Radio Propagation Theory and

Propagation Models
 Preface
The radio propagation theory is an important
lesson in the radio communication curriculum.
This lesson answers the following questions:
How are radio waves transmitted from one
antenna to the other antenna?
What features does the radio wave have during
the propagation? Which factors affect the
propagation distance?
What fruits are achieved by predecessors in the
radio wave propagation theory? How to apply
the theory to practice?

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 Target

By learning this lesson, you

would understand:
– Propagation modes of radio waves and theory
– Classification of radio propagation environment
– Radio propagation models

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 Chapter 1 Radio Propagation Theory

Chapter 2 Radio Propagation Environment

Chapter 3 Propagation Models Introduction

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What is propagation?

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Spectrum Allocation

Frequencies in different bands have different propagation features.

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 If the Fresnel zone is obstructed, some additional path losses will occur.

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Propagation Condition of Mobile System (Real-life)

① Building reflection wave

② Diffraction wave
③ Free-Space wave
④ Ground reflection wave

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Fading Type

Slow fading

Slow fading occurs as the user moves and due to

shadowing by local obstructions

Power control will overcome slow fading

Rapid fading

Fast fading occurs as signals received from many
paths drift into and out of phase.
− the fades are roughly λ/2 apart in space
− Fades are typically 10-15 db deep,
occasionally deeper
− Rayleigh distribution is a good model for
these fades

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 − 800MHz:greater than 4m
− 1900MHz:greater than 2m
− 450MHz:greater than 7m

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 It is Important!

Frequency diversity

The bandwidth of the CDMA system is 1.23M. It has the function of frequency diversity.

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Combating Rayleigh Fading: Rake Receiver

CDMA system use rake receiver, and support soft handoff.

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Combating Rayleigh Fading: Rake Receiver

Rake receiver

The RAKE receiver can relieve the multi-path fading and improve the
reception performance

Finger 1

Finger 2 Combiner The combined

Receiver signal

Finger 3

Delay
Searcher
calculation
s(t) s(t)

t t

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Combating Rayleigh Fading: Time Diversity

Interleave, detect and rectify codes. The continuous bit errors caused by fading
become incontinuous after interleaving, which makes it easy to rectify errors.

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Interleaving

Interleaving

The interleaving aims at breaking the continuous bit errors caused by

fading to facilitate the error rectification.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Interleaving
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 51 52 53 54 5 56 57 58
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

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 Problems
• What is technologies Combating
Rayleigh Fading

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 Chapter 1 Radio Propagation Theory

Chapter 2 Radio Propagation

Propagation Environment

Chapter 3 Propagation Models Introduction

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Actual Coverage Planning

What is different?

Please compare
with the following
knowledge points

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 Environment
The radio wave propagation is influenced by terrain and artificial factors. The radio propagation
environment determines the propagation model directly.
In an ideal situation, estimating propagation paths and signal fade would be straight forward. In
the “real world”, physical characteristics of the propagation environment will effect a signal’s
ability to traverse through space.
Environment descriptions have been standardized in the communications industry.

Main factors that influence the radio propagation environment:

Terrain (Mountain, foothill, plain and water area)

Number, distribution, material of artificial buildings (Artificial environment)

Vegetation of an area

Weather

Natural and artificial electromagnetic noises

Artificial environment

Urban areas, suburbs and rural areas

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 Terrains
Propagation loss for quasi-flat terrain and anomalistic terrain
T
Quasi-flat terrains
The terrains ripple mildly and the ripple height is R
less than 20 m.

Anomalistic terrains T
The terrains exclude the quasi-flat terrains and can
be divided into the following: R
Foothill, isolated mountain, versant and
terraqueous terrain

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 Propagation Loss

•Propagation loss in free space

Ploss =32.4+20lgf(MHz)+20lgd(km)
If the frequency is specified, the formula can be:
Ploss=L0+10χlgd, χ =2 path loss slope. In the
actual situation, χ ranges from 3 to 5.

•Propagation loss in even area

Ploss = L0+10χlgd -20lghb - 20lghm
χ =4 path loss slope
hb: height of base station antenna
hm: height of mobile station antenna

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 Propagation Loss

• Penetration loss
• Diffraction(Knift-edge diffraction) loss

T
R

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Penetration Loss

Indoor signal propagation depends on the penetration loss of buildings.

The building materials have a great influence on the penetration loss.

The angle of incidence of radio waves has a great influence on the penetration loss.

The higher frequency is the higher penetration ability; the lower frequency is the
higher diffraction ability.

WdBm XdBm

Penetration Loss
X-W=B dB

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Typical Penetration Loss Value

Object barrier/penetration loss:

Wall partition barrier: 5–20dB

Floor barrier: >20dB

The indoor loss is the function of building height. The loss decreases by
1.9dB for each ascending floor.

Barrier of furniture and other obstacles:： 2–15dB

Thick glass: 6–10dB

Penetration loss of the carriage: 15–30dB

Penetration loss of the elevator: about 30dB

Loss of flourishing leaves: 10dB

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Digital Map Introduction

Data of Digital Map

 Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
 Digital Clutter Model (DOM)
 Linear Vector Model (LDM)
 Building Vector Model (BDM)

Precision of Digital Map

 Precision for macro cell in urban areas:20M
 Precision for micro cell forecast:5M
 Precision for suburbs and rural areas: 50M/100M

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 Chapter 1 Radio Propagation Theory

Chapter 2 Radio Propagation Environment

Chapter 3 Propagation
Propagation Models Introduction

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Significance of radio Propagation Models

 The propagation models are used to forecast the

influences of terrains and artificial environments on
path loss
 The propagation models are the basis of coverage
planning. Good models ensure the precision of planning.
 The radio propagation modules are affected by the
system working frequency. Different models have
different working frequency ranges, and the ranges
differ for indoor propagation models and outdoor
propagation models.
 When using the propagation models, pay attention to
the value set for each parameter.

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Common Propagation Models

Model Applicable Range

Okumura-Hata Macro cell forecast, 150-1500 MHz,

distance, 1-20km
Cost231-Hata 1500-2000 MHz, macro cell forecast
Walfish-lkegami 800-2000MHz (urban area), micro cell
forecast for urban areas with a dense
population
Keenan-Motley 800-2000MHz, indoor environment
forecast
SPM (One used in 400-2000MHz, macro cell forecast
the planning software)

Typical models are gradually studied out by scientists through the CW test data

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Hata Propagation Model
The frequency ranges from 150MHZ to 1500MHZ
Cost-231-Hata Propagation Model
The frequency ranges from 1500MHZ to 2000MHZ

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 SPM Propagation Model

Ordinary Planning Software Model：

Lp=K1+K2lgd+K3(hm)+K4lg(hm)+K5lg(Heff)
+K6lg(Heff)lgd＋K7diffn+Kclutter
K1—Constant related to frequency (MHz) K2—Constant related to distance (km)
K3,K4—Correction factor of MS antenna height (m)
K5,K6—Correction factor of BS antenna height (m)
K7—Diffraction correction factor
Kclutter—Correction factor of clutter attenuation
d—Distance between BS and MS (km)
hm,Heff—Valid height of BS antenna and MS antenna (m)

The initial K factor is resulted from typical modules

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 Problems
• What is the applicable range of the Okumura-Hata model?
• What are the differences between Okumura-Hata and
Cost231-Hata?
• What is the significance of propagation models?

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 Conclusion

Summary
• Basic theory of radio propagation
• Classification of radio environments
• Traditional radio propagation
models

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THANK YOU