Propagation Handbook for Wireless Communication System Design

Data and models for better systems design

Atmospheric gases, building materials, the weather … The propagation of wireless communications signals depends upon a whole range of factors, any or all of which can have a significant impact on the quality of a signal. Data generated by careful measurement of signals propagating under various environmental conditions are therefore fundamental to designing and building efficient, robust, and economical communication systems.

This handbook presents models that describe that data and make predictions for conditions that will affect operational systems. The author-chair of the science panel for the ACTS propagation experiment-focuses on EM waves of 0.3 to 300 GHz propagating through the lower atmosphere. The handbook describes the physical phenomena that can affect propagation, presents sample measurements and statistics, and provides models that system designers can use to calculate their link budgets and estimate the limitations the atmosphere could place on their designs.

Communications engineers around the world need this information readily at hand, not scattered throughout the literature. For engineers and systems designers involved in communications, navigation, radar, or remote sensing, the Propagation Handbook for Wireless Communication System Design will quickly become a standard and heavily relied-upon reference.