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1. Abstract
A CTS was launched in September, 1993, primarily to demon-
strate advanced satellite communication technologies at Ka
band [l]. An adequate characterization of the propagation envi-
ronment was recognized as a critical requirement for reliable
Ka-band propagation measurements with the Advanced exploitation of frequencies in the Ka band, allocated for satellite
Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) are entering their communications. NASA developed the Advanced Communica-
fifth year of data collection. Beacon-signal levels and radiometric tions Technology Satellite (ACTS) Propagation Experiment to
sky noise are being measured at 20.2 and 21.5 GHz, with support- obtain the needed information. Beacons at frequencies of 20.2 and
ing meteorological information, at seven experiment sites in the 27.5 GHz were made available on ACTS. Results from the first
US and Canada, using ACTS Propagation Terminals (APTs) sup- two years of the ACTS Propagation Experiment were reported in a
plied by NASA. Uniform system-calibration, data-collection and special issue of the Proceedings of the IEEE [2]. An update is
data-processing procedures and software, prescribed and developed given here of recent experimental results and new model develop-
by the NASA Propagation Experimenters (NAPEX) Group, pro- ment.
mote commonality of the data sets and permit comparison among
results f?om the various sites. NASA sponsored two types of propagation experiments: 1)
long-term experiments, designed to collect statistical data for
Goals of the program are to develop basic Ka-band propaga- propagation-model development and testing; and 2) shorter
tion knowledge, and to supply information needed to improve experiments, designed to explore mitigation techniques and special
propagation-prediction models and to develop impairment-mitiga- topics. Only the long-term measurements are considered here.
tion techniques. The APT sites were selected to sample a variety of
North American climate regions and their associated propagation
features. 3. Experiment design
Statistical results &om the propagation measurements are Prior to the launch of the satellite, NASA convened several
presented and compared to the predictions of new and existing pre- meetings of propagation specialists to evaluate the capabilities of
diction models. Other aspects of the measurements, including ACTS for propagation measurements, and to design an experiment
unusually strong antenna-wetting effects observed with the APTs, to take advantage of these capabilities. Based on deliberations of a
plus analyses related to impairment dynamics, rain-rate modeling, Science Working Group and a Systems Working Group, recom-
and clear-air effects, are discussed. mendations were developed for this purpose.
IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol. 40, No. 6, December 1998 1045-9243/98/$10.0001998IEEE 23
information on the vertical structure of the atmosphere to refine Table 1. The ACTS Propagation Terminal locations
attenuation-prediction models. and their pathklimate characteristics.
0 10 20 30 40 M 60 70 80 90 1W
regions, some previously unsampled, was considered important.
Rain Rate (d)
Placement of the APTs depended, of course, on receipt of accept-
able technical proposals for sites within desired climate zones. This Figure 1. The 20.2 GHz attenuation due to water on the
part of the program was very successful. Features of the seven offi- antenna reflector surface and feed window.
cial APT sites are summarized in Table 1, along with the respec-
tive climate designations in both the ITU-R and Crane-Global rain
zone classifications. 8
1
4. E x p e r ~ m e nresults
~~ An early finding of the ACTS Propagation Experiment was
the unusual sensitivity of the ACTS Propagation Terminal antenna
Automated calibration and beacon-signal reference-level to dew and rain water, on both the antenna reflector surface and on
determination procedures were employed, to provide attenuation the feed window. In sprayer tests, the wet antenna could produce as
estimates with a statistical uncertainty of less than 0.2 dB (one much as 8 dB attenuation in addition to path attenuation. A physi-
standard deviation), and a peak uncertainty of less than 0.5 dB [ 5 ] . cal model has now been developed to estimate the attenuation pro-
Two types of data have been archived for the experiment: 1) con- duced by the wet surfaces.
