Analysis of rain fade mitigation using site diversity on earth-to-satellite microwave links at Ku-Band

Rain is the major challenge to design reliable earth to satellite microwave link at higher frequencies in tropical regions. Site diversity is one of the techniques used to mitigate this problem. Hodge Site Diversity Gain Model, ITU-R Site Diversity Gain Model and ITU-R Diversity Improvement Factor Model are analyzed based on rainfall data measured in Malaysia and four locations in Kuala Lumpur and MEASAT3A as reference satellite. In analysis, it is found that significant improvement in availability can be achieved through the site separations of 6 to 37 Km in site diversity technique

Analysis of the synthetic storm technique using rain height models to predict rain attenuation in tropical regions

This paper aims to investigate the utilization of the Synthetic Storm Technique to convert rain rate time series to rain attenuation time series using the ITU-R P.839, Stutzman and Bryant rain height models. Furthermore, the study aims to compare the actual rain attenuation with that predicted by the SST using the three above-mentioned rain height models based on rain rate and rain attenuation both measured concurrently. The reason for conducting this study is the fact that previous studies found that SST derived attenuation using the ITU-R P.839 rain height model is close to measured attenuation in low rain intensity but it is overestimated in medium rainfall and extremely overestimated in high rainfall rate. Therefore, it is vital to investigate the utilization of the SST using two additional rain height models which are the Stutzman and Bryant models. The study relies on rain rate time series and rain attenuation time series measured at University Science Malaysia (USM) campus (4.390 N, 100.980 E). The study found that the higher the rain rate, the higher is the percentage error for the SST predicated rain attenuation using the three above-mentioned rain height models as compared with measured rain attenuation. However, it is observed that when the Stutzman model applied as part of the SST model, the prediction is more accurate of the three rain height models

Analysis of synthetic storm technique based on Ku-Band Satellite Beacon measurements in Malaysia

Most of the existing rain attenuation prediction models were proposed based on measurements taken in temperate climates. These models are found not accurate in tropical regions and were thus modified in order for such models to be applied in tropical regions. Synthetic Storm Technique (SST) is one of the most reliable methods to estimate rain attenuation time series in Europe. However, due to the lack of measured data in the tropical regions of the world, the above-mentioned method is yet to be validated for those regions. This paper aims to investigate SST validity in Malaysia by focusing on both rain events and the overall statistical behavior. Its performance is assessed based on concurrent measurement of Ku-band satellite beacon and rain rate over University of Science Malaysia (USM) campus at Tronoh. Preliminary analysis shows that SST is capable of providing details of time-series of many rain events to reflect the dynamics of rain fade. However, it is unable to predict the entire range of rain intensity

Rain attenuation analysis using synthetic storm technique in Malaysia

Generated rain attenuation time series plays an important role for investigating the rain fade characteristics in the lack of real fade measurements. A suitable conversion technique can be applied to measured rain rate time series to produce rain attenuation data and be utilized to understand the rain fade characteristics. This paper focuses on applicability of synthetic storm technique (SST) to convert measured rain rate data to rain attenuation time series. Its performance is assessed for time series generation over a tropical location Kuala Lumpur, in Malaysia. From preliminary analysis, it is found that SST gives satisfactory results to estimate the rain attenuation time series from the rain rate measurements over this region