Path Loss, Shadow Fading, and Line-Of-Sight Probability Models for 5G Urban Macro-Cellular Scenarios

TL;DR

This study evaluates key propagation parameters like LOS probability, path loss, and shadow fading for 5G urban macro-cell scenarios using measurements at multiple frequencies in the US and Denmark, aiding future network design.

Contribution

It provides comprehensive models and comparisons for LOS probability, path loss, and shadow fading specific to 5G urban macro-cell environments at various frequencies.

Findings

Dual-slope path loss model slightly reduces RMS error in NLOS conditions.

LOS shadow fading increases slightly with distance, NLOS decreases.

Significant measurement data at 38 GHz and other frequencies for urban macro-cell scenarios.

Abstract

This paper presents key parameters including the line-of-sight (LOS) probability, large-scale path loss, and shadow fading models for the design of future fifth generation (5G) wireless communication systems in urban macro-cellular (UMa) scenarios, using the data obtained from propagation measurements at 38 GHz in Austin, US, and at 2, 10, 18, and 28 GHz in Aalborg, Denmark. A comparison of different LOS probability models is performed for the Aalborg environment. Alpha-betagamma and close-in reference distance path loss models are studied in depth to show their value in channel modeling. Additionally, both single-slope and dual-slope omnidirectional path loss models are investigated to analyze and contrast their root-mean-square (RMS) errors on measured path loss values. While the results show that the dual-slope large-scale path loss model can slightly reduce RMS errors compared to its singleslope counterpart in non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions, the improvement is not significant enough to warrant adopting the dual-slope path loss model. Furthermore, the shadow fading magnitude versus distance is explored, showing a slight increasing trend in LOS and a decreasing trend in NLOS based on the Aalborg data, but more measurements are necessary to gain a better knowledge of the UMa channels at centimeter- and millimeter-wave frequency bands.