Characterization of rain fade dynamics for Ku band satellite communication systems in a tropical location

Abstract

Rain fade has always been regarded as the main obstacle to the terrestrial and satellite communication links operating at higher frequencies, particularly in the tropics. The dynamic features of rain fade such as duration and slope of fade are important parameters for system engineers to design and plan attenuation techniques for high reliability Ku-band services and other higher frequency bands. Twenty - four (24) consecutive months (January 2017 – December 2018) received signal strength data at 12.245 GHz (Ku-band) from EUTELSAT-W4 (geostationary at 36°E) is collected concurrently with rain intensity data at The Federal University of Technology, Akure (7.17°N, 5.18°E) Nigeria. Measured fade duration is compared with ITU-R P. 1623 model and the Cheffena-Amaya prediction model. The results show that the ITU-R model is close to the data measured, while the Cheffena-Amaya model overestimates the measurement for all timeframes taken into account. A modification of the ITU-R fade duration model is suggested according to the data measured. The proposed modified ITU-R prediction model is a recommended model to be adopted for Nigeria climate. These results can be used in the planning and design of fade mitigation techniques to overcome the effects of intense rain on terrestrial-satellite microwave links operating in the Ku-band in tropical regions.