Experiment No 3

PART A

 Aim: To understand path loss prediction formula

 Objectives:
1. Calculation of received signal strength as a function of distance of
separation, antenna height and carrier frequency.
2. To understand the impact of following parameters on received signal strength:
-
o Transmitter Power,
o Pathloss exponent,
o Carrier frequency,
o Receiver antenna height,’
o Transmitter antenna height.

 Source to perform Experiment:

Virtual Lab: Fading channel and mobile communication (Experiment no 1)
Link: http://vlabs.iitkgp.ernet.in/fcmc/exp1/index.html#

 Theory:
The design of a communication system involves selection of values for several parameters.
One of the important parameter is the transmit power. Higher transmit power ensures
large allowable separation distance between the transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx). Of
course the loss in signal power per unit distance depends on the properties of the medium.

In case of wireless communication on one hand it is desired to have a very large coverage
(large allowable separation between Tx and Rx) on the other hand it is also desired that co-
channel interference be as low as possible.

An understanding of the large scale propagation effects is very important for design of suitable
 communication system. In terrestrial mobile communication system, electro-magnetic wave
propagation is affected by reflection, diffraction and scattering. These lead to dynamic variation of
signal strength as a function of time, frequency, distance of separation, antenna height, antenna
configuration, local scattering environment etc. Propagation models are necessary in order to
predict the received signal strength for a given set of parameters as mentioned above. These
models can be broadly considered under: -

 Large scale Fading Model.

 Small Scale Fading Model.

1.1 Large Scale Fading:-

Large Scale Fading is dealt by propagation models that predict the mean received signal
strength for an arbitrary transmitter receiver separation. The large scale fading model gives such
an average with measurements across 4λλ to 40λλ, where λλ is the wavelength.
This is useful for estimating coverage area.
Large Scale fading can be broadly classified as:
 Path Loss.
 Shadowing.

Large scale fading is heavily affected by power dissipation and effects of the propagation channels.
The models assume some path loss at a given distance between Tx and Rx i.e. there is no shadowing.
 It is useful in getting a quick estimate of the average signal strength, hence the coverage. These
models are used for prediction of signal variation across 100m-1000m.

There have been ray tracing methods which are complicated and are useful for static scenarios. In case
of dynamic scenarios statistical models are used. A statistical model ensures that the statistical
properties of the numbers generated using the model matches the recorded values.

Path loss, or path attenuation, is the reduction in power density (attenuation) of an electromagnetic
wave as it propagates through space… This term is commonly used in wireless communications and
signal propagation.

Path loss models describe the signal attenuation between a transmit and a receive antenna as a
function of the propagation distance and other parameters. Some models include many details of the
terrain profile to estimate the signal attenuation, whereas others just consider carrier frequency and
distance. Antenna heights are other critical parameters.

1A) (Calculation of Received Power at a certain Tx-Rx separation distance): -

Steps:

1. Drag the mobile by placing the cursor on it and place it at a certain distance from the base station
tower.
2. Now, Calculate the value of the unknown parameter (for e.g. Pr(d)
manually by using the formulas given in the theory section. For example: -

Given Pr(d0)=18.44dB, Tx and Rx separation distance(d)= 708 m, d0=55m. So, using this formula
Pr(d)=Pr(d0)+20log(d0/d) you can find the value of Pr(d),

Pr(d)=−18.44+20log10(55/708)=−40.37dBm.

3. Now, enter your manually calculated value of the unknown parameter in the box provided
in the page.

4. Click on the button CHECK to verify whether your manually calculated value matches with the
computed value of the unknown parameter.

5. If your manually calculated value of the unknown parameter doesn't match with the computed
value of the unknown parameter then a message box will appear with the message that your
calculated value is wrong and it will return the exact value of the unknown parameter. If your
cal-culated value of the unknown parameter is same as the computed value of the unknown
parameter then the message box will let you know that your result is correct.
6. Now, click on the button SUBMIT to submit your results

7. You can redo the experiment by clicking on the button REDO.

8. Similarly, perform the expt1b, expt1c, expt1d and expt1e you can find the value of the unknown
parameter for each of these experiments.
 PART B
(PART B: TO BE COMPLETED BY STUDENTS)

(Students must submit the soft copy as per following segments within
two hours of the practical. The soft copy must be uploaded on the
Blackboard or emailed to the concerned lab in charge faculties at the end
of the practical in case the there is no Black board access available)

Roll. No. Name:

Class Batch:

Date of Experiment: Date of Submission:

Grade:

B.1 Software Code written by student:

(Paste your Code script related to your case study completed during the 2 hours of
practical in the lab here)

B.2 Input and Output:

(Paste your output that you are getting after running app in from of screen shots.)

B.3 Observations and learning:

(Students are expected to comment on the output obtained with clear observations and
learning for each task/ sub part assigned)
B.4 Conclusion:
(Students must write the conclusion as per the attainment of individual outcome listed above
and learning/observation noted in section B.3)

B.5 Question of Curiosity

1. Explain signal propagation
2.Explain Path loss effect

B.6 Attach the screen shot of Quiz attempted after performing Experiment.