International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering (IJECE) Vol.
No.
June 2013, pp.
ISSN: 2088-8708
Radio Frequency Propagation Mechanisms and Empirical Models for Hilly Areas Famoriji John Oluwole*.
Olasoji Yekeen Olajide** * Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering ** Federal University of Technology.
Akure Nigeria
Article Info
ABSTRACT
Article history:
Achieving better network performance is a paramount concern in wireless This paper provides a survey of the basic mechanisms which influence the propagation of electromagnetic waves in hilly areas.
Three empirical models: COST231-Hata.
Okumura-Hata and Egli which are suitable for path loss prediction for such area are presented.
By using these propagation models the broadcast signal strength are predicted for this type of environment.
Measurement results of signal strength in UHF band obtained in Idanre Town of Ondo State Nigeria are presented and compared with the results predicted by using the propagation models.
A modified COST231-Hata radiowave propagation model was developed and implemented with Matlab GUI (Graphical User Interfac.
for simulation.
The model developed has 93.
8% accuracy.
Received Feb 22, 2013 Revised Apr 15, 2013 Accepted May 24, 2013 Keyword:
Empirical models.
Radiowave propagation Measurement Matlab GUI Copyright A 2013 Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science.
All rights reserved.
Corresponding Author:
Famoriji John Oluwole.
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
Federal University of Technology, 704.
Akure.
Nigeria.
E-mail: famorijijohn@yahoo.
INTRODUCTION
Achieving optimal performance is a paramount concern in wireless networks.
During radiowave propagation an interaction between waves and environment attenuates the signal level.
It causes path loss and finally limits coverage area.
Path loss prediction is a crucial element in the first step of network planning.
The ability of determining optimum base-station locations, obtaining suitable data rates and estimating coverage without conducting a series of propagation measurements .
hich is very expensive and time consumin.
can be achieved with empirical propagation models.
Empirical propagation models are site specific.
selection of a suitable propagation model is the first step in the wireless network design.
Okumura-Hata.
COST231-Hata and Egli are widely used models for the path loss prediction in areas with high hill in frequency bands below 2 GHz.
Another model for the band below 11 GHz has been developed by Stanford University, as an extension of the Hata model .
The COST-231 Hata wireless propagation model was devised as an extension to the Hata-Okumura model and the Hata model in .
The COST231-Hata model is designed to be used in the frequency band from 500 MHz to 2000 MHz.
It also contains corrections for urban, suburban and rural .
reported :Ayalthough this modelsAo frequency range is outside that of the measurements, its simplicity and the availability of correction factors has seen it widely used for path loss prediction at this frequency bandAy.
The basic equation for path loss in decibels .
B) is stated below as quoted from .
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php/IJECE .
IJECE
ISSN: 2088-8708
Where f is the frequency in MHz, d is the distance between access points (AP) and antennas in km, and hb is the AP antenna height above ground level in meters.
The parameter cm is defined as 3 dB for urban The parameter ahm is defined for urban environments in Au.
Ay.
The Hata model for urban areas, also known as the Okumura-Hata model for being a developed version of the Okumura model, is the most widely used radio frequency propagation model for predicting the behavior of cellular transmissions in built up areas.
This model incorporates the graphical information from Okumura model and develops it further to realize the effects of diffraction, reflection and scattering in suburban areas and open areas.
Hata model predicts the total path loss along a link of terrestrial microwave or other type of cellular communications.
This model is suited for both point-to-point and broadcast transmissions and it is based on extensive empirical measurements taken.
The Okumura-Hata model for urban area as stated in .
is given below:
For large city with the wave frequency of transmission, 2 log 11.
For specifications.
Okumura-Hata has the following range: Carrier frequency: 150MHz O f O 1500MHz.
Base station height: 30m O hB O 200m, mobile station height: 1m O hM O 10m, distance between mobile station: 1Km O d O 20Km .
The Egli model was derived from real-world data on UHF and VHF televisions in several large It predicts the total path loss for a point-to-point link.
Typically used for outdoor line-of-sight transmission and it provides the path loss as a single quantity.
Egli model is typically suitable for cellular communication scenarios where the transmission has to go over an irregular terrain .
However, it does not take into account travel through some vegetative obstruction, such as trees or shrubbery.
The model is typically applied to VHF and UHF spectrum transmissions.
The Egli model is mathematically expressed as stated in .
is the gain of the base station antenna, is the gain of the mobile station antenna.
Where is the height of the mobile station antenna in metres the height of the base station antenna in meters .
, .
, d is the distance from base station antenna in meters .
and f is the frequency of transmission in megahertz (MH.
The limitation of this model is that it predicts the path loss as a whole.
it does not subdivide the loss into free space loss and other losses.
