Analysis and comparison of tropospheric scintillation prediction models at Covenant University

Abstract

Knowledge of tropospheric scintillation is an important phenomenon in the design of satellite communication system. One year (January 2015-December 2015) scintillation data extracted from Astra 2E/2F/2G Satellite link measurement installed at Covenant University, Ota (Lat: 6.7 oN, Long: 3.23 oE) southwest Nigeria, at an elevation angle of 59.9o and a frequency of 12.245 GHz was used in this study. The analysis and the result were compared with some reputable scintillation prediction models so as to obtain best performance model for Ota region. From the result, it was discovered that the Karasawa model gives the lowest percentage error rate for both fade and enhancement of about 0.57% at 0.1 percentage of time and 6.93% at 0.01 percentage of time respectively and therefore was best found fit for the prediction of propagation impairment for the region. However, the model should be tested further using higher frequency band such as Ka and V bands to confirm the accuracy of the model. The information provided in this study will help in fade margin for antenna sizing and performance needed for satellite communication link in the region.