Propagation measurements and multipath channel modelling for line-of-sight links at 19.5 GHZ

The need for greater bandwidth and higher data rates will inevitably lead to the usage of the upper portion of the k-band in terrestrial communication systems. The frequency band from 18 GHz to 20 GHz has been identified as a suitable candidate for short-haul line-of sight links. As a consequence, a 6.73 km terrestrial LOS link centered at 19.5 GHz has recently been established between the Howard College and Westville campuses of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), with the primary objective to investigate the effect of rain attenuation over the link. Multipath propagation and the resultant frequency selective fading is another major problem afflicting such LOS links. In order to evaluate the effect of multipath propagation over the link statistical models of the channel transfer functions are required. In this paper the research into the simulation and statistical modeling of the multipath propagation for the above-mentioned LOS link will be discussed.