IRJET-Empirical Field Strength Model for Terrestrial Broadcast in VHF Band in Makurdi City, Benue State, Nigeria (original) (raw)

Empirical Field Strength Model for Terrestrial Broadcast in VHF Band in Makurdi City, Benue State, Nigeria

The ability to predict the minimum power a transmitter must radiate to give an acceptable quality of coverage over a predetermined service area is very imperative. This work adapted some field strength models that are best suitable for Makurdi city in Benue State, Nigeria. Some existing field strength models are optimised to suit Makurdi city using a VHF television signal of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Makurdi. The models are free space, Hata, ITU-R P.529-3 and ERC Report 68 models. NTA, Makurdi transmits at a frequency of 210.25 MHz for video signal. Measurement of the video signal levels was done along four radial routes from the transmitting station. A digital signal level meter and Global Positioning System (GPS) was used to measure the signal level of the transmitted signal from the station along these routes and to measure the corresponding distances away from the base of the transmitting antenna respectively. The results obtained, after processing and computation of t...

A Simple Field Strength Model for Broadcast Application in VHF Band in Minna City, Niger State, Nigeria

It is important to understand the impact of physical surroundings on a propagating signal because the propagation characteristics of any radio channel are severely affected by objects that surround the transmitters and the receivers. So, the propagation characteristics limit the performance of in-building high capacity wireless communications. This research work adapted some field strength models that are best suitable for Minna city in Niger State, Nigeria. This is done by optimising some existing field strength models which are: Free space, Hata, ITU-R P.529-3 and ERC Report 68 models to suit Minna city using a VHF television signal of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Minna. This station transmits at a frequency of 210.25 MHz for video signal. The signal levels of the transmitted signal were taken along five radial routes from the transmitting station using a digital signal level meter and the corresponding distances were also measured using Global Positioning System (GPS). Data processing and computation were carried out using MATLAB. The results obtained show that the Hata model gives a more accurate prediction for field strength in Minna city after general modification with the correction factor of 3.08 and Root Mean Square Error of 6.35 dBµV/m.

Coverage and Performance Evaluation of VHF and UHF Electric Field Strength Distribution in Urban Area of Ilorin, Nigeria

UNIOSUN Journal of Engineering and Environmental Sciences

This paper evaluated the coverage and performance of VHF and UHF signal level from two different transmission stations in the urban area of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. The performance characteristics of the two bands are of special importance regarding coverage and quality requirements. Effective communication links require direct line of sight; however, this cannot be achieved in a build-up areas where obstacles are present along the communication paths, which in turns result in signal strength degradation. In this work, the signal strength and performance of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Ilorin, and Kwara State Television (KWTV) were investigated along some six selected routes. The measurement was taken with a spectrum analyzer. Global positioning system (GPS) device was used to measure the coordinates between the transmitter and receiver during measurement. Microsoft Excel software was used to show the graphical variation of the field strength. Furthermore, the result obt...

Modeling the Distribution of Radiofrequency Intensities from the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTTV) Broadcasting Transmitter in Kampala Metropolitan; Uganda

Asian Journal of Research and Reviews in Physics

This study presents the modeling of the distribution of RF intensities from the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTTV) broadcasting transmitter in Kampala metropolitan. To achieve this, the performance evaluation of the different path loss propagation models and envisaging the one most suitable for Kampala metropolitan was done by comparing the path loss model values with the measured field Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) values. The RSRP of the DTTV broadcasting transmitter were measured at operating frequencies of 526 MHz, 638 MHz, 730 MHz and 766 MHz using the Aaronia Spectran HF-6065 V4 spectrum analyzer, Aaronia AG HyperLOG 4025 Antenna at 1.5 m and 2.5 m heights, Aaronia GPS Logger, real time Aaronia MCS spectrum-analysis-software and a T430s Lenovo Laptop. On comparing the measured path loss values with the various path loss prediction model values, results showed that Egli and Davidson models are the most accurate and reliable path loss prediction models for the...

Propagation Profile and Signal Strength Variation of VHF Signal in Ekiti State Nigeria

International Journal of Wireless and Microwave Technologies, 2017

This paper presents the experimental results of a study on radio frequency attenuation path loss conducted in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The objective of the study is to develop a path loss model comparable to the existing path loss models through a real time application of outdoor VHF signal propagation measurements of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Channel 5 and carrier frequency of 175.25 MHz located in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Experimental measurements were taken in three routes covering the entire state. Analysis of the data collected from the experiments resulted in models which are in agreement with the existing standard models. Root Mean Square Errors were calculated for all the path loss models. Results show that the signal of the station was generally poor along the routes considered as the deviations of the measured path losses from the free space path loss exceed 6 dB in most cases.

