Mobile Communications

2015-2016
Dijlah University College
Department of Computer Techniques Engineering

Lecture 13 Practical link budget

design
Dr. Eng. Hussein Jamaluddin Khaleel
Email: hussein.khaleel@duc.edu.iq

Practical link budget design using path loss

models
Most radio propagation models are derived using a combination of
analytical and empirical methods, since it is very difficult to predict all
the propagation factors that actually occur in cellular communications.
Empirical approach is based on fitting curves or analytical expressions that
recreate a set of measured data. This approach is valid for the set of frequencies
and the environment where measurements took place.
Path loss models can estimate the received signal level and SNR as a function of
distance for a mobile communication system.

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Practical link budget design using path loss

models Cont.
Practical path loss techniques*
1. Log-distance path loss model:
defines the path loss exponent
(n), which indicates the rate at
which the path loss increases
with distance between T and R.
Measurements for n were
provided for different
environments.
2. Log-normal shadowing: describes that signals measured at different locations
that have the same T-R separation will have random shadowing effect with
Gaussian (normal) distribution.
3. Determination of the percentage of the coverage area: interested in computing
the percentage of useful cellular service area, given a desired signal level, within
the cell boundary.
*Detailed description is provided in
Section 3.9 of the textbook

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Practical link budget design using path loss

models Cont.
Outdoor propagation models*
Radio transmission in a mobile communications system often takes place
over irregular terrain. The terrain profile of a particular area needs to be
taken into account for estimating the path loss.
Some of the commonly used outdoor propagation models:
1. Longley Rice model: applicable to point-to-point communication systems in the
frequency range from 40 MHz to 100 GHz
2. Okumara model: one of the most widely used in urban areas. Applicable for
frequencies in the range 150 MHz to 1920 MHz (extrapolated up to 3000 MHz),
distances of 1 km to 100 km, and antenna heights from 30 m to 1000 m.
3. Hata model: empirical formulation of the graphical path loss data provided by
Okumura, and is valid for frequencies from 150 MHz to 1500 MHz.
*Detailed description is provided in
Section 3.10 of the textbook

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Practical link budget design using path loss

models Cont.
Indoor propagation models*
Aims to characterize radio propagation inside buildings, considering that:

The distances covered are much smaller.

The variability of the environment is much greater for smaller T-R separation.
It experiences same mechanisms as outdoor: reflection, diffraction and scattering.
The conditions are highly variable, e.g. opened or closed doors, construction
materials, building layout, antenna locations, etc.

Indoor models are classified as Line of Sight (LOS) or Obstructed (OBS).

Some of the key models are:
1. Partition losses (same floor): provides signal loss measurements for variety of
material types.
2. Partition losses between floors: Provides Floor Attenuation Factor (FAF) as the
path loss between floors.
*Detailed description is provided in
Section 3.11 of the textbook

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Practical link budget design using path loss

models Cont.
Signal penetration into buildings*
Signal strength received inside of a building due to an external
transmitter.
Ray tracing and site specific modeling (SISP)**
Graphical means for modelling indoor or outdoor environments, using
computers.

*Detailed description is provided in

Section 3.12 of the textbook
**Detailed description is provided
in Section 3.13 of the textbook

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End of Lecture 13
Any questions?

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