Performance Analysis of Empirical Path Loss Models for UHF TV Broadcast on Mountainous Area

Predicting the path loss is an important element of communication system design. Evaluation of TV broadcast system performance in UHF band is needed considering it experience propagation mechanisms. All previous studies there has been no specific rice explore the mountainous area. Whereas Indonesia is an archipelago which is geographically dominated by mountains of both active and passive. One of them is Batu and Malang, which is surrounded by 11 mountains. By considering the characteristics of these areas, this research is evaluated the performance of one TV broadcast system that serves coverage areas in Batu and Malang. The study uses an empirical approach by comparing several models of path loss to the field measurement of power received carried out in the mountainous area for UHF band. The Hata-Davidson model is one of the path loss models studied here, as a consideration the transmitter station is on a mountain which has a height of 1076 meters above sea level. The power received measurements are carried out at 15 points from a range distance of 3 km to 60 km. The result shows Free Space Loss and Okumura models underestimate the path loss throughout the range of interest. From this study it could be concluded that the Hata-Davidson model is the best approach for mountainous areas, as evidenced by the highest PA value (84.65%) and lowest RMSE value (23.52 dB). The Hata-Davidson model shows performance getting closer to the measurement value for a measurement distance above 30 km from transmitter station. Although for short distances below 30 km, the Hata model and COST 231 model give better results.