Indoor channel characterisation measurements with directional antennas for future high frequency ATM wireless access systems

This paper presents a selection of wideband channel sounding measurements performed as part of the ACTS AWACS (ATM Wireless Access Communications System) project. The results were obtained for two different indoor operating environments (mainly in line-of-sight conditions) at a carrier frequency of 19.37 GHz. The paper discusses the configuration of the wideband channel sounder and its connection to the prototype ATM transmission system. Measurements concentrate on average power, RMS delay spread and K-factor for a number of different antenna configurations and beamwidths. Mixed antenna configurations are also analysed with a directive antenna at the base station and an omni antenna at the mobile station. In particular, the results demonstrate the improvement in K-factor and the reduction in RMS delay spread that can be achieved with correctly oriented high gain antennas.