Rain fading mitigation in BWA using site diversity

Abstract

Local Multipoint Distribution Services (LMDS) is a terrestrial fixed radio technology for broadband communication applicable as point to multipoint wireless system operating at frequencies above 20 GHz. The most serious impairment at these frequencies is rain fading specially in the tropical areas. Many techniques could be used to overcome rain fading and applying Site Diversity as a possible solution to reduce the effect of rain. The rain attenuation in Malaysia was calculated and the effects of a moving rain cell over an LMDS system were analyzed. Different situations of interference according to the position of the rain over LMDS were elaborated. The site diversity was implemented and simulated based on the ITU-R to enhance LMDS using C/I ratio under rainy conditions with and without site diversity technique. Different cell sizes of LMDS with and without site diversity were considered.