Further validation of an electromagnetic macro model for analysis of propagation path loss in cellular networks using measured drive test data

Abstract

Received signal level measurements are frequently used to check the performance and the Quality of Service (QOS) coverage area in cellular networks. These expensive time consuming measurements are carried out using an actual drive tests to assess the coverage area of a base station for a given cell and thus evaluate the QOS. In this paper, the novelty of the proposed electromagnetic analysis technique lies in its ability to match the macro model based simulation and measurement results without any statistical or empirical curve fitting or an adhoc choice of a reference distance. Furthermore, a new concept called proper route has been introduced to enhance the quality of measured data. The input parameters for the electromagnetic macro model can be generated using only the physical parameters of the environment like the height of the transmitting and receiving antennas over the ground, their tilts toward the ground, and the electrical parameters of the ground. A method of moments-based integral equation solver code called AWAS has been used to simulate the effects of the macro parameters of the environment. Measurements were carried out for cellular networks in western India and Srilanka.