Apéndice

1.- Simulation of Fresnel Zones for Microwave Terrestrial Links

Carlos-Alberto Vila-Burguete, Luis-Gerardo Guerrero-Ojeda
Phone: (52)22-22-29-20-00
E-mail [email protected]

Departamento de Ingeniería Electrónica

Universidad de las Américas, Puebla
Exhacienda de Santa catarina Mártir
Cholula, Puebla, México
C.P. 72820

ABSTRACT line-of-sight propagation, so that they can

take several paths to get the receiver
This project is based on software that antenna. Propagation models have
analyzes and plots the different Fresnel traditionally focused on predicting the
Zones in every terrestrial link by giving the average received signal strength at a given
carrier frequency and the transmitting distance from the transmitter, as well as the
power. The software is able to calculate the variability of the signal strength in close
power at the receiver and it can give spatial proximity to a particular location.
suggestions to the link in order to obtain the
biggest receiving power .possible. III.- DIFFRACTION AND THE
HUYGEN´S PRINCIPLE
I.-INTRODUCCTION
Diffraction is considerate a natural
The fundamental objective of this project is phenomenon that every wave front has.
to perform a simulator for radio links, so Diffraction allows radio signals to
that, every link could be simulated before propagate around obstacles and they can
its implementation. Therefore, the travel from the transmitter antenna to the
performance of the link would be known in receiver even if they do not have a line-of-
advance. The success or failure of the link sight or there are obstacles between them.
is evaluated according the Fresnel zones Although the received field decreases
that librates the obstacle as well as the rapidly as a receiver moves deeper into the
received power. In case that less than 55% obstructed region, the diffraction field still
of the first Fresnel zone is librated, the link exists and often has sufficient strength to
is considerate as a failure and suggestions produce a useful signal.
would be displayed. These suggestions are
focused in the antennas height. As higher The diffraction phenomenon is explained
the antennas are located the clearance of the by the Huygen´s principle that explains that
Fresnel zones will be more. all points on a wave front can be considered
as a point of sources because each point
II.- MICROWAVE PROPAGATION produces secondary wavelets that when
they mix, produce a new wave front in the
Microwaves can propagate through free propagation direction showed in figure 1.1.
space in a way of wave-fronts and there are Therefore, diffraction is caused by the
several mechanisms behind electromagnetic propagation of all these secondary wavelets
wave propagation and they are generally into a shadowed region. After this, Fresnel
attributed to reflection, diffraction and followed the Huygen`s principle in order to
scattering. In some cases the generated the analysis of the Fresnel Zones.
electromagnetic waves do not travel in a

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 origins of secondary wavelets which
propagate to the receiver such tat the total
path length increases by λ/2 for successive
circles These circles showed in figure 1.2,
are called Fresnel zones.

Figure 1.1 Illustration of Huygen´s

secondary source [2]
Figure 1.2.- Concentric circles which define
IV.-FRESNEL ZONE the boundaries of successive Fresnel zones [3]
CONSTRUCTION
The successive Fresnel zones have the
The first problem studied by Fresnel after
effect of alternately providing constructive
perfecting Huygens` Principle was to prove
more precisely the rectilinear propagation and destructive interference to the total
of light. He solved this problem by received signal. The radius if the nth
considering the mutual interference of the Fresnel zone circle is given by
secondary waves at the receiver antenna. If
the transmitter and receiver are considered nλd1d 2
separated in the free space and there is an rn =
obstructing screen of effective height h with d1 + d 2
infinite width placed between them at
distance d1 from the transmitter and d2 V.- RECEIVED POWER
from the receiver. It is apparent that the CALCULATION
waves propagating from the transmitter to
the receiver via the top of the screen travels
a longer distance that if a direct line of sight In order to calculate the power at the
path existed. The difference between the receiver antenna the software makes use of
direct path and the diffracted path, called two different models
the excess path length (∆) is defined by
• Free Space Propagation model
• Knife edge Diffraction Model
h 2 (d1 + d 2)
∆≅
2 d1d 2 In this way, the simulator is able to
calculate the received power with the free
The corresponding phase difference is space propagation model and calculate the
given by losses that the obstacle produces with the
knife edge diffraction model in case of non
line-of-sight propagation.
2π∆
φ=
λ The first model is function of the distance
between the antennas and is used to predict
The Fresnel zones represent successive the received signal strength when the
regions where secondary waves have a path transmitter and the receiver have a clear
line-of-sight path between them so most of
length from the transmitter to receiver
microwave systems undergo free space
which are nλ/2 grater than the total path propagation. The free space power received
length of a line-of-sight path. when a by a receiver antenna which is separated
transparent plane represent the loci of the

