Site diversity performance in Ka band using a 7.3-m antenna diameter at tropical climate: a comparison of prediction models

Abstract

Site diversity gain prediction models were created to estimate mathematically the acquired benefits from the implementation of site diversity at place of choice. This work contributes to the comparison of existing gain prediction model to the gain of measured attenuation at Cyberjaya and Rawang, Malaysia. The experiment has been conducted for 4 years from 2014 to 2017, in Ka band using a large 7.3-m diameter antenna and a high elevation angle of 68.8°, together with the rain analysis at both places for the same duration. The average monthly rainfall and attenuation for 4 years were presented. The results revealed that prediction model Hodge performs better than other models, while X. Yeo and Panagopoulos models appear to exhibit very similar graph shape to the measured gain data. More research on gain development in tropical region should be conducted, as the existing prediction model appears to be less consistent with the current data.