Site diversity time-space simulations for LMDS [route diversity]

For point to multi-point systems, working in millimeter frequency bands, high reliability of the links is required. The attenuation due to rain is the main limiting factor. Site diversity can be used as one of the propagation impairment mitigation techniques. A propagation simulation tool to study the performance of local multipoint distribution systems (LMDS) has been developed to enable site-specific time-space simulations. Actual rainfall radar data were utilized as input. Simulations for various site diversity deployments, network configurations, hub and terminal station locations, and under different propagation conditions (rain events) were accomplished. The results can be used for planning and optimization of specific point-to-multipoint networks.