≤The Anchor A17.9.2 A17.9.2
The terminal designations
This
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Recommendation is not reciprocal with respect to designations of the transmitting/base station and the receiver/mobile station/terminal.
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When it When this Recommendation is used to calculate the coverage of, or for the coordination of, broadcasting and/or base-to-mobile stations, then the actual transmitting/base station should be treated as the “transmitting/base”. For this the SEAMCAT user has to deselect the “Terminal designation” switch. In other cases
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where there is no a priori reason to consider either terminal as the transmitting/base, then the selection of which terminal to designate as the transmitting/base station for the purposes of this
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Recommendation can be as follows:
a) if both terminals are at or below the levels of clutter in their respective vicinities, then this model will not give accurate predictions to the problem at hand. Users should seek guidance from other, more appropriate, ITU-R Recommendations. Note that SEAMCAT will prompt you with a warning messagethe terminal with the greater height above ground should be treated as the transmitting/base station;
b) if one terminal is in an open location or above the surrounding clutter, whereas the other terminal is at or below the level of clutter, then the open/uncluttered terminal should be treated as the transmitting/base station for the purposes of actual identity as the transmitter/base or receiver/mobile;
c) if both terminals are open/uncluttered, then the terminal with the greater effective height should be treated as the transmitting/base station for the purposes of this Recommendation.
As noted above, this model is not reciprocal. However, in some special cases, it may be treated as such. For these particular cases, for example, which may be encountered for the monitoring and prediction of receiver/mobile-to-transmitter/base coverage and/or interference, it may be useful, under items b) and c) of the previous discussion, to designate that terminal in the open location, which should also always have the higher effective height, as the transmitter/base as the “high” antenna, whilst designating the terminal in the cluttered location as the receiver/mobile as the “low” antenna, without regard to which terminal is actually the transmitter/base and receiver/mobile. Users of this model should note, for the purposes of calculation, that if these “high” and “low” designations are to be used, the high antenna termination will always be synonymous with (and equivalent to) the transmitter/base station’s effective height, h1, whilst the low antenna termination will always be synonymous with (and equivalent to) the receiver/mobile’s height, h2, with the same qualifier, in the subsequent calculation of field strength or basic transmission loss.
Maximum field-strength values
The field strength must not exceed a maximum value Emax as described in ITU-R P. 1546-1. In principle any correction which increases a field strength must not be allowed to produce values greater than these limits for the family of curves and distance concerned. However, limitation to maximum values should be applied only where indicated in Annex 6 of the ITU-R P.1546-4.
Determination of transmitting/base antenna height, h1
The transmitting/base antenna height, h1, to be used in the calculation depends on the type and length of the path and on various items of height information, which may not all be available.
For land paths, the effective height of the transmitting/base antenna, heff, is defined as its height in metres over the average level of the ground between distances of 3 and 15 km from the transmitting/base antenna in the direction of the receiving/mobile antenna. Where the value of effective transmitting/base antenna height, heff, is not known it should be estimated from general geographic information. This model is not valid when the transmitting/base antenna is below the height of surrounding clutter.
The value of h1 to be used in calculation should be obtained using the method given in § 3.1, 3.2 or in § 3.3 of P1546-4 as appropriate.
Land paths shorter than 15 km
For land paths less than 15 km, the following method is used:
Terrain information not available
In SEAMCAT, no terrain information is available. Therefore, the value of h1 is calculated according to path length, d, as follows:
(Eq. 241)
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where ha is the antenna height above ground (e.g. height of the mast).
Land paths of 15 km or longer
For these paths:
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Transmitting/base antenna height, h1, in the range 10 m to 3 000 m
If the value of h1 coincides with one of the eight heights for which curves are provided, namely 10, 20, 37.5, 75, 150, 300, 600 or 1 200 m, the required field strength may be obtained directly from the plotted curves or the associated tabulations. Otherwise the required field strength should be interpolated or extrapolated from field strengths obtained from two curves using:
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where:
hinf : 600 m if h1 > 1200 m, otherwise the nearest nominal effective height below h1
hsup : 1200 m if h1 > 1200 m, otherwise the nearest nominal effective height above h1
Einf : field-strength value for hinf at the required distance
Esup : field-strength value for hsup at the required distance.
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Effect of clutter shielding Transmitting/base antenna
If the transmitting/base antenna is over or adjacent to land on which there is clutter, the correction given in Annex 5, § 10 of Recommendation ITU-R P.1546-5 should be applied, irrespective of the transmitting/base antenna height above ground. The correction should be used in all such cases, including when the antenna is above the clutter height. The correction is zero when the terminal is higher than a frequency-dependent clearance height above the clutter.
Correction dB (XXa)
where J(n) is given by equation (12a) or (12b),
and:
n = for R1 ³ ha (XXb)
= otherwise (XXc)
hdif1 = m (XXd)
= degrees (XXe)
= (XXf)
f: frequency (MHz).
And R1 is the height of clutter, m above ground level, in the vicinity of the transmitting/base terminal.