tinuous one-second average calibrated beacon and radiometer
attenuation data, with one-minute supporting meteorological data, Antenna-wetting-model predictions at 20.2 and 27.5 GHz are
and all associated calibration and reference-level determination presented in Figures 1 and 2, as a function of rain rate at the
information; and 2) ten-minute high-data-rate segments of beacon antenna. The predictions were made for the elevation angle and
data collected at a rate of 20 samples per second. Continuous one- polarization orientation of the antenna. Three sites have antennas
24 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol. 40, No. 6, December 1998
pointed at nearly the same elevation angle (50). Their curves I00
spacer between the water layer and the primary reflecting surface. 4 I i +Farbanks AK -#-Vancouva.BC
Hydrophobic properties of both surfaces (if they existed) are - 4Greety.CO -X-Tampa FL
. +LasCruces,NU -3-Noman.OK
quickly lost through weathering. -
-Reston, VA (2 yn) i
01 Y
01
0 01
L. .
01 1
, , I ,
10
, . . . . , ,...,
100
The two-component model predicts the effects of rain and the
clouds accompanying the rain. The curves extend over only the
Percentage of Year Attenuation is Exceeded (%) percentage of a year dominated by rain effects. The prediction
biases for the four annual EDFs are 3% at 20.2 GHz and 2% at
Figure 3. Attenuation statistics for the Norman, Oklahoma,
27.5 GHz. The root-mean-square deviations (RMSDs) between
site.
model predictions and observations are 22% at 20.2 GHz and 18%
at 27.5 GHz, based on a log-normal model for year-to-year varia-
ACTS PropagationExperiment
tions in the EDFs. These results show a combined model consis-
Atteauation RelaUve to Clw Sky EDFs tency with measurements at the 0.1 significance level (use of the
model cannot be rejected).
-20.2 GHz A & P -27.5 GHz A & P n- - Observations from all the sites for the three years of cali-
brated data, December 1, 1993 through November 30, 1996, are
presented in Figures 5 and 6.
I
I
01 1 , . . . I . .
0 001 001 01 1 10
Percentageof Y a r Attenuationir Exceeded (%)
4.3 Microwave brightness temperature measurements
Figure 4. Attenuation EDFs, measurements and predictions, The radiometric measurements made at each site were pri-
for Norman, Oklahoma. marily for use in beacon-system calibration. As an interim step in
IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol. 40, No. 6,December 1998 25
the calibration process, the microwave brightness temperatures Table 2. The annual average number of fades.
were estimated for each beacon frequency, for every minute of
20.2 GBZ - 3 dB 20.2 GHz ~ 5 dB 27.5 GBz - 3 dB 27.5 GAz - 5 dB
observations. For calibration verification at the Oklahoma site, the
brightness-temperature measurements at launch time for nearby
rawinsonde observations were compared with calculated values
from the balloon soundings. Summary EDFs for the four years of
observations at the Norman, Oklahoma, site are presented in Fig-
ure 7.
The fade duration data were compiled for each day. Fading
events that continued across midnight were ignored. Inter-fade fades exceeding 2 sec duration, and the number of fades exceeding
intervals were only computed between rain-attenuation events that 10 sec duration. At the 5 dB threshold, the fades exceeding 10 sec
occurred on the same day. are rain fades. Scintillation contributes to the large number of fades
shorter than 10 sec at the lower attenuation threshold. Scintillation
Figure 8 displays the four-year fade duration EDFs for Nor- fades occur more often at lower elevation angles or in moist, wet
man, Oklahoma. The complete EDFs cannot be modeled by simple climates (e.g., Florida).
log-normal, exponential, or power-law CDFs. Similar results were
obtained for the fade duration and inter-fade interval EDFs from
the other sites. 4.5 Clear-air effects
The numbers of rain fades at two attenuation levels are given The automated pre-processing program generated EDFs for
for each site in Table 2. This table contains the total number of the standard deviations of within-a-minute fluctuations of the bea-
con-signal levels and radiometer-attenuation estimates. Figure 9
presents these results for the four years of observations at the Nor-
I man, Oklahoma, site.
-275GHz 1
--- -m7c.u7 I
The beacon data display the variations produced by scintilla-
. .
tion due to clear-air turbulence, due to attenuation due to clouds
ACTS PropagationExperiment
Norman, Oklahoma and rain, and due to the increased effect of receiver noise at low
Four-Year Sky Tempe" EDFs
1994 - 1597 signal-to-noise values during a rain fade. The radiometer data do
not show fluctuations during periods of clear-air scintillation, but
101 J
0.01
' ' I , " "
0.1 I 10 100
do reveal the fluctuations caused by rain and clouds. Differences
Percentage of Yea Brightness Tempraturt ir Exceeded (I) between the beacon and radiometer EDFs can be used to estimate
the EDFs for scintillation intensity.
Figure 7. Microwave brightness EDFs for Norman, Oklahoma.
