Kenneth C. Allen

Abstract: Rapid development of personal, portable, radio communications is expected during this decade. A primary example of this is the emergence of personal communication networks (PCN). These networks are similar to today's cellular telephone technology. However, much smaller cell sizes are used and, as a result, the portable phone is much smaller (pocket size) and inexpensive. The use of millimeter waves for PCN services offers many advantages. Models of millimeter-wave propagation on the kinds of paths that will occur in small cells are needed. In this report a geometrical optics model of the propagation of millimeter waves for line-of-sight paths near street level in urban environments is developed. An idealized environment is assumed with flat streets and uniform street widths between flat building walls. The image-space approach is used to index the direct line-of-sight ray and all reflected ray paths between the transmitter and receiver. The model can be used to simulate received signal characteristics for testing system designs. The statistical behavior of signal level can be computed from the model for real world environments for which it is not practical to give a complete description of the complex physical geometry. The model also shows the channel impulse response functions to be expected in urban cells. Calculations from the model are compared with data measured in downtown' Denver at 9.6, 28.8, and 57.6 GHz.

Keywords: impulse response; millimeter waves; propagation; PCN; personal communication networks; urban environment

Disclaimer: Certain commercial equipment, components, and software may be identified in this report to specify adequately the technical aspects of the reported results. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, nor does it imply that the equipment or software identified is necessarily the best available for the particular application or uses.

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