receiver

Rake receiver

The RAKE receiver can relieve the multi-path fading and improve
the reception performance

Finger 1

Finger 2 Combiner The combined

Receiver signal

Finger 3

Delay
Searcher
calculation
s(t) s(t)

t t

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Combating Rayleigh Fading: Time Diversity
Interleave, detect and rectify codes. The continuous bit errors caused by
fading become incontinuous after interleaving, which makes it easy to
rectify errors.

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Interleaving
Interleaving

The interleaving aims at breaking the continuous bit errors

caused by fading to facilitate the error rectification.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Interleaving
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 51 52 53 54 5 56 57 58
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

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Problems

What is technologies Combating Rayleigh Fading

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 Chapter 1 Radio Propagation Theory

Chapter 2 Radio Propagation Environment

Chapter 3 Propagation Models Introduction

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Actual Coverage Planning

What is different?

Please compare
with the following
knowledge points

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Environment
The radio wave propagation is influenced by terrain and artificial factors. The radio
propagation environment determines the propagation model directly.
In an ideal situation, estimating propagation paths and signal fade would be straight
forward. In the real world, physical characteristics of the propagation environment will
effect a signals ability to traverse through space.
Environment descriptions have been standardized in the communications industry.

Main factors that influence the radio propagation environment:

Terrain (Mountain, foothill, plain and water area)

Number, distribution, material of artificial buildings (Artificial
environment)
Vegetation of an area
Weather
Natural and artificial electromagnetic noises
Artificial environment

Urban areas, suburbs and rural areas

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Terrains

Propagation loss for quasi-flat terrain and anomalistic terrain

T
Quasi-flat terrains
The terrains ripple mildly and the ripple height is R
less than 20 m.

T
Anomalistic terrains
The terrains exclude the quasi-flat terrains and
can be divided into the following: R
Foothill, isolated mountain, versant and
terraqueous terrain

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Propagation Loss

Propagation loss in free space

Ploss =32.4+20lgf(MHz)+20lgd(km)
If the frequency is specified, the formula can
be:
Ploss=L0+10lgd, =2 path loss slope. In the
actual situation, ranges from 3 to 5.

Propagation loss in even area

Ploss = L0+10lgd -20lghb - 20lghm

=4 path loss slope
hb: height of base station antenna
hm: height of mobile station antenna

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Propagation Loss

Penetration loss
Diffraction(Knift-edge diffraction) loss
T

T
R

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Penetration Loss

Indoor signal propagation depends on the penetration loss of buildings.

The building materials have a great influence on the penetration loss.
The angle of incidence of radio waves has a great influence on the
penetration loss.
The higher frequency is the higher penetration ability; the lower frequency is
the higher diffraction ability.

WdBm XdBm

Penetration LossX-W=B dB

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Typical Penetration Loss Value

Object barrier/penetration loss:

Wall partition barrier: 520dB

Floor barrier: >20dB
The indoor loss is the function of building height. The loss
decreases by 1.9dB for each ascending floor.
Barrier of furniture and other obstacles: 215dB
Thick glass: 610dB
Penetration loss of the carriage: 1530dB
Penetration loss of the elevator: about 30dB
Loss of flourishing leaves: 10dB

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Digital Map Introduction

Data of Digital Map

Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
Digital Clutter Model (DOM)
Linear Vector Model (LDM)
Building Vector Model (BDM)

Precision of Digital Map

Precision for macro cell in urban areas:20M
Precision for micro cell forecast:5M
Precision for suburbs and rural areas: 50M/100M

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 Chapter 1 Radio Propagation Theory

Chapter 2 Radio Propagation Environment

Chapter 3 Propagation Models Introduction

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Significance of radio Propagation Models

The propagation models are used to forecast the

influences of terrains and artificial environments on
path loss
The propagation models are the basis of
coverage planning. Good models ensure the
precision of planning.
The radio propagation modules are affected by
the system working frequency. Different models
have different working frequency ranges, and the
ranges differ for indoor propagation models and
outdoor propagation models.
When using the propagation models, pay
attention to the value set for each parameter.

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Common Propagation Models

Model Applicable Range

Okumura-Hata Macro cell forecast, 150-1500 MHz,

distance, 1-20km
Cost231-Hata 1500-2000 MHz, macro cell forecast
Walfish-lkegami 800-2000MHz (urban area), micro cell
forecast for urban areas with a dense
population
Keenan-Motley 800-2000MHz, indoor environment
forecast
SPM (One used in 400-2000MHz, macro cell forecast
the planning software)

Typical models are gradually studied out by scientists through the CW test data

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Hata Propagation Model
The frequency ranges from 150MHZ to 1500MHZ

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Cost-231-Hata Propagation Model
The frequency ranges from 1500MHZ to 2000MHZ

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SPM Propagation Model

Ordinary Planning Software Model

Lp=K1+K2lgd+K3(hm)+K4lg(hm)+K5lg(Heff)
+K6lg(Heff)lgdK7diffn+Kclutter
K1Constant related to frequency (MHz) K2Constant related to distance (km)
K3,K4Correction factor of MS antenna height (m)
K5,K6Correction factor of BS antenna height (m)
K7Diffraction correction factor
KclutterCorrection factor of clutter attenuation
dDistance between BS and MS (km)
hm,HeffValid height of BS antenna and MS antenna (m)

The initial K factor is resulted from typical modules

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Problems

What is the applicable range of the Okumura-Hata model?

What are the differences between Okumura-Hata and Cost231-Hata?

What is the significance of propagation models?

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Conclusion

Summary Basic theory of radio propagation

Classification of radio environments

Traditional radio propagation models

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Thank you
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