Empirical Path Loss Model for

Outdoor 802.11b Wireless Links

 Motivation
• 802.11b is a promising technology for Wireless Connectivity. It is designed for
indoor use. However it can be used for deployment for campus-wide Wireless
network & also for long distance Point-to-Point links; which has been verified
with various experimental links already set up & running.
• 802.11b is an economic technology as it works in “Licence Free” ISM band of
2.4 GHz & gives a very good data rate of 11 Mbps. This data rate meets most
of the demands of Audio, Video & Data. Moreover, the cost of the Hardware &
Software is coming down drastically with lot of competition which is based on
a huge potential in the demand of wireless internet connectivity. Already many
hotspots have been setup world wide & their number is increasing
exponentially. Even 802.11g standard is also envisaging use of OFDM in 2.4
GHz range which can give data-rates up to 54 Mbps.
 Motivation--Continued
• Since there is going to be so much usage of this bandwidh, it will be
appropriate to study the Path-Loss model for this band.
• At present there are various models available for Pathloss in MW range.
However they don’t cater specifically to 2.4 GHz range of 802.11b. They are
either for frequency range below 2 GHz or they cater to long distances like >
1 Km.
• The purpose of this thesis will therefore be to provide empirically
– pathloss model in following scenerios-
• Campus wide networks
• Along the roads in straight line
• Long distance Point to Point links. (Distance form 1 to 40 Kms)
– SNR Vs Throughput Curves & a comparison of these with standard SNR Vs BER
curves available for the modulation techniques used.
 Path Loss Models Available
• Okumura Model: It is one of the most widely used models for signal
prediction in urban areas.It is an empirical model in the frequency
range of 150 MHz to 1920 MHz & distances from 1 to 100 Km. It can
be extrapolated up to 3 GHz.
• Hata Model: It is an empirical formulation of the path loss data
provided by Okumura, & is valid from 150 Mhz to 1500 MHz for
urban area.
• PCS Extension to Hata Model: This is an extension of Hata model up
to 2 GHz for Personal Communication Systems which have cells of the
order of 1 Km to 20 Km radius.
 Okumura Model
Path Loss = FPL + A(f,d) - G(hte) - G(hre) - G(Area)
Where :
FPL = Free Space Path Loss = 20 log {4*PI*d*f/c}
c = Speed of Light
d = distance
f = Frequency
G(hte) = 20log(hte /200) 1000m > hte > 30 m
G(hre) = 10log(hre / 3) hre < 3 m
= 20log(hre / 3) 10 m > hre > 3 m
G(Area) @ 2.4 GHz from the Curves
= 33 (Open Area)
= 27 (Quasi Open Area)
= 13 ( Suburban Area)
A(f,d) = Median Attenuation : function of frequency & distance
= 13 dB from curve @ 2.4 GHz & distance up to 1 Km.
 Hata Model
Path Loss in Urban areas is given by
Path Loss = 69.55 + 26.16*log(f) - 13.82*log(hte) -a(hre) +(44.9-6.55*log(hte)*log(d)
Where:
f = Frequency (in MHz) from 150 MHz to 1500 MHz

the = Effective Transmitter Height, from 30 to 200 meters

hre = Effective Receiver Height, from 1m to 10 meters.
d = Transmitter - Receiver separation (in Km)
a(hre) = Correction factor for effective mobile antenna height, which is a function of
the size of the coverage area.
=(1.1*log f - .7)hre -(1.56*log f - .8) dB For medium sized city
=8.29(log1.54hre)2 - 1.1 dB f <= 300 MHz For large city
=3.2(log11.75hre)2 - 4.97 dB f>= 300 MHz For large city
Path Loss in Suburban Areas
Path Loss (Suburban) = Path Loss (Urban) -2*[log(f/28)]2 - 5.4
Path Loss for Open Rural Areas
Path Loss(Open Suburban) = Path Loss (Urban) - 4.78(log f )2 +18.33*(log f) - 40.94
 PCS Extension to Hata Model

