Comparison of rain attenuation prediction models with ground measurement data for Penang

This study presents an analysis of experimental data as compared with existing rain attenuation prediction models, namely the Leitao, Moupfouma, Glopez, CETUC, Ong, Crane, Dissanayake-Allnut-Haidara (DAH) and International Telecommunication Union rain (ITU-R) models, which have been used previously in satellite communication systems. Experimental data were measured at the Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, from 2007 to 2008 by retrieving signals from the SuperBird-C satellite (geostationary at 144°E) at 12.255°GHz. Penang is the wettest state in the northern region of peninsular Malaysia with the average annual rainfall of 2485.7°mm/year. Data analysis was conducted in two ways: by performing statistical analysis on rain attenuation prediction models and by making comparison between measured data and the existing rain attenuation prediction model. Compared to all models, ITU-R model gave the lowest real mean square value of 7.45 and 8.69° for year 2007 and 2008, respectively.