Results of 12 GHz propagation measurements in Lae (PNG)

Satellite-to-Earth propagation attenuation data above 10 GHz in the tropical and equatorial areas is scarce due to the fact that most developing countries in this region cannot afford complicated beacon receivers and have limited expertise in this field. There is therefore a lack of data at high elevation angles. At Lae the elevation to AUSSAT is 73 degrees. A low-cost and simple system for measuring propagation path attenuation of satellite signals at 12 GHz is reported. The novelty of this system is the use of a standard domestic satellite low-noise block connected directly to a spectrum analyser in place of an expensive beacon receiver. The rainfall is mainly convective with relatively small rain-cell diameters. A high elevation angle makes it possible, to some extent, to separate the effects of the individual rain cells.