Near Ground Path Loss Prediction for UMTS 2100 MHz Frequency Band Over Propagating Over a Smooth-Earth Terrain

Abstract

In this paper, path loss prediction for near ground propagation of third generation (3G)-based Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network signal in the 2100 MHz frequency band over a smooth-earth terrain is presented. Particularly, the attenuation due to diffraction is estimated based on ITU-R Recommendation P.526-13 for diffraction over smooth earth. Furthermore, the total pathloss is determined using the Blomquist empirical model which combined free-space loss, plane-earth loss and the diffraction loss over smooth earth. In the study, two drive tests are conducted for the UMTS 2100 MHz frequency band in suburban area of Uyo. The Blomquist empirical model was tuned with respect to the first drive test pathloss dataset. The results show that with the training data (first drive test data), the untuned Blomquist empirical model has RMSE=10.21344 dB, Prediction Accuracy = 89.92%, minimum Prediction error = 9.02 dB and maximum Prediction error = -34.05 dB. Also, with the training data, the optimized Blomquist empirical model has RMSE=1.625388dB, Prediction Accuracy = 98.48%, minimum Prediction error = 5.34 dB and maximum Prediction error = -5.40 dB. Furthermore, with the cross validation data (second drive test data), the optimized Blomquist empirical model has RMSE=1.831368 dB, Prediction Accuracy = 98.24%, minimum Prediction error = 5.25 dB and maximum Prediction error = -6.15 dB. The results show that for the given terrain under study, the tuned or optimized Blomquist empirical model can effectively predict the pathloss for the UMTS network signal in the 2100 MHz frequency band.