Estimation of Terrestrial Rain Attenuation at Microwave and Millimeter Wave Signals in South Africa Using the ITU-R Model

摘要

This paper presents the rain rate experimental measurement with the application of the International Telecommunication Union's Recommendations (ITU-R) on rain attenuation model in South Africa. The nineteen chosen sites, at least one from each province in South Africa, are considered for this study. The parameters presented in this paper are specific attenuation and total path attenuation due to rain at horizontal, circular, and vertical polarizations at frequency ranges from 1-400 GHz. The implications of rain attenuation to the system designers are evaluated by finding link distance chart, and design link-budget at the chosen frequency range. The results of this work can be used in planning links for both microwave and millimeter broadband wireless networks in South Africa such as Local-Multipoint-Distributed-Services (LMDs).