This thesis describes a wide-hand channel sounding experiment carried out at the X-hand frequency over a transhorizon, sea path. The design of a wide-band channel probe is described in detail based upon the following operational requirements. "To capture as many sequential estimates of the transfer function of a telecommunication channel as possible, over the widest possible band-width and in the shortest time, subject to the constraint of low signal-to-noise ratio". The design described includes generation of a specialised, band limited, spectrally clean, synthesized test signal for bandwidth optimisation and the use of real-time, periodic averaging for signal-to-noise ratio enhancement. An external frequency reference has been used in preference to a carrier locked approach. The theoretical justification and hardware implications of this design approach are carefully argued in the thesis. Such a probe has been built, its dynamic performance assessed and compared with more conventional transfer function analyser designs. In particular the frequency stability of the unlocked system configuration and the problem of signal distortion due to excessi ve phase noise are explored in detail. The concept of time domain multi-ray modelling of a telecommunication channel has stimulated the application of high resolution spectral analysis techniques for ray parameter determination. A brief literature survey of various algorithms is presented and a comparison with the conventional Fourier approach is given. Detailed derivation of the Singular Value Decomposition - Prony (SVD-P) algorithm is presented together with an in-depth performance assessment over a wide-variety of simulated channel conditions. The measurement equipment was completed, tested in the laboratory and finally commissioned in May 1993. A long-term data capture campaign was started using an existing cross channel link; a large database of results has subsequently been obtained. Preliminary data analysis has been carried out and the thesis describes the phenomenological characteristics of the channel whilst subjected to a wide range of multipath propagation mechanisms. The final chapter of the thesis highlights the novel achievements of the research, together with a summary of the strengths and limitations of the experimental equipment and processing algorithms.

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Various physical mechanisms that affect radiowave propagation at millimetre wavelengths are considered. Current modelling weaknesses are highlighted and new improved models or more appropriate modelling approaches are suggested. Interference and resonance phenomena in the scattering of spherical ice and water particles are reviewed. The long standing problem of the numerous resonances observed in the scattering diagrams of dielectric spheres is answered. The spatial structure and the physical characteristics of non-precipitable ice and water clouds are reviewed. Extinction and back scattering calculations for a wide variety of cloud models over the entire millimetre frequency spectrum are given. Multiple scattering and the effects of super-large drops in clouds are also dealt with. The potential of a spaceborne instrument in deducing information about the vertical structure of various cloud types is examined. Attenuation and reflectivity profiles resulting from various cloud types are calculated for a nadir pointing fixed beam millimetre wave radar operating at 94 GHz. The physics and application of the equation of radiative transfer to millimetre wave propagation in the earth's atmosphere are given and also is the solution of this equation for a typical millimetre wave remote sensing application. The theory of gaseous absorption at millimetre wavelengths is presented and an improved modelling approach is proposed for the calculation of the absorption and dispersion spectra of atmospheric gases. The effects of trace gases on communication systems operating at high altitudes are for the first time reported. Finally the use of the 60 GHz oxygen absorption band for top-side air traffic control/navigation and broadband transmission purposes is studied.

Effective antenna selection and deployment strategies are important for reducing co-channel interference in indoor wireless systems. Low-cost solutions are essential, and strategies that utilise simple antennas (such as directional patches) are advantageous from this perspective. However, performance is always an issue and the improvements achievable through clever antenna deployment need to be quantified. In this thesis, an experimental investigation of indoor propagation comparing the performance of directional antennas and multiple-element arrays (MEAs) with omni-directional antennas is reported. Estimation of the performance of a direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) system operating in a variety of deployment scenarios allows the identification of a range of performance-limiting factors and the optimal deployment strategies. It is shown that the orientation of single-element directional antennas can significantly impact on system performance compared to omni-directional antennas in traditional systems. The deployment of MEAs with an active diversity combining scheme can further improve system performance by more than one order of magnitude. From the perspective of system planning, the choice of antenna selection and deployment options depends on the current and future demand for system performance and the financial resources available. An evolutionary path has been proposed to provide a smooth transition from conventional (low-cost) to high-performance (high-cost) antenna systems as demand dictates. Other performance-limiting factors in indoor wireless systems include the physical environment and external interference. It is also shown that electromagnetically-opaque obstacles in the environment can amplify the effectiveness of the antenna deployment by acting as physical zone boundaries that restrict interference. External interference has been shown to cause a significant degradation to the performance of an indoor system when the carrier-to-external-interference ratio (CEIR) is below 30 dB. This performance degradation can be minimised by appropriate antenna deployment, although the optimum antenna orientations depends on the strength of the external interference.

