|
This paper discusses the experimental design and analysis of low power 24.1 GHz propagation effects on roadways around the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area. The transmitter used was a 24.1 GHz Safety Warning System (SWS) transmitter operating in the continuous wave (CW) mode. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has licensed the Safety Warning System for Part 90 operation. A Part 90-compliant transmitter was used during the tests. The receiver was a modified Bel 855Sti radar detector that was calibrated in an anechoic chamber. The receiver was placed in a Ford F-150 truck and driven toward the transmitter. Three distinct propagation environments are characterized including a rural road, state route, and interstate highway. Shadowing effects from terrain features such as hills are examined as well as the effects of other vehicles, including large tractor-trailers. Signal strength is analyzed as a function of distance to the transmitter and using probability distribution function (pdf) modeling. It was found that the Weibull distribution provided the best statistical description for both the line of sight and shadowing cases. In many instances, the statistics of the received signal would change rapidly depending on the terrain features and interaction with surrounding traffic. The results provide insight into how the unlicensed 24.1 GHz band in the United States might be used for low power, intelligent transportation system (ITS) applications.
|