Our research develops a propagation model for path loss prediction in hilly areas.
The following equations show the relationship between received power, path loss and field strength .
A modification of the ITU-R P.
1411 model to enhance prediction accuracy in urban environments is presented in .
as well as measurement results at 217 GHz.
In .
experimental results for a system working at 35 GHz are compared against prediction made by different empirical propagation models.
simple empirical model based on measurements at 53 GHz was proposed in .
Since accuracy of the path loss prediction significantly depends on the type of environment, as more experimental data for different environments are available, therefore better model fitting to real conditions can be developed.
RESEARCH METHOD
Figure 1 shows the procedures of the research in form of block diagram.
Idanre is a neighbouring town to Akure in Ondo State of Nigeria, were used as the study areas.
Akure is situated in the tropics at Lat Radio Frequency Propagation Mechanisms and Empirical Models for Hilly Areas (Famoriji John Oluwol.
A ISSN:2088-8708 250N.
Long 5.
20E, altitude 420m above sea level.
an agricultural trade centre with light industries and is minimally influenced by industrial pollutants or aerosols .
Idanre is located in the tropics at latitude 50N.
Long 5.
50E, altitude 1194ft.
It is also an agricultural trade centre, majorly surrounded by hills of different heights .
m, 600m and 800m as obtained from Google Earth Softwar.
Transmitter is situated in Akure while the measurements were obtained within Idanre.
A series of readings of television broadcast signal strength were carried out in the UHF band .
-862 MH.
using Yagi array antenna coupled through a 50-ohm feeder to the UNAOHM model EP742A field strength meter, during dry period when trees were almost out of leaves.
Topographical map was used to determine the line of sight distance between the transmitter and the location of measurement.
These measurements allow us to study signal strength degradation as a result of the hills, tree density and humidity.
Figure 1.
Research Procedure The research work embraces three models.
Okumura-Hata model.
COST-Hata model and Egli because their specifications and conditions were met by the transmission under consideration (Idanr.
except for the Okumura AeHata whose distance is below the LOS in the experiment.
Path losses for the three models were calculated based on the specifications for each LOS value and were compared with the measurement Mean error path loss was calculated for each measurement to determine the best model applicable to Idanre town.
RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
Figure 2 shows the performance of the three empirical models while Table 1 shows the comparison of mean path loss error of empirical models with measurements taken in the hilly areas.
Path losses were calculated from the signal field strength measured by using Equation 6, 7 and 8.
Path Loss .
B) Okumura Hata COSTAa Hata Egli LOS .
Figure 2.
Performance of Empirical Models under consideration Table 1.
Comparison of Mean Path Loss error of Empirical Models with Measurements within Hilly Areas Model Path Loss Mean Error .
B) IJECE Vol.
No.
June 2013: 372Ae376
Okumura-Hata
COST-Hata
Egli
IJECE
ISSN: 2088-8708
The Developed Empirical Model Table 1 shows that Okumura-Hata model under predicted the path loss with 21.
Egli model grossly under predicted the path loss with 174.
51dB, but COST-Hata model gave a closer prediction of 39dB to the measurement taken within hilly areas, so suitable for path loss prediction in this area.
The mean deviation error .
39dB) was added to the original COST-HataAos model presented in Eqn.
1 to generate a path loss model suitable for prediction in the hilly area of Idanre.
The modified COST-Hata model developed is presented below:
Where:
Matlab Simulation Results The model developed is implemented with Matlab GUI .
hown in Figure .
Table 2 shows the results of simulation and the calculated path losses from the measurements.
Figure 3.
Matlab GUI for the developed model Table 2.
Calculated Path Losses with Simulation Path Losses LOS .
Calculated Path Loss Prediction .
B) Simulated Path Loss Prediction .
B) Comparing the two results produces relative error in path loss as calculated from the formula:
The model has relative error of 0.
062 and 0.
938 accuracy.
Therefore the model developed has 8% accuracy and it can be deployed in areas with high hill (Idanr.
Radio Frequency Propagation Mechanisms and Empirical Models for Hilly Areas (Famoriji John Oluwol.
A ISSN:2088-8708 CONCLUSION Three empirical propagation models: Okumura-Hata model.
COST-Hata model, and Egli model were used to predict the path loss in the Idanre .
illy are.
However.
Okumura-Hata model and Egli model showed large mean path loss error and grossly under predicted the path loss while COST-Hata model showed closer agreement with the measurement result with lower mean path loss error of 2.
The performance of COST-Hata model shows that it is more suitable for use in path loss prediction in Idanre.
A modified COSTHata model was developed for deployment in this area with an accuracy of 93.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors express their gratitude to the Ondo State Radiovision Corporation for the use of their UNAOHM field strength meter.
REFERENCES