PATH LOSS PREDICTION MODELING FOR DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL TELEVISION (DTTV) IN THE TROPICAL RAIN FOREST ZONE OF NIGERIA
Abstract
This study investigated the channel losses of a Digital Terrestrial Television Base Station (DTTBS) operating on 722 MHz in a Tropical Rain Forest, Sub Urban City of Akure, South West, Nigeria. The digital field strength values of the base station were measured at intervals of 1km along three selected routes around the station using a digital signal strength meter (Satlink WS-6936 model). A GPS receiver was used to monitor the line of sight with the station as reference and to log the geographic coordinates and heights of data points. A compact wireless weather station model N96FY was used for the measurement of surface meteorological parameters of Temperature, Atmospheric Pressure and Humidity of data locations whereas, the corresponding surface radio refractivity values along the routes were derived from the atmospheric components recorded. Data were collected during dry and wet seasons for comparative studies. Path loss along the routes for each of the seasons was calculated using Okumura-Hata model. Results for all the routes and seasons revealed that path losses were higher when using receiver antenna height of 1.5 m compared to that of 3.0 m. Also, path losses increase with distance in all the routes and seasons, however path losses were more significant during wet seasons compared to the dry seasons. In addition, the data obtained were used to revalidate existing path loss model for use in the study area. The overall findings of this work will be useful in Digital Terrestrial Television (DTTV) Industry for channel optimization and equipment design
References
Adediji, A. T., Ajewole, M. O. (2008). Vertical Profile of Radio Refractivity Gradient in Akure, South West Nigeria, Progress in Electromagnetic Research C, Vol.4, pp157-168
Ajewole, M.O., Akinbolati, A., Adediji,A. T., Ojo, J.S. (2014). Precipitation Effect on the Coverage Areas of Terrestrial UHF Television Stations in Ondo State, Nigeria, International Journal of Engineering and Technology, Vol. (4) (9), pp. 524-535
Ajayi, G. O.,Owolabi, I. E. (1979). CoverageAreas of the 10kW, 702kHz Medium Wave Transmitter at Minna and Feasibility Studies for full Radio Coverage of Niger State, Technical Report of the Electrical Communication Consultancy Unit (ECCU), Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University of Ife, Nigeria, pp1-3
Akinbolati, A., Ajewole, M.O., Adediji, A. T., Ojo, J. S. (2015). Determination and Classification of Coverage Areas of Terrestrial UHF Television Transmitters in Ondo State, Nigeria, International Organization of Scientific Research, Journal of Applied Physics (IOSR-JAP) Vol. (7), (4) PP. 16-26
Akinbolati, A., Akinsanmi. O, Ekundayo. K. R. (2016). Signal Strength Variation and Propagation Profiles of UHF Radio Wave Channel in Ondo State, Nigeria, International Journal of Wireless and Microwave Technologies (IJWMT), DOI:10.5815/ijwmt.2016. 02
Akingbade and Olorunnibi (2013). Path Loss Prediction Model For UHF Radiowaves Propagation in Akure Metropolis, International Journal of Engineering (IJE), Vol.8 (3),.
Ayeni, A. A., Faruk, N., Surajudeen-Bakinde,N.T., Okanlawon, R. A., Adediran, Y.A. (2015). Spatial Utilization Efficiency Metric for Spectrum Sharing System”, International Journal of Digital Information and Wireless Communications Vol. 5(1), pp44-51
Ayantunji, B.G., Okeke, P. N., Urama, J. O. (2011). Diurnal and Seasonal Variation of Surface Refractivity Over Nigeria, Progress in Electromagnetic Research B, Vol.30, pp201-22
Ayekomilogbon, O. T., Famoriji, J. O., Olasoji, Y. O. (2013). Evaluation and Modeling of UHF Radio wave Propagation in a Forested Environment, International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology; vol. 2 (12), pp.101-106
Armoogun, V., Soyjaudah, K.M.S., Mohamudally,N., Forgarty, T. (2010). Propagation Models and their Applications in Digital Television Broadcast Network Design and Implementation, Trends in Telecommunications Technology, Christos J Bouras (Ed.) pp165-183
Bothias, L. (1987). Radio Wave Propagation, McGraw-Hill Inc. New York St. Louis anFrancisca Montreal Toronto. Pp.
Collin, R. E. (1985). Antennas and Radiowave Propagation, McGraw Hill Inc. NewDelhi, Pp401-409 CCIR Report 239-6, Propagation Statistics required for Broadcasting Service using the frequency range 30- 1000MHz, Recommendation and Report of the ITU-R, Geneva,1986, In Hall. M.(Ed); Ibid, 256 Federal Republic of Nigeria, National Bureau of Statistics, Annual Abstract of Statistics, Abuja pp. 38-39 (2010)
Friis, H.T. (1948). The Free Space Transmission equation. Proc. IRE, Vol. 34, pp.253-254.
Hata, M. (1980). Empirical formula for propagation loss in land mobile radio services. IEEE Trans. Veh. Technology, 29(no issue number), pp. 317–324.
Karl, P. (1895). Notes on Regression and Inheritance of two Parents, Proceedings of the Royal Statistical Society, London, 58, pp. 240-242.
Kenedy, G., Bernard, D (1992). Electronic Communication System, McGrawHill/ Macmillian, Singapore. Pp 80-85
Nisirat, M.A., Ismail, M., Nissirat, L., Al-Khawaldeh, S. (2011). A Terrain Correction Factor for Hata Path Loss Model at 900MHz, Progress in Electromagnetic Research C, Vol.22, pp11-22
Copyright (c) 2023 FUDMA JOURNAL OF SCIENCES
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
FUDMA Journal of Sciences
