Path diversity for LEO satellite-PCS in the urban environment

A new method for analyzing the propagation aspects of mobile satellite systems is introduced. It consists of: (1) taking fisheye lens images at potential user locations; (2) extracting path state information (clear, shadowed, or blocked) as a function of look angles from the images; and (3) combining each path state for single or multiple satellites in a specific constellation with frequency-appropriate statistical fade models to predict overall performance measures such as fade dependence with elevation angle or path-diversity gain. The advantage of the method is that it minimizes the need for expensive propagation campaigns. The importance of including specular reflections and diffraction under urban blockage conditions is established. From images obtained in urban Japan, a fade-lapse rate with elevation of 0.2 dB/degree is deduced for fades exceeded about 10% of the time. Path-diversity gain for combining and hand-off diversity is found for up to four-fold diversity at a high-, mid-, and low-latitude location for the Globalstar constellation. With two-fold diversity and neglecting implementation losses, the fade margin required for 80% and 95% coverage at mid-latitude urban locations is reduced from 16 to 6 dB and from 25 to 16 dB, respectively.