Measurement-Based 5G Millimeter-Wave Propagation Characterization in Vegetated Suburban Macrocell Environments

Abstract

An empirically based analysis of propagation characteristics in two vegetated suburban areas with different types and fractions of vegetation cover in 5G millimeter-wave bands is presented. A basic distance-dependent path loss model with a Gaussian random variance for shadow fading is utilized in accordance with the maximum-power directional and omnidirectional measurement data, therein exploiting significant path loss exponents in the presence of vegetation. In comparison with the existing ITU-R and 3GPP models, the effect of dense-leaved trees on path loss prediction is similar to that of buildings, whereas these standard models are inapplicable for sparse obstacle-line-of-sight (OLoS) links. Consequently, an azimuth-angle-based path loss characterization is proposed considering the antenna pattern, beam misalignment, and blockage effects. Moreover, several composite and cluster-level small-scale channel parameters, such as the number of clusters, delay spread, and angular spread, are extracted. Analysis of the first-arrival cluster in the OLoS setting reveals that forward scattering through foliage is still dominant and is expected to produce a larger azimuth angular spread of the arrival and compact multipath components in the time domain compared with line-of-sight and reflected clusters. Measurement results improve existing 3GPP channel models for suburban macrocell scenarios in millimeter-wave bands.

The Role of Millimeter-Wave Technologies in 5G/6G Wireless Communications

“…For mmWave communications, the path losses are generally much higher especially in NLOS scenarios [189], [190]. Additional losses including shadow fading, blockage effect, foliage attenuation, and off-body fading (e.g., handset on the right side of the head) need to be taken into account [192], [193]. The statistical analysis of these effects can be performed via site-specific measurements rather than conducting cellular-type measurements.…”

5G NR FR2 Femtocell Coverage Map Using an Omnidirectional Twisted SWAA

“…S. Shikhantsov, in [19], has proposed a numerical approach for Massive MIMO channel using a combination of the Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) and the Ray-Tracing methods. The references [20] and [21] report experimental path loss-based propagation analyses using continuous waves (CW) in outdoor vegetated suburban areas and indoor environment, respectively. In [25], the authors report an overview of map-based mm-wave channel models, including available modeling requirements and categorization of map-based channel parameters.…”

“…Most papers on wireless propagation are concerning the propagation coefficient estimation and/or channel modeling, from experimental campaigns based on commercial antennas and ray tracing-based approaches [19][20][21][22]. Completely, the current manuscript reports the implementation and coverage map estimation of an indoor femtocell based on the new 5G NR standard [4] operating in FR2.…”

D2D Communication Underlaying Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Cellular Networks Using CIPC

“…for the successful transmission probability for cellular and D2D users for microwave environment is given by (29): (30) In the mm-wave channel models for 5G wireless networks described in [35]- [37], it was showed that some environments have values of path-loss exponent  between 2 and 4. Some of these environments include indoor, urban microcell, suburban macrocell and given the nature of D2D communications, line-of-sight conditions can be experienced.…”