access icon free Comparison of heterogeneous network rain fade simulation tools: global integrated network SIMulator and MultiEXCELL

Two heterogeneous network simulation tools are compared and tested against measured data from terrestrial and Earth-space microwave links. Both global integrated network SIMulator (GINSIM) and MultiEXCELL are able to produce joint distributions of rain fade time-series for arbitrary networks of microwave telecommunications links. The tools are fundamentally different in that GINSIM has, as its input, time-series of composite rain rate maps produced by networks of meteorological radars and can produce time-series of joint rain fade. MultiEXCELL uses the rain rate distribution as an input to constrain distributions of parameters of simulated rain cells. This study tests the simulators by comparing a range of annual fade statistics produced by simulation with data measured on experimental links. Link fade data were measured on two, Ka band, Earth-space links and a convergent 38 GHz terrestrial link near Chilbolton in southern England; and a further Earth-space link located in Dundee, Scotland. Both GINSIM and MultiEXCELL are shown to be able to predict joint fade distributions and diversity gain, for the satellite and terrestrial links, to useful accuracy. Differences in performance are analysed, leading to suggested development routes for both systems.

Inspec keywords: satellite links; rain; statistical distributions; time series; meteorological radar; microwave links

Other keywords: terrestrial microwave links; arbitrary networks; global integrated network simulator; GINSIM; Earth-space microwave links; rain rate distribution; link fade data; multiEXCELL; joint rain fade; composite rain rate maps; meteorological radar network; heterogeneous network rain fade simulation tools; satellite links; rain fade time-series joint distributions; microwave telecommunications links; annual fade statistics; diversity gain; frequency 38 GHz; simulated rain cells; Ka band

Subjects: Radar equipment, systems and applications; Other topics in statistics; Satellite communication systems

References

    1. 1)
    2. 2)
      • 7. Jeannin, N., Carrié, G., Castanet, L., Lacoste, F.: ‘Space-time propagation model of total attenuation for the dimensioning of high frequency multimedia satcom systems’. 17th Ka and Broadband Communications, Navigation and Earth Observation Conf., Palermo, Italy, 3–5 October 2009.
    3. 3)
    4. 4)
      • 24. Capsoni, C., Luini, L., D'Amico, M.: ‘The MultiEXCELL model for the prediction of the radio interference due to hydrometeor scattering’. EuCAP 2010, Barcelona, Spain, 12–16 April 2010, pp. 15.
    5. 5)
    6. 6)
      • 2. Lacoste, F., Carvalho, F., Scot, G., Ros, B.: ‘Comparison of macrocell propagation channels at 2.2 and 3.8 GHz’. Proc. of the Fourth European Conf. on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP), Barcelona, Spain, April 2010.
    7. 7)
    8. 8)
      • 22. Luini, L., Capsoni, C.: ‘Preliminary results from a physically-based methodology for the evaluation of a time diversity system’. EuCAP 2011, Rome, Italy, 11–15 April 2011, pp. 16001604.
    9. 9)
    10. 10)
      • 19. Luini, L., Emiliani, L., Capsoni, C.: ‘Planning of advanced SatCom systems using ACM techniques: The impact of rain fade’. EuCAP 2011, Rome, Italy, 11–15 April 2011, pp. 39653969.
    11. 11)
      • 23. Borroni, L., Capsoni, C., Luini, L., Riva, C.: ‘An enhanced version of the SC EXCELL model considering cells movement’. EuCAP 2007, Edinburgh, UK, 11–16 November 2007.
    12. 12)
    13. 13)
    14. 14)
      • 14. Paulson, K.S., Basarudin, H.: ‘Development of a heterogeneous microwave network fade simulation tool applicable to networks that span Europe’, Radio Sci., 2011, 46, RS4004, doi: 10.1029/2010RS004608.
    15. 15)
    16. 16)
    17. 17)
      • 1. Callaghan, S.A.: ‘Fractal analysis and synthesis of rain fields for radio communication systems’. PhD thesis, University of Portsmouth, UK, 2004.
    18. 18)
      • 20. Luini, L., Capsoni, C.: ‘A physically based methodology for the evaluation of the rain attenuation on terrestrial radio links’. EuCAP 2010, Barcelona, Spain, 12–16 April 2010, pp. 15.
    19. 19)
    20. 20)
      • 4. Hodges, D., Watson, R., Page, A., Watson, P.: ‘Generation of attenuation time-series for EHF SATCOM simulation’. Military Communications Conf., 2003, (MILCOM 2003), 2003, vol. 1, pp. 505510, ISBN 0-7803-8140-8, doi: 10.1109/MILCOM.2003.1290154.
    21. 21)
      • 28. Basarudin, H.: ‘Development of a heterogeneous microwave network, fade simulation tool applicable to networks that span Europe’. PhD thesis, 2012, University of Hull.
    22. 22)
      • 9. Zhang, X.: ‘Fine-scale modelling of rain fields for radio network simulation’. PhD thesis, Department of Engineering, University of Hull, UK, 2008.
    23. 23)
    24. 24)
    25. 25)
      • 17. Féral, L., Sauvageot, H., Castanet, L., Lemorton, J.: ‘HYCELL-A new hybrid model of the rain horizontal distribution for propagation studies: 1. Modeling of the rain cell’, Radio Sci., 2003, 38, (3), pp. 22-122-20.
    26. 26)
http://iet.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.1049/iet-map.2014.0353
Loading

Related content

content/journals/10.1049/iet-map.2014.0353
pub_keyword,iet_inspecKeyword,pub_concept
6
6
Loading