A novel method for predicting site dependent specific rain attenuation of millimeter radio waves

There is a need for validation and improvement of propagation prediction methods for the safe design and operation of millimeter radio communication systems. At this frequency range, propagation related degradation is primarily caused by rainfall. Our goal is an improved method for predicting specific attenuation due to rainfall. A general method for establishing the relationship between rainfall rate and specific attenuation is developed. Drop size distributions (DSDs) measured by a Joss distrometer are analyzed, and three climate classification parameters, rain rate, DSD median, and DSD mode, are used in the development of the new methods. These parameters are investigated as candidate classes to categorize drop size distributions. Categories of the classes are then established to improve the long-term DSD estimate. The typical long-term DSD is used to derive new prediction methods that are compared with observed attenuation. The influence of wind on the rainfall measurements is studied, and a corresponding correction is suggested, reducing the prediction error significantly. Testing of the three new methods using measurements at 40 and 60 GHz shows noticeable improvement over the method recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) using measurements at 60 GHz at deep attenuation.