5.8 GHz propagation of low-height wireless links in sea port scenario

Experimental fading measurements were performed in Cadiz Bay, Spain, for a variety of operational scenarios over the sea at the unlicensed 5.8 GHz frequency band. Measurements are based on continuous wave (CW) transmissions with both the transmitter and the receiver installed in typical low-height maritime platforms, such as oceanographic buoys, military ships and boats. Based on the measurements, large-scale and small-scale fading statistics are characterised by cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) and key wireless channel parameters are estimated and discussed. Results show, first, that large-scale fading can be modelled using classical log-normal path-loss models and, secondly, that small-scale fading statistics fits the extreme value distribution (EVD) function when they are expressed in decibel units. This study can be used for practical planning of wireless communications in maritime applications and as an experimental basis for further simulation works.