An Empirical Propagation Path loss Model for a WCDMA Cellular System in a Suburban Environment

Abstract

This study investigates the propagation path loss for south-east Nigeria using empirical measurements from specific sites in the region. Usually it is common to find predictions done using propagation models which were developed for different locations other than the region in question. Such practices most times results to power wastage and co-channel interference as the propagation environment differs. In this paper, real time field data were collected from a WCDMA network located in Onitsha suburban town. The measured data were used in determining an empirically based pathloss model for the test-bed environment. The results of the measurements show that the pathloss for the measurement environment increases by 3.04dB per decade.