Measurements and comparison of WiMAX radio coverage at 2.5 GHz and 3.5 GHz

The performance of co-located WiMAX transmitter sites operating at 2.5 and 3.5 GHz are compared, based on coverage assessments. The study showed that the 2.5 GHz performed marginally better than the 3.5 GHz under the same RF conditions and clutter environments. In general, the 2.5 GHz was found to provide slightly better coverage at the edge of the cell, with an average of 2 dB less loss at 1km from the transmitter location. Comparisons of the path loss difference between these two frequencies with various empirical propagation models (COST-Hata, ECC-33, WINNER II-Suburban, SUI Flat) were made, and differences from 2.9 dB to 6.2 dB are reported from these models, which are much larger than those reported here (around 2 dB for outdoor). These differences are also dependent on the distance to the site. Indoor penetration loss was found to be around 1 dB.