Performance Analysis Of Radio Frequency Propagation Models In Umts Network (A Case Study On Adama City)

Abstract

This thesis shows an analysis about RF signal propagation models in Third Generation mobile networks, their access medium is Wideband Code Division Multiple Access. The research includes field measurements and the choice of six propagation models with technological and environment of the test area. With a computer algorithm, select one of six outdoor propagation models for the study area and compared results of field measurements versus selected models. The study was made in an environment with a high population density and a high demand of data traffic (urban areas), suburban and rural areas of Adama city; selected twelve Base Stations (Nodes B) out off this four Node Bs for urban areas, four for suburban and four for rural areas in a test area with the objective of observe real behavior of signal transmitted versus ideal behavior of an empirical method. The observed result of the measured path loss compared with other existing path loss prediction methods and found that the Okumura-Hata model path loss values were closest of all the propagation models considered classifying the environment into consideration. Thus, the performance of Okumura-Hata model shows its suitability for path attenuation loss prediction in UMTS networks in Adama city. The Lee model also has the least path loss for all of the chosen RF propagation models, but its mainly applied for the operating frequency of 900 MHz not 2100 MHz and this model specially applied for rural areas and Adama city is one of the fastest growing cities of the country.