Statistical analysis of ducting and its effects on wireless communications

• Main Author: Foong, Jun Wen.
• Other Authors: Lee Yee Hui
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering::Wireless communication systems
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/17762
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The objective of the project is to analyse and characterize the wireless link from planes in the air to ground station at 5.69 GHz in the C Band. The report also discusses ducting occurrences in Singapore and its effects on wireless communications. Statistical analyses of ducting profile were done using past weather data to determine the most favourable time to observe ducts. A flight trial at South China Sea was then conducted on 12th February 2009 with transmitter onboard and receiver located at Changi to log the data for post-analysis. The flight trial uses two sounding techniques, namely continuous wave (CW) and Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) transmission. The entire flight route was divided into different profiles with altitudes varying from 400m to 2000m above sea level to maximize the potential of observing the ducting effect. On top of the above areas, this report also covers detailed explanations of the hardware and software setup during the trial, concepts behind the usage of various instruments and sounding techniques. Detailed channel measurement analysis on the data logged during the trial is also mentioned in the report.