PEM coverage predictions compared to measurements

Network planning tools for radio communication systems need accurate wave propagation models for predicting field strength levels. Ray optical models suffer from several limitations and the invalidity at focal points or caustic surfaces. Therefore, an accurate combined modeling of all propagation phenomena (free space propagation, reflection, diffraction and tropospheric refraction) requires a full wave model like the well known 2D split-step or 2D finite-difference implementation of the parabolic equation method (PEM). These 2D PEM algorithms can be used for field strength calculations in the vertical transmitter-receiver-plane as well as for a coverage prediction in rural areas up to about 100/spl times/100 square kilometers. The calculated field strength, received power or path loss shows excellent agreement with measurements in the frequency range from 30 MHz to 3 GHz.