Path Loss = 46.3 +33.9*(log f) - 13.82*(log the) - a(hre) +

[44.9 - 6.55*(log hte)]*(log d) + CM

CM =0 For medium sized city & suburban areas

=3 For metropolitan centers
The model is restricted to following range of parameters:
f: 1500 MHz to 2000 MHz
hte: 30 m to 200 m
hre: 1 m to 10 m
d: 1 Km to 20 Km
 Propagation Models
• Large Scale Propagation Models:
– Propagation models that predict the mean signal strength for an arbitrary
T-R separation.The distances involved are hundreds or thousands of
meters.
• Small-Scale or fading models:
– Models that characterize rapid fluctuations of recd sig. Strength over very
short travel distances ( a few wavelengths) or short time durations (of the
order of seconds).
– As a mobile moves over very small distances, the instantaneous recd sig.
Strength may fluctuate rapidly giving rise to small-scale fading. The
reasons for this is that the recd sig is a sum of many contributions coming
from different directions.
– The recd signal may vary as much as 30 or 40 dB when the receiver
moved by only a fraction of wavelength.
 Indoor Path Loss

As a first cut approximation to estimating indoor path losses, if we assume that

propagation follows an approximate 1/(range^3.5) power rule, rather than
1/(range^2), we can predict propagation losses with the following relationship
(at 2.4 GHz):

Path Loss (in dB) = 40 + 35 * [LOG (D in meters)]

 Tools Used
•To measure the signal strength, a suitable receiver is required
which is calibrated correctly. We have used the standard WLAN
cards themselves, along with commercially available software
“Airopeek” & calibrated them with the help of “Network
Analyzer”.
•Various Attenuators have been used for calibration, which again
have been calibrated using “Network Analyzer”.
•For measuring distance between two points, GPS receiver is
used which can give accuracy of about 5 meters in absolute
position of any point & < 1 m for distance between two points.
Setup for Calibration
Loss of 50 feet Co-axial cable (1/2”dia)
As measured by Network Analyzer
 Path Loss Measurements
(Along Campus Roads)

Path Loss Vs Distance (Campus Roads)

160

140

120
Path Loss (dB)

100 SBRA-Nursery
80 SBI_Board-Airstrip
Spool-Hall1
60

40

20

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
Distance (Meters)
Path Loss Measurements in Academic Area

Path Loss Vs Distance (Academic Area)

140
120
Path Loss (dB)

100
80
Series1
60
40
20
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Distance (Meters)
Deviation of Path Loss as compared to FPL
(Academic Area)

Deviation in Path Loss from FPL

Deviation from FPL (dB)
40
35
30
25
20 Series1
15
10
5
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Distance (Meters)
Deviation in Path Loss From FPL
(Campus Roads)
Deviation in Path Loss from FPL Vs Distance (Campus Roads)

50
45
Actual Path Loss - FPL

40
35
30 SBRA-Nursery
25 SBI_Board-Airstrip
20 Spool-Hall1
15
10
5
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
Distance (Meters)
 Path Loss Vs Distance
(FBTop upto GH)
Path Loss Vs Distance

160

140

120
Path Loss (dBm)

100

80 Series1

60

40

20

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Distance (Meters)
 Deviation of Path Loss from FPL
(From FBTop upto GH)

Path Loss Comparision with Free Space

45
40
Actual Pathloss - FPL

35
30
25
Series1
20
15
10
5
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Distance (Meters)
 SNR Vs Throughput
(FBTop upto GH)
SNR Vs Throughput (FBTop up to GH)

5.00
4.50
4.00
Throughput (Mbps)

3.50
3.00
2.50 Seri
es1
2.00
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
SNR
 SNR Vs Throughput Curves.
(Under Controlled Environment in Lab)
SNR Vs Throughput

7.00

6.00
Throughput (Mbps)

5.00

4.00
Series1
3.00

2.00

1.00

0.00
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
SNR (dB)
 Path Loss Vs Distance: Tx at 15 Meter Height
Path Loss Vs Distance (LOS)

140

Actual PL (Omni)
120

100 Actual PL (Yagi)

Path Loss (APL- FPL / APL-PCSE_Hata PL)

