Modeling and Simulation of Pathloss and Fading for Air-Ground Link of HAPs within a Network Simulator

Development in Near Space Vehicle communication has increased the need for simulation to test and analyze protocols for this emerging technology. Network simulators lack a realistic near space path loss and fading module which would allow having accurate simulation. To explore and simulate accurately the influence of rain, cloud, gaseous absorption and multipath fading on the air-ground link, the mathematical and simulation models for the rain attenuation, cloud attenuation, gaseous absorption attenuation and Ricean fading were implemented. Moreover, modeling and simulation were done within QualNet. Simulation results quantitatively show the effects of rain attenuation, cloud attenuation, gaseous absorption attenuation and Ricean fading on the performance of packet delivery rate of the High Altitude Platform station (HAPs) air-ground link. Thus, simulation of the air-ground link becomes more accurate and reasonable. Simultaneously, the used simulation platform is also improved by integrating new models.