Assessment of wideband radio channels in alpine regions using PICAM

The authors describe measurements in the 900-MHz band carried out in the Innsbruck area with the real-time channel sounder RCS-900 of the Swiss PTT. The results are assessed for Groupe Speciale Mobile planning purposes using PICAM (path-loss and interference calculation for Austrian mobile radio), a network planning software package. Using measurements in Innsbruck, where elevation varies locally up to 200 m within a small area (10 km×10 km), reflection areas and network planning parameters were determined. Evaluation of the results shows that the three base stations are not sufficient even though they provide full field strength coverage. Certain areas (i.e. some segments) show strong interference for all three base stations due to time dispersion caused by reflections. Consequently, at least one additional site is necessary. It is demonstrated that PICAM can be used for various aspects of radio network planning by processing computer-based predictions and actual measurement results