80 FPL

60
Actual PL - FPL (Omni)

40
Actual PL - FPL (Yagi)

20
PCSE-Hata PL
0
0 50 100 150 200 250
Actual PL - PCSE_Hata PL:
-20 Omni

Actual PL - PCSE_Hata PL: Yagi

-40

-60
Distance (Meters)
 Path Loss Vs Distance: Tx at 15 Meter Height

Path Loss Vs Distance (Non LOS)

160

140

PCSE_Hata PL
120
Path Loss (APL - FPL / APL - PCSE_Hata PL)

APL (Yagi)
100

APL (Omni)
80

FPL

60
APL - FPL (Omni)

40
APL - FPL (Yagi)

20
APL(Omni) - PCSE_Hata PL

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 APL (Yagi) - PCSE_Hata PL

-20

-40
Distance (Meteres)
 Path Loss Vs Distance : Omni (LOS)
Tx at 25 Meters at FBTop

160
Path Loss (dBm) / Differnce in

140
120
100 APL
80
PL (dB)

FPL
60 APL - FPL
40 PCSE_HATA PL
20 APL - PCSE_HATA PL

0
-20 0 200 400 600 800

-40
Distance (Meters)
 Distance Vs Path Loss : Yagi Antenna (LOS): Tx at 25 Meters

160
140
Path Loss (dB) / Difference in PL

120
100
APL
80 FPL
(dB)

60 APL - FPL
40 PCSE_Hata PL
APL - PCSE_Hata PL
20
0
-20 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700

-40
Distance (Meters)
 Distance Vs Path Loss (Non LOS): Tx at 25 Meters Height

160

140
Path Loss / Difference in PL (dB)

120
APL (Omni)
100 APL (Yagi)
80 FPL
APL - FPL (Omni)
60
APL - FPL (Yagi)
40 PCSE_Hata PL
20 APL - PCSE_Hata PL: Omni
APL - PCSE_Hata PL: Yagi
0
0 100 200 300 400 500
-20

-40
Distance (Meters)
 Long Distance Point to Point Links

Tx Rx
 Measured Path Loss Vs Distance

145

140

Path Loss (dB)

135

130

125

120

115
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Distance (Km)

Excess Path Loss over FPL Vs Distance

( Point to Point Long Distance Links)

9.00
Excess Path Loss (dB)

8.00
7.00
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Distance (Km)
 Simulation using MATLAB

•Generation of BPSK, QPSK & CCK Modulated

Waveforms
•Adding Channel Model to it
•Doing BER Analysis & Comparison of different
schemes.
Results
 Path Loss for Long Distance Point to Point Links

Measured Path Loss Vs Distance

145
Trend Line
140 Path Loss = FPL + 3 + .15*D(Km)
Path Loss (dB)

135

130

125

120

115
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Distance (Km)

Actual Path Loss TrendLine

 Path Loss for Long Distance Point to Point Links
Free Space
Path Loss Measured Path
Rx Sig. Strength ( dB) Loss DifferenceTrend Line APL-TrendLine
Tx Power
20log(4*pi*d/La +(TxGain+RxGai
mbda) = n)-(TxCable
20log10(40pdf/3) Loss+ Rx Cable
distance (d in Km, f in Loss)-(Rx Sig.
Link Date Set up (Km) dBm % MHz) Str.) dB FPL+3+.15x
Parabolic both sides; Cisco
RB 100 mw-70m Low Loss
Cable--100mw Power AMP
at top @ MBSNL; 50' Lucent
cable @ IITK end--Cisco
IITK-MBSNL23-Jan-03 WLAN card 5.1 -55 76% 114.33 118 3.67 118.10 -0.10
Parabolic bothsides, 50 m
Low Loss cable on Safipur
side & 60 m Low Loss cable
on Saroha Side, Cirsco RB
100 mw--Cisco WLAN card
Safipur-Saroha
13-Dec @ Safipur 17.7 -76 30% 125.14 131 5.86 130.80 0.20
Parabolic bothsides, 70 m
Low Loss cable on MBSNL
side & 50 m Low Loss cable
on Safilpur Side, Cirsco RB
100 mw, 1 W Amp below @
MBSNL- Mandhana--Cisco WLAN
Safipur card without AMP @ Safipur 22.7 -70 50% 127.30 134 6.70 133.71 0.29
Parabolic bothsides, 15 m
Lucent Cable at IITK, Cisco
WLAN card-- 60 m Low Loss
cable at Saroha, 500 mw
AMP at Top @ saroha,
IITK-Saroha 18-Dec Cisco RB 100 mw 37.02 -70 50% 131.55 140 8.45 140.10 -0.10
 Path Loss along the Roads

