Instantaneous directional channel measurements at 14 GHz and 160 GHz via a virtual circular array

TL;DR

This paper introduces a versatile rotary platform for frequency-scalable directional channel measurements, enabling analysis at 14 GHz and 160 GHz in indoor environments, revealing frequency-dependent channel characteristics.

Contribution

A novel rotary measurement platform capable of frequency scalability and adaptable to various antennas, facilitating detailed channel analysis up to the THz range.

Findings

Strong path component agreement across frequencies

Delay spread and angular spread depend on distance and frequency

Channel parameters can inform path loss models

Abstract

In this paper a novel frequency-scalable rotary platform design is introduced which allows for flexible directional channel measurements using different types of antennas, and which can also be used with frequency extenders for measurements up to the THz region. The measurement platform has been applied to measure the channel properties including the direction of arrival at the FR3 frequency 14 GHz and in the D-band at 160 GHz in a large hall indoor environment with LOS distances up to 40 m. The results show very good agreement of strong path components for both frequencies as well as interesting dependencies of delay spread, angular spread, and Ricean K- factor on distance and frequency and can be used to parameterize a path loss model.