12-GHz fade durations and intervals in the tropics

Direct-to-home very small aperture terminals systems operating at frequencies above 10 GHz in tropical climates are subjected to many fade occurrences due to heavy rain. In addition to annual and worst month cumulative rainfall rate and rain fade exceedances, statistics of seasonal and diurnal variations, together with average event length and separation, are needed to give the detailed insights for system design. This paper presents seasonal fade duration statistics and fade interval characteristics for a wet, tropical location in Lae, Papua New Guinea (PNG), measured over four years using satellite beacon and collocated radiometer receivers.