Correction for antenna height difference
Annex 5, § 14 of Recommendation ITU-R P.1546-
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This model is not valid for h1 > 3000 m.
Transmitting/base antenna height, h1, in the range 0 m to 10 m
For a land path, the field strength at the required distance d km for 0 <= h1 < 10 m is calculated using:
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5 gives a correction to account for the difference between the two antenna heights above ground. This correction is calculated as follows.
dB (YY)
where d is the horizontal distance and the slope distance, dslope, is given as follows.
Where terrain information is available, use:
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E10 and E20 : the field strengths in dB(μV/m) calculated according to § 4.1 of ITU-R P.1546-4 at the required distance for h1 = 10 m and h1 = 20 m respectively..
Note that the corrections C1020 and
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Transmitting/base antenna height, h1, in the range 0 m to 10 m
For a land path, the field strength at the required distance d km for 0 £ h1 < 10 m is calculated using:
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Interpolation of field strength as a function of distance
Figures 1 to 24 of Recommendation ITU-R P.1546-4 show field strength plotted against distance, d, the range 1 km to 1 000 km. No interpolation for distance is needed if field strengths are read directly from these graphs. For greater precision, and for computer implementation, field strengths should be obtained from the associated tabulations (see Annex 1 of ITU-R P.1546-4, § 3). In this case, unless d coincides with one of the tabulation distances given in Table 1, the field strength, E (dB(μV/m)), should be linearly interpolated for the logarithm of the distance using:
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where:
d : distance for which the prediction is required
dinf : nearest tabulation distance less than d
dsup : nearest tabulation distance greater than d
Einf : field-strength value for dinf
Esup : field-strength value for dsup.
This model is not valid for values of d less than 1 km or greater than 1 000 km.
Interpolation and extrapolation of field strength as a function of frequency
Field-strength values for the required frequency should be obtained by interpolating between the values for the nominal frequency values of 100, 600 and 2000 MHz. In the case of frequencies below 100 MHz or above 2 000 MHz, the interpolation must be replaced by an extrapolation from the two nearer nominal frequency values. For most paths interpolation or extrapolation for log (frequency) can be used, but for some sea paths when the required frequency is less than 100 MHz it is necessary to use an alternative method.
For land paths, and for sea paths where the required frequency is greater than 100 MHz, the required field strength, E, should be calculated using:
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where:
f : frequency for which the prediction is required (MHz)
finf : lower nominal frequency (100 MHz if f < 600 MHz, 600 MHz otherwise)
fsup : higher nominal frequency (600 MHz if f < 600 MHz, 2 000 MHz otherwise)
Einf : field-strength value for finf
Esup : field-strength value for fsup.
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Where terrain information is not available, use:
km (YYb)
and htter and hrter are the terrain heights in metres above sea level at the transmitter/base and receiving/mobile terminals respectively.
The hypotenuse geometry implied by equation (YYa) is unrealistic for paths long enough for Earth curvature to be significant, but for such long paths the associated error is negligible. Although the correction given by equation (YY) is very small except for short paths and high values of h1, it is recommended that it is used in all cases to avoid making an arbitrary decision as to precision.
Horizontal distances less than 1 km
The field strength curves cover horizontal distances from 1 km to 1 000 km. Annex 5, § 15 of Recommendation ITU-R P.1546-
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For sea paths where the required frequency is less than 100 MHz an alternative method should be used, based upon the path lengths at which 0.6 of the first Fresnel zone is just clear of obstruction by the sea surface. An approximate method for calculating this distance is given in § 17 of Recommendation ITU-R P.1546-4.
The alternative method should be used if all of the following conditions are true:
- The path is a sea path.
- The required frequency is less than 100 MHz.
- The required distance is less than the distance at which a sea path would have 0.6 Fresnel clearance at 600 MHz, given by D06(600, h1, 10) as given in § 17 of P1546-4.
If any of the above conditions is not true, then the normal interpolation/extrapolation method given by equation (14) should be used.
If all of the above conditions are true, the required field strength, E, should be calculated using:
dB(μV/m) for d <= df
dB(μV/m) for d > df
where:
Emax : maximum field strength at the required distance as defined in § 2 of P1546-4
maximum field strength at distance df as defined in § 2 of P1546-4
d600 : distance at which the path has 0.6 Fresnel clearance at 600 MHz calculated as D06(600, h1, 10) as given in § 17 of P1546-4
df : distance at which the path has 0.6 Fresnel clearance at the required frequency calculated as D06( f, h1, 10) as given in § 17 of P1546-4
Ed600 field strength at distance d600 and the required frequency calculated using equation (14).
Interpolation of field strength as a function of percentage time
Field-strength values for a given percentage of time between 1% and 50% time should be calculated by interpolation between the nominal values 1% and 10% or between the nominal values 10% and 50% of time using:
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where:
t : percentage time for which the prediction is required
tinf : lower nominal percentage time
tsup : upper nominal percentage time
Qt = Qi (t/100)
Qinf = Qi (tinf/100)
Qsup = Qi (tsup/100)
Einf : field-strength value for time percentage tinf
Esup : field-strength value for time percentage tsup
where Qi (x) is the inverse complementary cumulative normal distribution function.