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from a radiating transmitter antenna by a The chart represented in figure 1.3 can be
distance d, is given by calculated by the next equations that are
function of the Fresnel diffraction
Pt Gt Gr λ2 parameter v.
Pr (d ) =
(4π ) 2 d 2 L
Gd (dB) = 0
Where Pt is the transmitted power, P(d) is v ≤ −1
the received power which is function of the
separation between the antennas, Gt is the Gd (dB) = 20 log(0.5 − 0.62v)
transmitter antenna gain, Gr is the receiver −1 ≤ v ≤ 0
antenna gain, d is the distance between the
antennas in meters, L is the system loss
Gd (dB) = 20 log(0.5 exp(−0.95v))
factor not related to propagation and λ is the
wavelength in meters. 0 ≤ v ≤1

The knife edge diffraction Model estimates Gd (dB) = 20 log(0.4 − 0.1184 − (0.38 − 0.1v) 2 )
the signal attenuation caused by diffraction
of radio waves over obstacles and it is 1 ≤ v ≤ 2 .4
essential in predicting the field strength in a
given service area. Generally, it is ⎛ 0.225 ⎞
impossible to make very precise estimates Gd (dB) = 20 log⎜ ⎟
⎝ v ⎠
of diffraction losses, and in practice
prediction is a process of theoretical v > 2 .4
approximation modified by necessary
empirical correction. The knife edge In this way, the using of the two models
diffraction Model is given by the allows the simulator to calculate the
dimensionless Fresnel-Kirchoff diffraction received power of the radio link.
parameter v.
VI.- SIMULATOR PERFORMANCE
2( d 1 + d 2 ) The simulator is done in MATLAB and can
v=h
λd 1 d 2 chart the Fresnel zones by asking to the
user different features of the radio link like
The using of this parameter perform the
calculation of the looses that the obstacles -Carrier Frequency
gives to the system given by the figure 1.3 -Distance between Tx and Rx
-Distance between Tx and Obstacle
-Height of the Rx
-Height of the Tx
-Height of the obstacle
-Receiver antenna gain
-Transmitter antenna gain
-Transmitting power

All these features are mixed up as showed

in figure 1.4 so that the real Fresnel zones
and the total receive power is calculated
and evaluated in order to display the
corresponded suggestions to the terrestrial
link.

Figure 1.3 Diffraction gain vs Fresnel

diffraction parameter v [1]

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 Figure 1.5.- Simulation of a terrestrial link
Carrier
Frequency Fresnel with the first Fresnel zone obstructed.
Number of
Zones Chart Fresnel zones
Distance
between The simulation ends with the First Fresnel
antenas
Transmitting zone obstructed but there is still power at
Tx Height
Simulation Power
the receiver. The obstacle adds to the
of Fresnel
Zones Calculating system a 17.37 dB loss. Because of these,
Rx Height received power
there are just -83.89 dB at the receiver.
Obstacle
Height
Simulation of
Fresnel Zones
This link can be improved following the
with an obstacle Final suggestions showed at the simulator. These
Distance
between the Simulation of suggestions are either boosting the
obstacle and
Tx the microwave transmitter 52 meters or 18 the receiver.

