The effects of atmospheric conditions on angle diversity performance at 6 GHz

Recent results from an angle diversity testing program that has been conducted since May of 1987 are presented. Extensive meteorological and angle diversity propagation data were recorded on a 29.7-mile microwave propagation test path between Richardson and Kaufman, Texas. The 260-foot microwave tower at Kaufman and a 400-foot UHF communications tower located near the center of the path were outfitted with meteorological instruments making possible the continuous recording of meteorological data for the path during the past 14 months. The purpose of this testing program is to evaluate the performance of digital transmission systems operating with angle diversity and space diversity protection on a well-characterized line of sight path. The test configuration is such that the performance of an angle diversity receiver, a space diversity receiver, and an uprooted main antenna receiver are measured simultaneously during clear-air fading events. The radio equipment used in this test is the Rockwell MDR-2306 135-Mb/s 64-QAM microwave digital radio