A Coverage Area Estimation Model for Interference-Limited Non-Line-of-Sight Point-to-Multipoint Fixed Broadband Wireless Communication Systems

First-generation, line-of-sight (LOS) fixed broadband wireless access techniques have been around for several years. However, services based on this technology have been limited in scope to service areas where transceivers can communicate with their base stations, unimpeded by trees, buildings and other obstructions. This limitation has serious consequences in that the system can deliver only 50% to 70% coverage within a given cell radius, thus affecting earned revenue. Next generation broadband fixed wireless access techniques are aimed at achieving a coverage area greater than 90%. To achieve this target, these techniques must be based on a point-to-multipoint (PMP) cellular architecture with low base station antennas, thus possessing the ability to operate in true non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions. A possible limiting factor for these systems is link degradation due to interference. This thesis presents a new model to estimate the levels of co-channel interference for such systems operating within the 3.5 GHz multichannel multipoint distribution service (MMDS) band. The model is site-specific in that it uses statistical building/roof height distribution parameters obtained from practically modeling several metropolitan cities in the U.S. using geographic information system (GIS) tools. This helps to obtain a realistic estimate and helps analyze the tradeoff between cell radius and modulation complexity. Together, these allow the system designer to decide on an optimal location for placement of customer premises equipment (CPE) within a given cell area.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2002

Author dc:creator

• RamaSarma, Vaidyanathan

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Bostian, Charles W.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Midkiff, Scott F.
• Sweeney, Dennis G.

• Fixed Broadband Wireless Access (FBWA)
• Co-channel Interference
• Point-to-Multipoint (PMP)
• Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS)
• Coverage Area

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-10032002-113335

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/35276