This model is valid for field strengths exceeded for percentage times in the range 1% to 50% only. Extrapolation outside the range 1% to 50% time is not valid.
A method for the calculation of Qi (x) is given in Annex 5, § 15 of ITU-R P.1546-4.
Correction for receiving/mobile antenna height
The field-strength values given by the land curves and associated tabulations in this model are for a reference receiving/mobile antenna at a height, R (m), representative of the height of the ground cover surrounding the receiving/mobile antenna, subject to a minimum height value of 10 m. Examples of reference heights are 20 m for an urban area, 30 m for a dense urban area and 10 m for a suburban area.
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Selected environment
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Assumed height of local clutter
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Rural
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10
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Sub-urban
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10
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Urban
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20
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Dense urban
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30
Where the receiving/mobile antenna is on land account should first be taken of the elevation angle of the arriving ray by calculating a modified representative clutter height R' (m), given by:
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where h1 and R (m) and distance d (km). Note that for h1 < 6.5d + R, R′ ≈ R. The value of R' must be limited if necessary such that it is not less than 1 m.
when the receiving/mobile antenna is in an urban environment the correction is then given by:
(Eq. 251)
Correction
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where J(n) is given by equation (12a), and:
v =
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m
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f: frequency (MHz).
In cases in an urban environment where R' is less than 10 m, the correction should be reduced by Kh2 log(10/R′). Where the receiving/mobile antenna is on land in a rural or open environment the correction is given by equation 
for all values of h2 with R' set to 10 m.
Correction for short urban/suburban paths
If a path of length less than 15 km covers buildings of uniform height over flat terrain, a correction representing the reduction of field strength due to building clutter should be added to the field strength. The correction is given by:
Correction =
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where ha is the antenna height above ground (m) (i.e. height of the mast) and R is representative of the height of the ground cover surrounding the receiving/mobile antenna as defined in § 9 of P1546-4, which also represents the height of ground cover surrounding the transmitting/base antenna. This correction only applies when d is less than 15 km and h1 − R is less than 150 m.
Variation in path loss
Values of standard deviation are dependent on frequency and environment, and empirical studies have shown a considerable spread. Representative values for areas of 500 m ´ 500 m are given by the following expression (In SEAMCAT it is understood that the below equation only applies to the Mobile system and not to the Broadcasting systems):
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where:
K = 1.2, for receivers with antennas below clutter height in urban or suburban environments for mobile systems with omnidirectional antennas at car-roof height
K = 1.0, for receivers with rooftop antennas near the clutter height
K = 0.5, for receivers in rural areas
f : required frequency (MHz).
In SEAMCAT depending on the selected system the standard deviation is defined as follow:
Mobile: when “< 2 km radius” and “< 50 km radius” is selected, 4 dB and 8 dB are added to the calculated standard deviation respectively. This responds to the note of the Recommendation stating that if the area over which the variability is to apply is greater than 500 m ´ 500 m, or if the variability is to relate to all areas at a given range, rather than the variation across individual areas, the value of sL will be greater. Empirical studies have suggested that location variability is increased (with respect to the small area values) by up to 4 dB for a 2 km radius and up to 8 dB for a 50 km radius.
Broadcasting, digital: the standard deviation is set to a constant value of 5.5 dB. No correction is added.
Broadcasting, analogue: The standard deviation is defined as follow and no correction is added:
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5 describes the method for horizontal distances less than 1 km. For paths less than 1 km the model is extended to arbitrarily short horizontal distances as follows:
If the horizontal distance is less than or equal to 0.04 km the field strength, E, is given by:
dB(mV/m) (ZZa)
Otherwise
dB(mV/m) (ZZb)
where:
dslope: slope distance given by equation (YYa) or (YYb) for the horizontal distance d
dinf: slope distance given by equation (YYa) or (YYb) for d = 0.04 km
dsup: slope distance given by equation (YYa) or (YYb) for d = 1 km
Einf: 106.9 – 20 log (dinf)
Esup: field strength given by §§ 1 to 14 for d = 1 km.
This extension to arbitrarily short horizontal distance is based on the assumption that as a path decreases in length below 1 km there is an increasing probability that a lower-loss path will exist passing around obstacles rather than over them. For paths of 0.04 km horizontal distance or shorter, it is assumed that line-of-sight with full Fresnel clearance exists between the terminals, and the field strength is calculated as the free-space value based on the slope distance.
If these assumptions do not fit the required short-range scenario, appropriate adjustments should be made to account for effects such as street-canyon propagation, building entry, indoor sections of path, or body effects.
This extension to short distances can allow the path to have a steep inclination, or even be vertical if ha > h2. It is important to note that the predicted field strength does not take account of the vertical radiation pattern of the transmitting/base antenna. The field strength corresponds to 1 kW e.r.p. in the direction of radiation.
In addition, SEAMCAT allows you to select a standard deviation value which overwrites any predefined value when selecting the “use user specified standard deviation” switch.