Mobile antenna gain in the multipath environment at 900 MHz

A program has been completed that investigated the effect of the urban multipath environment on mobile antennas at 900 MHz. The program involved the construction of several mobile antennas, careful measurement of these antennas on an antenna range to determine their characteristics in a controlled environment, and measurement of their characteristics in the multipath environment of cities. Measured results were compared to computed results and pattern range results were compared to field data to permit generalized conclusions to be reached. The results of the second phase of the program, measurements made in the mobile multipath environment, are presented. Analysis of this data shows that gain antennas have significantly less gain in areas where multipath propagation predominates and that the increased aperture of the gain antennas provides no significant smoothing of the received signals in the multipath environment.