Effective antenna selection and deployment strategies are important for reducing co-channel interference in indoor wireless systems. Low-cost solutions are essential, and strategies that utilise simple antennas (such as directional patches) are advantageous from this perspective. However, performance is always an issue and the improvements achievable through clever antenna deployment need to be quantified. In this thesis, an experimental investigation of indoor propagation comparing the performance of directional antennas and multiple-element arrays (MEAs) with omni-directional antennas is reported. Estimation of the performance of a direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) system operating in a variety of deployment scenarios allows the identification of a range of performance-limiting factors and the optimal deployment strategies. It is shown that the orientation of single-element directional antennas can significantly impact on system performance compared to omni-directional antennas in traditional systems. The deployment of MEAs with an active diversity combining scheme can further improve system performance by more than one order of magnitude. From the perspective of system planning, the choice of antenna selection and deployment options depends on the current and future demand for system performance and the financial resources available. An evolutionary path has been proposed to provide a smooth transition from conventional (low-cost) to high-performance (high-cost) antenna systems as demand dictates. Other performance-limiting factors in indoor wireless systems include the physical environment and external interference. It is also shown that electromagnetically-opaque obstacles in the environment can amplify the effectiveness of the antenna deployment by acting as physical zone boundaries that restrict interference. External interference has been shown to cause a significant degradation to the performance of an indoor system when the carrier-to-external-interference ratio (CEIR) is below 30 dB. This performance degradation can be minimised by appropriate antenna deployment, although the optimum antenna orientations depends on the strength of the external interference.

Effective antenna selection and deployment strategies are important for reducing co-channel interference in indoor wireless systems. Low-cost solutions are essential, and strategies that utilise simple antennas (such as directional patches) are advantageous from this perspective. However, performance is always an issue and the improvements achievable through clever antenna deployment need to be quantified. In this thesis, an experimental investigation of indoor propagation comparing the performance of directional antennas and multiple-element arrays (MEAs) with omni-directional antennas is reported. Estimation of the performance of a direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) system operating in a variety of deployment scenarios allows the identification of a range of performance-limiting factors and the optimal deployment strategies. It is shown that the orientation of single-element directional antennas can significantly impact on system performance compared to omni-directional antennas in traditional systems. The deployment of MEAs with an active diversity combining scheme can further improve system performance by more than one order of magnitude. From the perspective of system planning, the choice of antenna selection and deployment options depends on the current and future demand for system performance and the financial resources available. An evolutionary path has been proposed to provide a smooth transition from conventional (low-cost) to high-performance (high-cost) antenna systems as demand dictates. Other performance-limiting factors in indoor wireless systems include the physical environment and external interference. It is also shown that electromagnetically-opaque obstacles in the environment can amplify the effectiveness of the antenna deployment by acting as physical zone boundaries that restrict interference. External interference has been shown to cause a significant degradation to the performance of an indoor system when the carrier-to-external-interference ratio (CEIR) is below 30 dB. This performance degradation can be minimised by appropriate antenna deployment, although the optimum antenna orientations depends on the strength of the external interference.

Effective antenna selection and deployment strategies are important for reducing co-channel interference in indoor wireless systems. Low-cost solutions are essential, and strategies that utilise simple antennas (such as directional patches) are advantageous from this perspective. However, performance is always an issue and the improvements achievable through clever antenna deployment need to be quantified. In this thesis, an experimental investigation of indoor propagation comparing the performance of directional antennas and multiple-element arrays (MEAs) with omni-directional antennas is reported. Estimation of the performance of a direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) system operating in a variety of deployment scenarios allows the identification of a range of performance-limiting factors and the optimal deployment strategies. It is shown that the orientation of single-element directional antennas can significantly impact on system performance compared to omni-directional antennas in traditional systems. The deployment of MEAs with an active diversity combining scheme can further improve system performance by more than one order of magnitude. From the perspective of system planning, the choice of antenna selection and deployment options depends on the current and future demand for system performance and the financial resources available. An evolutionary path has been proposed to provide a smooth transition from conventional (low-cost) to high-performance (high-cost) antenna systems as demand dictates. Other performance-limiting factors in indoor wireless systems include the physical environment and external interference. It is also shown that electromagnetically-opaque obstacles in the environment can amplify the effectiveness of the antenna deployment by acting as physical zone boundaries that restrict interference. External interference has been shown to cause a significant degradation to the performance of an indoor system when the carrier-to-external-interference ratio (CEIR) is below 30 dB. This performance degradation can be minimised by appropriate antenna deployment, although the optimum antenna orientations depends on the strength of the external interference.

Various physical mechanisms that affect radiowave propagation at millimetre wavelengths are considered. Current modelling weaknesses are highlighted and new improved models or more appropriate modelling approaches are suggested. Interference and resonance phenomena in the scattering of spherical ice and water particles are reviewed. The long standing problem of the numerous resonances observed in the scattering diagrams of dielectric spheres is answered. The spatial structure and the physical characteristics of non-precipitable ice and water clouds are reviewed. Extinction and back scattering calculations for a wide variety of cloud models over the entire millimetre frequency spectrum are given. Multiple scattering and the effects of super-large drops in clouds are also dealt with. The potential of a spaceborne instrument in deducing information about the vertical structure of various cloud types is examined. Attenuation and reflectivity profiles resulting from various cloud types are calculated for a nadir pointing fixed beam millimetre wave radar operating at 94 GHz. The physics and application of the equation of radiative transfer to millimetre wave propagation in the earth's atmosphere are given and also is the solution of this equation for a typical millimetre wave remote sensing application. The theory of gaseous absorption at millimetre wavelengths is presented and an improved modelling approach is proposed for the calculation of the absorption and dispersion spectra of atmospheric gases. The effects of trace gases on communication systems operating at high altitudes are for the first time reported. Finally the use of the 60 GHz oxygen absorption band for top-side air traffic control/navigation and broadband transmission purposes is studied.

No description available.