A macrocellular radio channel model for smart antenna tracking algorithms

In order to evaluate the performance of third generation wideband mobile communication systems, radio channel models capable of handling non-stationary scenarios with dynamic evolution of multipaths are required, since stationary models with fixed number of paths and delay information will produce over-optimistic results. In this context and due to the introduction of advanced antenna systems to exploit the spatial domain, a further expansion is needed in order to also include the non-stationary spatial characteristics of the channel. In an attempt to solve these problems, this paper present a new stochastic spatio-temporal propagation model. The model is a combination of the geometrically based single reflection (GBSR) and the Gaussian wide sense stationary uncorrelated scattering (GWSSUS) models, and is further enhanced in order to be able to handle nonstationary scenarios. The probability density functions of the number of multipath components, the scatterers' lifetime and the angle of arrival are calculated for this reason.