Signal Strength Variation and Propagation Profiles of UHF Radio Wave Channel in Ondo State, Nigeria

International Journal of Wireless and Microwave Technologies, 2016

This study investigated the received signal strength and the propagation profiles for UHF channel 23, broadcast signal in Ondo State, Nigeria, at various elevation levels. The signal strength was measured quantitatively across the state along several routes with the aid of a digital field strength meter. A global positioning system (GPS) receiver was used to determine the elevation above ground level, the geographic coordinates and the line of sight of the various data points from the base station. Data obtained were used to plot the elevation and propagation profiles of the signal along measurement's routes. Results showed that the signal strength was strongest towards the northern parts with respect to distance compared to other routes with the same distance contrary to inverse square law. The threshold signal level for the station was 20dBµV which was recorded up to 50km line of sight from the transmitter towards the northern parts of the state where higher levels of elevation of data locations were recorded and 42km towards the southern parts with lower values of elevation. The propagation profiles for all the routes follow the elevation pattern of the study areas, with some farther locations recording higher signal strength compared to closer locations to the transmitter contrary to theoretical expectation. The overall results show that elevation above ground level is a key factor to be considered for UHF transmission and reception (location of transmitters, transmitting antenna's height, directivity and gain. Others are, transmitter output power, receiving antenna's height and gain) in the study areas.

Path Loss Modelling of UHF Radio Wave Propagation in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

2019

In order to achieve optimal performance of a wireless communication system in any given environment, empirical path loss models are used to predict the received signal strength and power. We present an assessment of the quality of UHF signal reception and development of path loss model in the UHF range for the city of Ado-Ekiti in Nigeria, using the signal field strength of the broadcast signal of Ekiti State Television (EKTV). Measurements of received signal field strength within and around the city were carried out and analyzed, from which path loss models in the UHF range were developed for Ado-Ekiti using linear regression model – one being a general model, and the other is for the western region of Ado-Ekiti with irregular terrain. The result of the field strength measurements from EKTV in comparison with ITU recommendation for analogue terrestrial television service in band V shows that the quality of reception within Ado-Ekiti metropolis is good. Also, path loss prediction fo...

Analysis of Propagation Models for Base Station Antenna: A Case Study of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

Path loss analysis using key parameters and mathematical models is essential for accurate characterization of a radio channel for a coverage area. It plays a fundamental role in predicting the radio coverage, path-loss, death zone and designing of an optimized fixed and mobile network systems. This paper analysed and compared two models, Okumura and Okumura Hata on the basis of variation in antenna height and operational frequency of a base transmitting station (BTS) in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. The result obtained shows that Okumura Hata model has a better signal strength delivery to destination with a less reduced path loss variation compared to Okumura model. Even though there is significant gain of about 12dB when Okumura model parameters was varied it is not better than the signal strength Okumura Hata model will deliver to a destination.

Empirical Studies on Topographical Influences on Crbc/Akbc Terrestrial Television Stations’ Signals in Akpabuyo Local Council Area, Nigeria

Journal of Computer and Communications

Dissemination of information to citizens is a relevant component of governance. Expectedly, viewers tuned to broadcast stations within and outside their localities, expecting their receivers to faithfully reproduce the exact features of the transmitted signal. Akpabuyo is a dense forest zone near the creeks leading to the Atlantic ocean in Cross River State, Nigeria. The location has distinct environmental characteristics that made Akpabuyo Area Council, a challenging location to propagate electromagnetic waves; and therefore recipe for further investigation. Radio frequency analyzer, with 24 channels spectrum, ranging between 46 -870 MHz (model: RO.VE.R.-"DLM3-T") was deployed to capture signals from terrestrial television stations (TV). CATV measured signal of TV stations in dB, dBμV and dBmV. Its frequency ranged from 40 -860 MHz; while varying from channel 1 to channel 69. Measurements taken from Akpabuyo L.G.A. showed the following results: the signal strength received from VHF Channel 11 ranged from 20 dBμV to 49 dBμV. From recorded empirical statistics from the study, 50% of the area received signal from this station above 30 dBμV, while other regions had signals below this value; representing the fringe zone of the frequency. The results obtained from the study relatively showed acceptance with Egli's model. The study recorded a steady fluctuation between 17 dBμV and 19 dBμV from both propagating stations. However, Channel 27 signal at 519 MHz, had very weak signal coverage in Akpabuyo Local Government Area; with signal strength dropped to as low as 13 dB in many parts of the rural area. The study discovered that the state's broadcasting stations, both at UHF and VHF channels did not transmit successfully across this densely forest (rural) location. Remedial measures such as installing Repeater stations at different locations as signal booster were recommended.

Investigation of VHF signals in bands I and II in southern India and model comparisons

In order to achieve a highly reliable communication with a simple and small receiver, one requires the knowledge of the spatial and temporal variability of field strength. This assumes greater significance in broadcasting applications where the user expects a very high quality signal. The performance of any communication circuit depends on the models employed to calculate the coverage area and interference problems. The development and identification of models is a continuing and ongoing process and there is always scope for refinement. With this objective some field strength measurements were conducted using Chennai TV and FM stations in several radials. The variability of the path loss as a function of distance has been studied and path loss exponents deduced from the observed values were compared with the model available in literature. The agreement and deviations of the model with the observed results are presented and discussed and two approaches have been proposed to compare the observed results.