Ka-band scintillations: measurements and model predictions

Author

Mayer, Charles E. ; Jaeger, Bradley E. ; Crane, Robert K. ; Wang, Xuhe

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng., Alaska Univ., Fairbanks, AK, USA

Volume

85

Issue

6

fYear

1997

fDate

6/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

936

Lastpage

945

Abstract

New propagation data from a 30/20-GHz propagation experiment at several US sites, including Fairbanks, AK, and Norman, OK, are presented to examine existing models for scintillations. Beacon measurements were collected at one sample per second continuously and at 20 samples per second for selected intervals. The widely separated measurement frequencies and the wide range of measurement elevation angles of about 8-52° provide a solid set of measurements to test existing models and formulate new ones. It is found that current scintillation prediction models overestimate the magnitude of scintillation. The Karasawa model was modified to fit the Fairbanks data, with this modification valid for the climate zone containing Fairbanks. The model of the radiocommunication sector of the International Telecommunication Union was examined for several sites, and an elevation angle modification was attempted to bring it into agreement with the data sets. Measurements indicate a frequency dependence of f^7/12

Keywords

fading; microwave propagation; millimetre wave propagation; modelling; satellite communication; satellite links; scintillation; statistical analysis; tropospheric electromagnetic wave propagation; 20 GHz; 30 GHz; Ka-band propagation experiment; Ka-band scintillations; Karasawa model; US sites; beacon measurements; elevation angle modification; frequency dependence; propagation data; scintillation prediction models; Attenuation; Cranes; Electromagnetic propagation; Extraterrestrial measurements; Fluctuations; Frequency measurement; Meteorology; Microwave propagation; Predictive models; Radio propagation;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Proceedings of the IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9219

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/5.598416

Filename

598416