Comparative Analysis of the ITU Multipath Fade Depth Models for Microwave Link Design in the C, Ku, and Ka-Bands

Abstract

In this paper, the effects of various wireless network link parameters on the multipath fade depth are presented. The link parameters considered are frequency, path inclination, path length, terrain roughness index and the percentage of time fade depth is exceeded in the average worst month. The computation of the fade depth is based on two ITU models; ITU-R P.530-11 standard for quick planning applications and ITU-R P.530-11 standard for detailed link design. According to the results, ITU-R P.530-11 standard for quick planning applications overestimated the multipath fade depth when compared with the estimates from the ITU-R P.530-11 standard for detailed link design. Furthermore, the smooth terrains presented higher multipath fade depth than the rough terrain. Also, multipath fade depth increases with increasing frequency and path length, but decreases with increasing path inclination, terrain roughness index and the percentage of time the fade depth can be exceeded.

Keywords

• Path Inclination
• Path length
• Terrain roughness index
• Multipath Fade depth
• C-Band
• Ku-Band
• Ka-Band
• Wireless Network