Distance Vs Path Loss

160

140

120
Path Loss (dB)

100 TrendLine
SBRA-Nursery
80 SBI_Board-AirStrip
Spool-Hall1
60 FPL
Trend Line
40 Path Loss = FPL + 15 + .02*D(Meters)

20

0
0 500 1000 1500
Distance (Meters)
 Path Loss along the Roads
Difference
Sig Input Signal ( Actual Path Loss in dB Free Space Path in Path
Name Distance Strength in dB) (APL ) Loss in dB (FPL) Loss Fixed Loss (FL) Slope
Tx Power
+(TxGain+RxGain) - 20log(4πd/λ) =
250 mw (TxCable Loss+ Rx Cable 20log10(40πdf/3) (d APL - FPL
Meters dBm (24 dB) Loss)- (Rx Sig. Str.) in Km, f in MHz) (dB) 15.00 0.02
Actual -
From SBRA to Nursury FPL+FL+Slope*x TrendLine
Base-SBRA
VH1 253.16 -48.00 24.00 108.00 88.25 19.75 108.31 -0.31
VH2 344.07 -54.00 24.00 114.00 90.92 23.08 112.80 1.20
BR 590.04 -53.00 24.00 113.00 95.60 17.40 122.40 -9.40
SIS 759.11 -63.00 24.00 123.00 97.79 25.21 127.97 -4.97
Audi 923.08 -63.00 24.00 123.00 99.49 23.51 132.95 -9.95
IWD 1026.14 -66.00 24.00 126.00 100.41 25.59 135.93 -9.93
Nursery 1160.08 -73.00 24.00 133.00 101.47 31.53 139.67 -6.67
From SBI Board to Air-Strip
Base-SBI Board
Pole-317 194.16 -46.00 24.00 106.00 85.95 20.05 104.83 1.17
Pole-312 374.26 -54.00 24.00 114.00 91.65 22.35 114.13 -0.13
Pole-309 490.08 -60.00 24.00 120.00 93.99 26.01 118.79 1.21
Pole-305 588.10 -63.00 24.00 123.00 95.57 27.43 122.33 0.67
Pole-302 681.05 -71.00 24.00 131.00 96.85 34.15 125.47 5.53
Pole-298 801.08 -83.00 24.00 143.00 98.26 44.74 129.28 13.72
From Barasirohi Gate(Near Swimming Pool) to Hall 1
Base-BSirohiGate
Spool 181.02 -49.00 24.00 109.00 85.34 23.66 103.96 5.04
Hall-4 330.01 -54.00 24.00 114.00 90.55 23.45 112.15 1.85
Hall-3 497.10 -70.00 24.00 130.00 94.11 35.89 119.05 10.95
Hall-5 633.03 -70.00 24.00 130.00 96.21 33.79 123.87 6.13
Hall-1 766.02 -80.00 24.00 140.00 97.87 42.13 128.19 11.81

Conclusion Path Loss = FPL + 15 + .02*Distance(Meteres)

 Path Loss Vs Distance:
Academic Area with Transmitter at 25 Meters

120

100

Omni
80
Path Loss (dB)

Yagi
Trend Lines
FPL
Path Loss (Yagi) = FPL + 4 + .005*D(Meters)
60 Path Loss (Omni) = FPL + 7 + .005*D(Meters) Yagi-Trend
Omni-Trend
40

20

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Distance (Meters)
 Path Loss for Academic Area :Transmitter at 25 Meters

