Radio Wave & Propagation

Path Loss Models

Sevan Siyyah Abdullah

Department of Physics // College of Education Shaqlawa
Evaluation for suitable propagation
model to mobile Communications in
Suburban-terrain
 Outline
 Basic Propagation Theory
 LOS and NLOS
 Radio Wave Propagation Mechanisms
 Types of Path Loss Models
 Atmospheric Effects on Radio Wave
Propagation
 Theoretical Path Loss Propagation
Models
 Empirical Path Loss Propagation
Models
  Basic Propagation Theory
 In wireless communication systems, transfer of
information between the transmitting antenna and the
receiving antenna is achieved by means of
electromagnetic waves.
 The interaction between the electromagnetic waves and
the environment reduces the signal strength send from
transmitter to receiver, that causes Path-Loss
 Path loss (PL): Path loss arises when an
electromagnetic wave propagates through space from
transmitter to receiver.

 Mathematically, the Path Loss is expressed generally

as:
 The prediction of path loss is a very important
step in planning a mobile radio system
 Accurate prediction methods are needed to
determine the parameters of a radio system which
will provide efficient and reliable coverage of a
specified service area.
 In order to make these predictions one should
understand the factors that influence the signal
strength.

 For instance, the effects of buildings and other

obstacles should be considered in an urban area.
 In rural places, shadowing, scattering and
 The power of signal is reduced due to path distance,
reflection, diffraction, scattering, free-space loss and
absorption by the objects of environment.
 Variations of transmitter and receiver antenna heights
also produce losses.
 It is also influenced by the different environment (i.e.
urban, suburban and rural).
  LOS & NLOS
 The expansion and advancement in technology
promised to provide coverage for longer distances up to
50 kms (31 miles) in mobile communication system.
 There exists a condition where signal transmitted
undergoes multipath fading before attaining the
receiver. This feature is called NLOS.

 Conversely a signal may travel without any obstruction

between the transmitter and receiver. This feature is
called LOS.

 LOS conditions prevail in flat lands such as rural

and open areas.
  Radio Wave Propagation Mechanisms
Generally, radio wave propagation consists of three main
attributes: Scattering

LOS

Reflection Diffraction
 Reflection:
 Occurs when radio wave propagating in one medium impinges
upon another medium with different electromagnetic properties
and its size is much larger than the wavelength of the radio wave.
 The amplitude and phase of the reflected wave are strongly
related to the medium’s intrinsic impedance, incident angle, and
electric field polarization.

 Diffraction:
 is a phenomenon by which propagating radio waves bend or
deviate in the neighborhood of obstacles such as walls, buildings,
mountains, and so on.

 Scattering:
 Occurs when a radio signal hits a rough surface or an object
having a size much smaller than or on the order of the signal
wavelength.
  Types of Path Loss Models

Path
Loss

3. 2. 1.
Empirical Statistical Determinist
Non-time- Time- ic
dispersive dispersive

1- Deterministic Models
 These kinds of models deploy laws of electromagnetic wave
propagation for determination of received signal strength
in a definite region of concern.
 Here actual 3-D designs of buildings or concerned
2- Stochastic Models
 Stochastic models are used in terms of random
variables being deployed for representation of some or
the other factors influencing the behavioral nature of
radio waves in action.

3- Empirical Models
 An empirical model is simply based on observed and
measured data alone.
 It can be further classified in to two sub heads, time-
dispersive and non-time-dispersive.
 The SUI (Stanford University Interim) model is one of the
perfect examples of time-dispersive models.
 The models like COST-231-Hata model, Hata-model and
ITU-R models are examples of non-time dispersive models.
  Radio Propagation Models
Propagation models are basically classified into theoretical
propagation models and empirical models.
Building

Direct
Signal
𝒉𝒃 Reflected Signal
Diffracted Signal
𝒉𝒎

Transmit d Receiver
ter

12
 Theoretical Propagation Model
The propagation models are divided into two basic types;
namely:
 Free space propagation model.
 Plane earth propagation model.
(A): Free space Propagation Model
 In free space, the wave is not reflected or absorbed.
 Ideal propagation implies equal radiation in all
directions from the radiating source and propagation to
an infinite distance with no degradation.
 Spreading the power over greater areas causes the
attenuation.
 Equation (1) illustrates 𝑷 how𝒕 the power flux is
𝑷 𝒅= (𝟏 )
calculated 𝟒𝝅 𝒅
𝟐
 Actual power received by the antenna
depends on the following: 𝟐
𝝀
(a)The effective aperture of receiving antenna , 𝑨 𝒆= 𝟒 𝝅
(b)The wavelength of received signal ,
(c)The power flux density at receiving antenna .

𝑷𝒕

h 𝑷 𝒅=
𝑷𝒕
𝟐 𝑷𝒓
𝟒𝝅𝒅
b
hm

Transmit Distance Receiver

 Now the Path Loss in Free-Space is defined as the Ratio
between Transmitted Power to its Received Power:

𝑷𝒕
𝑳 𝑷𝑭 =
𝑷𝒓

LPF (dB)  32.45  20 log10 f c ( MHz )  20 log10 d (km),

 Empirical Propagation Models
 There are various empirical prediction models among
them are:
1. Okumura model
2. Yoshihisa Hata model
3. COST231 Extension to Hata Model
4. COST231-Walfisch-Ikegami Model
5. Stanford University Interim (SUI) Model
6. Ericson Model
7. ECC-33 Electronic communication Committee Model
8. CCIR Path Loss Model (Lccir)
9. The Walfisch - Bertoni model
10. Egli Model
These models depend on location, frequency range and
clutter type such as urban, sub-urban and countryside.
1. Okumura Model
One of most widely used models for signal prediction.
2. Operational frequency range from .
3. But it can be extended up to 3000 MHz.
4. Distances range from
5. Antenna height range from .
6. Formula for Okumura Model is expressed as follows:

Where, = median path loss

(d) = free space propagation path loss.
= median attenuation relative to free space
= base station antenna height gain factor
= mobile antenna height gain factor

: gain due to environment

type.
 Stanford University Interim Model ( SUI )

Where, distance in Km, and is a log normally distributed factor that is used
to account for the shadow fading owing to trees and other cluter and has a
value between and .

 Where, is the base station height above ground in m, and should be

between .
 The constants used for are given in Table below.
for terrain A and B

for terrain C

𝒙 𝒇 =𝟔 𝐥𝐨𝐠𝟏𝟎 ( 𝒇
𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟎 )
 Ericsson Model

 To predict the path loss, the network planning engineers are used a
software provided by Ericsson company is called Ericsson model.
 This model also stands on the modified Okumura-Hata model to
allow room for changing in parameters according to the
propagation environment.
 Path loss according to this model is given by :
 ECC-33 Electronic Communication Committee Model

 This model is developed by Electronic Communication Committee

(ECC)
 Is extrapolated from original measurements by Okumura and modified
its assumptions so that it more closely
𝐏𝐋 represents
( 𝐝𝐁 )= 𝑨a𝒇𝒔fixed
+ 𝑨 𝒇𝒎wireless
−𝐆𝐭 −access
𝐆𝒓
(FWA) system.
 The Path Loss model is defined as:

for medium city

 is frequency in ,
 is base station height in m
 is mobile antenna height in m
 is distance between base station and mobile antenna in Km