Proc. ANTEM ’98, Ottawa, Aug., 1998 RADIO PROPAGATION DATA PERTINENT TO THE DESIGN OF LMCS SYSTEMS AT 28 GHz BY R. Bultitude + , P. Hou * , R. Hahn * , G. Hendrantoro * , D. Falconer * and R. Bérubé + + Communications Research Centre 3701 Carling Ave. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2H 8S2 robert.bultitude@crc.ca *Systems and Computer Engineering Carleton University 1125 Colonel By Drive Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6 ddf@sce.carleton.ca Abstract This paper reports work in progress on the analysis of radio propagation data measured at 28.5 GHz and 29.5 GHz in a suburban-type residential area in Ottawa. Both CW and wideband measurements were made in several radio propagation surveys. Issues discussed include: propagation loss in cluttered environments; cumulative probability distributions (CDFs) for excess loss; cross polarisation isolation, and temporal dispersion caused by multipath propagation. Introduction Currently, there is significant interest in radio propagation data pertinent to the design of wideband (40 MHz – 1 GHz) fixed, cellular communications systems at frequencies near 30 GHz. It is envisaged that such systems would employ cells with radii between 1 and 2 km, and, ultimately, be required to operate in cluttered residential environments. To enable the offering of “911” emergency services, there is a requirement for a reliability of 99.995% on subscriber links throughout these systems. Though 30 GHz propagation measurements and modelling have been conducted for many years in the past for application on microwave line of sight systems, the differences in link geometry, length, and clutter within the operating environments of the proposed new systems necessitate propagation studies that take these new conditions into consideration. The following paragraphs describe equipment, procedures in several surveys to measure parameters of interest, and results to date, from analysis of the measured data. Measurements and Measurement Equipment In four different measurement surveys, CW and wideband measurements were conducted. Two residential areas were surveyed. One area (PH) was an older residential area with large lots, primarily bungalows, and a mature mix of coniferous and deciduous trees. The second area (K) had newer construction styles, a mixture of 1 and 2 storey residences as well as commercial and industrial buildings, and a mixture of tree cover similar to that in PH. In PH, the transmitter was just on the edge of the measurement area, atop a 50-m apartment tower. In K, the transmitter was separated from the measurement area by about 1.5 km of forest, and mounted atop a 35-m building. Since this building was on lower ground than most of the survey area, depression angles from the transmitter at this simulated base station to survey antenna locations were all less than 5 degrees. This is in contrast to the PH case, in which depression angles to some survey locations were as great as 60 degrees. The CW transmit system used for the measurements consisted of two Gunn-oscillator driven, +24 dBm