Difference Actual
in Path -
Path Loss in dB Loss with Yagi- Actual - Omni_ Omni_
Name Distance Signal Strength Path Loss in dB (Actual ) (Free Space) FPL Trend Yagi_Trend Trend Trend
Omni
High Gain Tx Power 20log(4πd/λ) =
Antenna +(TxGain+RxGain)-(TxCable 20log10(40πdf/3)
(12 dBi Yagi Antenna 802.11a D- Loss+ Rx Cable Loss)-(Rx (d in Km, f in
Location Distance Gain) (14 dBi Gain) Link Card Sig. Str.) MHz) 4 0.005 7 0.005
Omni High Yagi
Omni High Yagi Gain Antenna
dB Gain Antenna Antenna (14 Antenna (14 dBi
Meter % dBm % m % (12 dBi Gain) dBi Gain FPL (12 dBi Gain
Base-FBTop
FBLawn 77.37 72 -57 97 -45 43 91 81 77.86 13.14 3.14 82.25 -1.25 85.25 5.75
FBLawn 118.95 61 -64 87 -49 33 98 85 81.60 16.40 3.40 86.19 -1.19 89.19 8.81
LHC 149.35 72 -57 80 -57 31 91 93 83.58 7.42 9.42 88.32 4.68 91.32 -0.32
NewLC 230.11 70 -59 77 -56 26 93 92 87.33 5.67 4.67 92.48 -0.48 95.48 -2.48
BRGate 262.73 64 -62 75 -55 28 96 91 88.48 7.52 2.52 93.80 -2.80 96.80 -0.80
II_V.Court-Stadium 475.48 53 -68 64 -62 13 102 98 93.64 8.36 4.36 100.01 -2.01 103.01 -1.01
GHLawn 565.74 46 -71 61 -64 11 105 100 95.15 9.85 4.85 101.97 -1.97 104.97 0.03
GHTop 617.18 41 -74 56 -66 13 108 102 95.90 12.10 6.10 102.99 -0.99 105.99 2.01

FPL + 4 + .005*Distance(Meters) For Yagi

Path Loss =
FPL + 7 + .005*Distance(Meters) For Omni
 PathLoss Vs Distance in Academic Area:
Transmitter at 4 Meters Height

120

100

80
APL
60 Trend Line FPL
Path Loss = FPL + 5 + .03*D(Meters) TrendLine
40

20

0
0 50 100 150 200 250
 Path Loss for Academic Area :Transmitter at 4 Meters

Difference Trend-Line = Actual -

Input Actual Path Loss Path Loss in dB in Path Loss FPL+FL+slop Trend
No Name Distance Signal Strength Signal (dB ) (APL) (Free Space) with FPL e*x Line
Tx Power
+(TxGain+RxGain)- 20log(4πd/λ) =
100 (TxCable Loss+ Rx 20log10(40πdf/3)
mw (20 Cable Loss)-(Rx (d in Km, f in
% dBm dBm) Sig. Str.) MHz) FL Slope (m)
Base-AcadArea
(Stage Near
1 Faculty Lounge) Transmitter at 4 Meter Height 5 0.03
With inbuilt antenna of Cisco Card
6 LHC_Passage 185 67 -61 20 95 86 9 96.08 -1.08
7 LHC_Ground 155 64 -63 20 97 84 13 93.60 3.40
8 LHC_Ground 155 74 -55 20 89 84 5 93.63 -4.63
9 LHC_Ground 109 74 -55 20 89 81 8 89.24 -0.24
10 LHC_Ground 138 77 -54 20 88 83 5 92.10 -4.10
11 FB 172 59 -65 20 99 85 14 95.04 3.96
12 FB 194 61 -64 20 98 86 12 96.79 1.21
15 LIB 115 70 -60 20 94 81 13 89.80 4.20
16 LIB 63 85 -49 20 83 76 7 83.10 -0.10
17 LIB 38 98 -45 20 79 72 7 77.97 1.03

Path Loss = FPL + 5 + .03*Distance(Meters)