Calculation accuracy and time of outdoor propagation estimation using vertical plane launch

In the design of radio placement on the large outdoor environments, the huge calculation time of radio propagation estimation is critical matter. In order to shorten the calculation time, we are developing a simulator using vertical plane launch (VPL) technique which is known as speedy ray searching method. In this paper, we evaluate the calculation accuracy and the calculation time of the VPL. First, we describe the calculation procedure of VPL. Next, we describe the measurement of propagation characteristics in an outdoor environment which size is 200 m × 200 m. We put base station on a roof top, and measure the propagation characteristics along some routes on the ground. We compare the measurements with the estimation result of developed, imaging, and ray-launching methods, and then show that the calculation error of the each method is around 5dB. However, the calculation time of developed method is 1/150 of imaging method and 1/7 of ray-launching method. Therefore capability of radio propagation estimation in extremely short time is realized.