Large-Scale radio propagation path loss measurements and predictions in the VHF and UHF bands
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Date
2021-06
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Heliyon- Elsevier
Abstract
For decades now, a lot of radio wave path loss propagation models have been developed for predictions across
different environmental terrains. Amongst these models, empirical models are practically the most popular due to
their ease of application. However, their prediction accuracies are not as high as required. Therefore, extensive
path loss measurement data are needed to develop novel measurement-oriented path loss models with suitable
correction factors for varied frequency, capturing both local terrain and clutter information, this have been found
to be relatively expensive. In this paper, a large-scale radio propagation path loss measurement campaign was
conducted across the VHF and UHF frequencies. A multi-transmitter propagation set-up was employed to measure
the strengths of radio signals from seven broadcasting transmitters (operating at 89.30, 103.5, 203.25, 479.25,
615.25, 559.25 and 695.25 MHz respectively) at various locations covering a distance of 145.5 km within
Nigerian urban environments. The measurement procedure deployed ensured that the data obtained strictly
reflect the shadowing effects on radio signal propagation by filtering out the small-scale fading components. The
paper also, examines the feasibilities of applying Kriging method to predict distanced-based path losses in the VHF
and UHF bands. This method was introduced to minimize the cost of measurements, analysis and predictions of
path losses in built-up propagation environments.
Description
Keywords
Path Loss Measurement, Kriging Interpolation Method, Prediction method, Radio Propagation