UEC1701

High Frequency Communication

Systems
MILLIMETER WAVE PROPAGATION
 Session Meta Data

Author R Kishore

Version No 1.1

Release Date 13.07.2021

Reviewer
 Revision History

Date of Revision Details Version Number

 Session Objectives

 To discuss the millimeter wave propagation characteristics in

detail
 Session Outcomes

 At the end of this session, students will be able to

 Explain the radio wave propagation characteristics of
millimeter wave.
 Radio Wave Propagation for mmwave
 Radio wave propagation holds the key to
understand the following:
 Receiver design
 Transmitter power requirements
 Antenna requirements
 Interference level
 Expected distances for wireless communication
links.
 Radio Wave Propagation for mmwave
 At mmWave frequencies, where the wavelengths are smaller than a centimeter
— even smaller than the size of a human fingernail — most objects in the
physical environment are very large relative to the wavelength.
 Radio Wave Propagation for mmwave
 Lampposts, walls, and people are large relative to the wavelength, and this
causes very pronounced propagation phenomena, such as signal blockage
(e.g., shadowing) when an obstacle is in the way of the path between the
transmitter and receiver.
 Radio Wave Propagation for mmwave
 Lampposts, walls, and people are large relative to the wavelength, and this
causes very pronounced propagation phenomena, such as signal blockage
(e.g., shadowing) when an obstacle is in the way of the path between the
transmitter and receiver.
 Radio Wave Propagation for mmwave
 Lampposts, walls, and people are large relative to the wavelength, and this
causes very pronounced propagation phenomena, such as signal blockage
(e.g., shadowing) when an obstacle is in the way of the path between the
transmitter and receiver.
 Radio Wave Propagation for mmwave
 Lampposts, walls, and people are large relative to the wavelength, and this
causes very pronounced propagation phenomena, such as signal blockage
(e.g., shadowing) when an obstacle is in the way of the path between the
transmitter and receiver.
 Radio Wave Propagation for mmwave
 Lampposts, walls, and people are large relative to the wavelength, and this
causes very pronounced propagation phenomena, such as signal blockage
(e.g., shadowing) when an obstacle is in the way of the path between the
transmitter and receiver.
 Radio Wave Propagation for mmwave
 Lampposts, walls, and people are large relative to the wavelength, and this
causes very pronounced propagation phenomena, such as signal blockage
(e.g., shadowing) when an obstacle is in the way of the path between the
transmitter and receiver.
 Radio Wave Propagation for mmwave
 Lampposts, walls, and people are large relative to the wavelength, and this
causes very pronounced propagation phenomena, such as signal blockage
(e.g., shadowing) when an obstacle is in the way of the path between the
transmitter and receiver.
 Radio Wave Propagation for mmwave
 Lampposts, walls, and people are large relative to the wavelength, and this
causes very pronounced propagation phenomena, such as signal blockage
(e.g., shadowing) when an obstacle is in the way of the path between the
transmitter and receiver.
 Radio Wave Propagation for mmwave
 However, reflection and scattering allow wireless links to be
made between the transmitter and receiver, even when there are
physical obstructions that block the line-of-sight (LOS) paths.
 Highly directional multiple-element antennas, capable of being
electrically steered, can be made in very small form factors and
integrated inexpensively.
 Radio Wave Propagation for mmwave
 The wavelengths at mmWave frequencies are so small, in fact,
that the molecular constituency of air and water play a major role
in defining the free space distances achievable across the sub-
terahertz spectrum
 Possibility of excess attenuation in air across the electromagnetic
(EM) spectrum up to 400 GHz
 Also EM waves are dramatically attenuated by atmospheric
absorption caused by the oxygen molecule at 60 GHz and the
water molecule at 180 and 320 GHz
 Temperature and humidity greatly impact the actual excess
attenuation caused by absorption
 Summary
• Propagation loss depends on range and wavelength.
• More atmospheric losses and rain attenuation
• mmWave communications are sensitive to blockage by
obstacles such as humans and furniture, due to weak
diffraction ability.
• Large scale and small scale channel effects describe the
received signal fluctuation with respect to range.
 Test Your Understanding
• List the key factors that can be decided based on the nature of
radio wave propagation.
• On what factors does the path loss depend on?
• What is signal blockage?
• Why mmwaves are best suited for short distance propagation?
 References
• Robert W. Heath, Robert C. Daniel, James N. Theodore S.
Rappaport, Murdock, Millimeter Wave Wireless
Communication, Prentice Hall, 2014.
Thank you !