Figure 1.4.- Diagram of the software that

chart the Fresnel zones

As showed in figure 1.4, the carrier

frequency in combination of the link
distance and the number of Fresnel zones
the Fresnel zones can be charted. In order to
have a real simulation, the antennas’
heights are evaluated and calculated for a
real char. Besides these, an obstacle is taken
in the simulation in case it exists and it
would be charted in the graphic. Finally, the
received power is calculated due to the Figure 1.6 Simulation of a terrestrial link
transmitting power and the losses that the with the first Fresnel zone unobstructed
obstacle adds to the communication system.
If we follow the second suggestion as
showed in Figure 1.6 the Fresnel zone is
VII.- SIMULATOR PROBES
liberated successfully and the receiver
power is improved by 18.07 dB.
The figure 1.5 shows the simulator with a 2
GHz carrier frequency, 2 kilometers
The simulator was also compared with the
distance between transmitter and receiver
software Hertz Mapper. Hertz Mapper is
that have 60 and 2 meters height
able to simulate terrestrial links too and it
respectably. There is an obstacle at 1.5
can plot the first Fresnel zone and calculate
kilometers from the transmitter and 25
the received power as well. In this case
meters height. By the way, the antennas
there were used exampled to validate the
have 25 dBi of gain.
software was done for this project.

At first, a 18.5 kilometers link was

simulated in both software, Hertz Mapper
and the own. The carrier frequency was 1.7
GHz and the receiver and transmitter were
at 150 and 90 meters each one. The most
relevant obstacle was of 99 metes height
and 7.3 kilometers from the transmitter.

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Figure 1.7.- Real environment link Figure 1.9 Real environment link
simulated in Hertz Mapper simulated in Hertz Mapper getting the
this project software suggestions
The figure 1.7 shows the link simulated on
Hertz Mapper with a real environment. As The received power goes up from -102 dB
it is seen, the link is seriously obstructed by to -88 dB and this can be crucial to any
the most relevant obstacle almost terrestrial link and it is so important to
obstructing the line-of-sight between the always simulate the terrestrial links before
antennas. The first Fresnel zone has a their implementations.
radius of 28 meters on the place of the
obstacle. VIII.- CONCLUSION

In the other hand, the figure 1.8 shows the As conclusion, The Fresnel zones are really
same link simulation but the software used important because even at the Gigahertz
is the one developed for this project. frequencies. The Fresnel zones can reach
various metes of radius that can interrupt
with the link behavior lowering the receiver
power significantly.

Using the simulator, the link can be easily

evaluated if the Fresnel zone is going to be
obstructed or not. In case this happens, it
can be known how much the obstruction is
going to affect the link reflected in the
receiver power.

The Hertz Mapper software can be used but

Figure 1.8 Link simulation for the own it is not able to deliver suggestion as well as
software. to calculate the received power when there
are obstacles on the terrestrial link because
The software on the figure 1.8 displays the Hertz Mapper takes the link as free of
same link than figure 1.7 but it gives obstacle even if they are and that’s why this
suggestions in order to improve the project is really important.
terrestrial link and it recommend raising 2
meters any of the antennas If the affectation is acceptable, the link
could be hold in this way. In the other hand,
If the transmitter is raised by two meters as if the receiver power is not enough, the
suggested in the software of the project, the receiver power can be raised by following
link is improved tremendously and the the suggestions showed in the simulator.
received power goes up as showed on
figure 1.9. Finally, running the simulator is
fundamental in any terrestrial link because
the probability of the link success is
significantly better if the link is probed in
advance.

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IX. REFERENCES http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/technology/d

[1].-Wayne Tomasi, “SISTEMAS DE iffraction.html

COMUNICACIONES ELECTRÓNICAS”, [5].-Randal.K.Jackson, “WIRELESS

Phoenix Arizona, 4ta edition, Prentice Hall, BROADBAND", 20/04/05, http://ciencia-

2003. ficcion.com/glosario/d/difracci.htm

[2].-Theodore S. Rappaport, “WIRELESS

COMMUNICATIONS PRINCIPLES AND

PRACTICE”, New Jersey USA, 2nd

edition, Prentice Hall PTR, 2002.

[3]-Hristo D. Hristov, “FRESNEL

ZONES.IN WIRELESS LINKS, ZONE

PLATE LENSES AND ANTENNAS”, 1st

edition, Artech House, 2000.

[4].-Randal Jackson, "PLANET QUEST

TECHNOLOGY", 12/03/05,

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