Mobile radio propagation path loss studies at VHF/UHF bands in Southern India

Field strength measurements at 200, 400 and 450 MHz (VHF/UHF band) were conducted with the field strength meter placed on board a vehicle in Southern India. Observed field strength values were converted into path losses and are compared with different path loss prediction methods like Hata (1980), Egli (1957), Blomquist-Ladell (1974), COST 231 Walfisch-Ikegami (Doble 1996), Walfisch-Bertoni (1988) and ITU-R. These path loss studies are carried out in urban, suburban and open areas in this region. The results showed that Hata's method gave better agreement with observed values in urban, suburban and open regions; the COST 231 Walfisch-Ikegami model is also in good agreement with the observed values in urban and suburban regions, the Egli and Blomquist-Ladell methods showed moderate agreement in open regions only. The agreement of the Walfisch-Bertoni and ITU-R methods with observed values is not good.