volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

In this paper, the dynamics of rain attenuation are examined, and dynamic diversity gain is evaluated for a pico-scale site diversity system. Since modern satellite communication systems operate at frequencies above 10 GHz, their efficient design requires the adoption of Propagation Impairment Mitigation techniques and so rain attenuation time series synthesizers. For rain attenuation, which is the most dominant fading mechanism, the dynamic stochastic model, proposed by Maseng-Bakken, based on the lognormal distribution is the most widely accepted and used. In this latter model, the dynamic parameter is required for the generation of slant path rain attenuation time series. In this paper, firstly, a simple expression is proposed for the calculation of the dynamic parameter in terms of the mean wind speed, elevation angle of the link, and dynamic parameter of rainfall rate. The new theoretical expression is tested with simulated data with very encouraging results. This expression is then used into a unified rain attenuation synthesizer with inputs from the rainfall rate statistics and the satellite slant path characteristics. Finally, the dynamic diversity gain is calculated for pico-scale site diversity systems for various link characteristics.

1. Panagopoulos, A. D., P.-D. Arapoglou, and P. G. Cottis, "Satellite communications at Ku, Ka and V bands: Propagation impairments and mitigation techniques," IEEE Communication Surveys and Tutorials, Vol. 6, No. 3, 2-14, 2004.
doi:10.1109/COMST.2004.5342290 Google Scholar

2. Morello, A. and U. Reimers, "DVB-S2, the second generation standard for satellite broadcasting and unicasting," International Journal of Satellite Communications and Networking, Vol. 22, 249-268, 2004.
doi:10.1002/sat.788 Google Scholar

3. Maseng, T. and P. Bakken, "A stochastic dynamic model of rain attenuation," IEEE Transactions on Communications, Vol. 29, No. 5, 660-669, 1981.
doi:10.1109/TCOM.1981.1095044 Google Scholar

4. Kanellopoulos, S. A., A. D. Panagopoulos, and J. D. Kanellopoulos, "Calculation of the dynamic input parameter for a stochastic model simulating rain attenuation: A novel mathematical approach," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 55, No. 11, 3257-3264, Part 2, 2007.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2007.908817 Google Scholar

5. Panagopoulos, A. D. and J. D. Kanellopoulos, "On the rain attenuation dynamics: Spatial-temporal analysis of rainfall-rate and fade duration statistics," International Journal of Satellite Communications and Networking, Vol. 21, No. 6, 595-611, 2003.
doi:10.1002/sat.763 Google Scholar

6. Kourogiorgas, C. I., A. D. Panagopoulos, J. D. Kanellopoulos, S. N. Livieratos, and G. E. Chatzarakis, "Investigation of rain fade dynamic properties using simulated rain attenuation data with synthetic storm technique," 2013 7th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP), 2277-2281, Apr. 8-12, 2013. Google Scholar

7. Andrade, F. J. A. and L. A. R. da Silva Mello, "Rain attenuation time series synthesize based on the gamma distribution," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propag. Letters, Vol. 10, 1381-1384, 2011.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2011.2178227 Google Scholar

8. Cheffena, M., L. E. Braten, and T. Ekman, "On the space-time variations of rain attenuatioon," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 57, No. 6, 1771-1782, 2009.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2009.2019862 Google Scholar

9. Enjamio, C., E. Vilar, D. Ndzi, and F. Perez Fontan, "Short-scale diversity in a dynamic rain fade environment," International Journal of Satellite Communications and Networking, Vol. 23, 143-152, 2005.
doi:10.1002/sat.811 Google Scholar

10. Matricciani, E., "Micro scale site diversity in satellite and tropospheric communication systems affected by rain attenuation," Space Coomunications, Vol. 19, 83-90, IOS Press, 2003. Google Scholar

11. Matricciani, E., "Physical-mathematical model of the dynamics of rain attenuation based on rain rate time series and a two-layer vertical structure of precipitation," Radio Science, Vol. 31, No. 2, 281-295, 1996.
doi:10.1029/95RS03129 Google Scholar

12. Karlin, S. and H. Taylor, A Second Course in Stochastic Processes, Academic, 1981.

13. Karatzas, I. and S. E. Shreve, Brownian Motion and Stochastic Calculus, Springer-Verlag, 1991.

14. Matricciani, E. and C. Riva, "The search for the most reliable long-term rain attenuation CDF of a slant path and the impact on propagation models," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 53, No. 7, 2307-2313, 2005.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2005.850762 Google Scholar

15. Kourogiorgas, C., A. D. Panagopoulos, et al. "Analysis of 15-months rain rate measurements at NTUA campus," 6th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, 505-509, Prague, Czech Republic, Mar. 26-30, 2012. Google Scholar

16. Matricciani, E., "Physical-mathematical model of dynamics of rain attenuation with application to power spectrum," Electronics Letters, Vol. 30, No. 6, 522-524, Mar. 17, 1994.
doi:10.1049/el:19940362 Google Scholar

17. ITU-R. P. 618-10 "Propagation data and prediction methods required for the design of Earth-space communication systems,", Geneva, 2009. Google Scholar

18. Hodge, D. B., "An improved model for diversity gain on Earth-space propagation paths," Radio Science, Vol. 17, No. 6, 1393-1399, 1982.
doi:10.1029/RS017i006p01393 Google Scholar

19. Luini, L. and C. Capsoni, "A rain cell model for the simulation and performance evaluation of site diversity schemes," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propag. Letters, Vol. 12, 1327-1330, 2013.
doi:10.1109/LAWP.2013.2285400 Google Scholar

20. Kourogiorgas, C., A. D. Panagopoulos, S. N. Livieratos, and G. E. Chatzarakis, "On the outage probability prediction of time diversity scheme in broadband satellite communication systems," Progress In Electromagnetics Research C, Vol. 44, 175-184, 2013.
doi:10.2528/PIERC13082704 Google Scholar

21. Karagiannis, G. A., A. D. Panagopoulos, and J. D. Kanellopoulos, "Multidimensional rain attenuation stochastic dynamic modeling: Application to Earth-space diversity systems," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 60, No. 11, 5400-5411, 2012.
doi:10.1109/TAP.2012.2208610 Google Scholar

22. Kanellopoulos, J. D., A. D. Panagopoulos, and S. N. Livieratos, "Differential rain attenuation statistics including an accurate estimation of the effective slant path lengths," Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, Vol. 14, No. 5, 663-664, 2000; Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 28, 97-120, 2000.
doi:10.1163/156939300X01373 Google Scholar

23. Rafi Ul Islam, M., T. A. Rahman, S. K. B. A. Rahim, K. F. Al-Tabatabaie, and A. Y. Abdulrahman, "Fade margins prediction for broadband fixed wireless access (BFWA) from measurements in tropics," Progress In Electromagnetics Research C, Vol. 11, 199-212, 2009.
doi:10.2528/PIERC09103006 Google Scholar

Mr. Charilaos I. Kourogiorgas

Dr. Athanasios Panagopoulos

Professor Spiros N. Livieratos

Prof. George Chatzarakis