Vertical propagation model of radio signals in a multi-storey building

Two approaches to the provision of pan-European paging services are now becoming established, One of these relies on satellite based services to be provided by INMARSAT, BT and others at L-Band. The second, the European Messaging Service (ERMES) is a terrestrial system under development and scheduled to operate at 169 MHz. Both of these systems may however encounter a problem in delivering adequate signal strength within multi-storey buildings. In the case of the satellite systems due to the necessarily limited transmitter power, and in the terrestrial case due to increasing use of RF opaque glass in new building construction. One solution could be to transpond paging signals down through the building from the roof. Since ERMES is a multichannel service, it is technically feasible to transpond both satellite and ERMES originated paging signals on whatever ERMES channel can be identified as free of other users. The work described is the result of an extensive radio wave propagation measurement campaign carried out for the both approaches at 144 MHz.