Deterministic propagation modelling and measurements for the broadband fixed wireless access channel

A 3D ray-tracing propagation model is presented in this paper. The algorithm is optimised for broadband fixed wireless access (BFWA) operational scenarios. The model works with raster terrain as well as 3D vector building and foliage databases. It also considers reflections off building walls, off-axis roof top and terrain diffractions and foliage attenuation. Outputs include the received power and the impulse response of the wireless channel, and as such the tool permits a detailed and realistic assessment of the performance of a broadband system, including network planning and deployment issues. Field trial measurements carried out for different scenarios (propagation conditions, antenna heights, distance from the access point, etc.) in the city of Cambridge (UK) with a commercial BFWA operating system (3.5 GHz), are compared with ray tracing simulation results. The analysis studies the propagation characteristics of the BFWA radio channel and the accuracy of the presented deterministic propagation modelling approach.