Cellular field strength measurements for the design of an over water cellular system in the gulf of Mexico

Cellular systems are being designed today for a very diverse range of applicatioins. Many of these applications require unique systematic design procedures in order to meet the needs of the customer while minimizing construction and operating costs. One such unique cellular application is the design of an overwater cellular system in the Gulf of Mexico to provide communications to the offshore platform operators and the commercial and pleasure boat operators. Because there are such significant differences in the coverage design parameters of an over-water cellular system versus a typical urban cellular system, the typical computer-generated land coverage model is not valid. A new coverage prediction model must be developed. This paper discusses the two tests conducted in the Gulf of Mexico for the development of a systematic overwater cellular coverage prediction model.