Empirical Characterization of Propagation Path Loss and Performance Evaluation for Co-Site Urban Environment

Abstract

The design of future generation communication systems depends so much on the suitability of path loss methods and their suitability to various regions. However, such models, no matter how accurate, will result in co-channel interference and wastage of power when they are used in environments for which they were not developed. So, the best bet is to perform site-specific measurements. This research work characterizes the propagation path loss in an urban environment for co-site CDMA2000-800MHz (CDMA2000 1x/UMTS800) and GSM900MHz. Received Signal Strength (RSS) measurements were gathered in Enugu from Mobile Telecommunications of Nigeria (MTN) Network (GSM900) and Visafone Network (CDMA2000 1x) in sites where each Network operates alone and where both Networks shared sites (co-site or coexistence). RSS data gathered was used to characterize Enugu Urban Environment and a propagation Path Loss model, suitable for scenario with Base Station antenna height above the average rooftop was subsequently developed. SINR was generated to evaluate the Link performance of co-site operation in comparison to Single Network operation in a site.