Modeling fading properties for mobile satellite link channels using Markov model approaches

In this paper, the fading properties of satellite-to-earth propagation channels are predicted using different Markov models. The proposed methods are validated and evaluated using mobile satellite link measurements data at typical mobile user environments. Compared with multi-states Markov models and traditional hidden Markov model, a better match between simulated and measured data shows that the non-stationary hidden Markov model predicts most satisfactorily the first and second order statistics of propagation properties. Besides, the proposed Markov models can be applied to evaluate the performance of error probability using coherent QPSK modulation schemes. This simple and efficient method extends the applicability of the Markov model approach in propagation channel modeling for satellite mobile communication services.