During clear-air periods, the high-rate data produce power
spectra that display the classic segmented-power-law shape
Four Year Fade Duration EDFr expected for clear-air turbulence. During periods of rain, the spec-
I. Unfiltered 1-secondA v m g e
tra display the characteristics of a slowly varying flat fading chan-
nel, with a relative increase in noise caused by the low signal-to-
noise ratio.
26 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol. 40, No. 6,December 1998
with the Rice-Holmberg model, performed best. The wet-antenna
problem was noted. We now have two new models for attenuation
prediction: the local two-component rain rate model, and the wet-
antenna model. The effect of water on the antenna has been suc-
cessfully analyzed, and good agreement between model estimates
[ I 20.2 GBZ - ACS 21.5 GHz - ACS
and predictions has been achieved.
The model predictions for British Columbia produce signifi- 5. R. K. Crane, X. Wang, D. B. Westenhaver and W. J. Vogel,
cantly higher attenuation values than were observed. For this site, ACTS Propagation Experiment: Experiment Design, Calibration,
the rain occurs predominantly during the winter months. If the rain and Data Preparation and Archival, Proceedings of the IEEE, 85,
height is reduced by a factor of two, to mimic winter-time height 6 , 1997, pp. 863-878.
profiles, the observations and predictions will be in agreement (not
rejected at the 0.1 significance level for the revised two-component 6. R. K. Crane, Electroriingiietic Waiv Propngatiori fhroirgh Rairi,
model). New York, John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
The two-component models for predicting the attenuation 7. R. K. Crane, A Local Model for the Prediction of Attenuation
CDFs rely on a complete description of the rain-rate distribution. Caused by Rain, Proceedirigs of URSI Coiiiiiiissiori F Opeii S I V -
Both the DAH and ITU-R models rely only on rain-rate predictions posiurii 011 Cliriintic Parnriieters iii Radionmie Propagatiori Pre-
at 0.01% of a year. The ITU-R model postulates a universal distri- diction (CLIMPARA 98),Ottawa, Canada, April 27-29, 1998
bution shape (i.e., all the EDFs in Figures 5 and 6 should be paral-
lel). The DAH model provides minor adjustments in shape with 8. A. W. Dissanayake, J. E. Allnutt and F. Haidara, A Prediction
elevation angle and latitude (but not rain climate; see [9]). The Model that Combines Rain Attenuation and Other Impairments
observed EDFs show a significant departure from parallel curves. along Earth-Space Paths, IEEE Trarisnctioris or1 Aiiteririns arid
These results bring into question one of the tenets of models Propagatiori, AP-45,9, 1997, pp. 1546-1558.
dependent on predictions at only one probability value, and the use
of a universal adjustment to extend to other probability values. 9. R. K. Crane and A. W. Dissanayake, ACTS Propagation
Experiment: Attenuation Distribution Observations and Prediction
Model Comparisons, Proceedirigs of the IEEE, 85, 6 , 1997, pp.
6. Conclusions 879-892.
The initial comparisons between ACTS measurements and 10. D. V. Rogers, L. J. Ippolito and F. Davarian, System
model predictions concluded that none of the models tested pro- Requirements for Ka-Band Propagation Data, Proceedirigs of the
vided an exact fit to the data, but the DAH model, when combined IEEE, 85,6, 1997, pp. 810-820.
IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol. 40, No. 6, December 1998 27
Introducing Feature Article Authors
Robert K. Crane received the BS, MS, and PhD degrees in David V. Rogers received a BS, Physics, from Lamar Uni-
electrical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, MA. versity, Beaumont, Texas, in 1967, and the PhD, Physics, from
North Texas State University, Denton, in 1973, with a specializa-
In 1981-1992, he was Research Professor of Engineering at tion in microwave spectroscopy.
the Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College. In 1976-
1981, he was Deputy Division Manager and Division Senior Sci- In 1973, he joined the Communications Research Centre,
entist at Environmental Research and Technology, Inc. In 1964- Ottawa, Canada, as a National Research Council of Canada post-
1976, he was a staff member in MITs Lincoln Laboratory. He cur- doctoral fellow, where he performed research in tropospheric
rently is Professor of Meteorology and Professor of Electrical radiowave propagation. From 1976 to 1977, he was a member of
Engineering at the University of Oklahoma, Norman. He has spent the engineering staff of O N , Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland. In
his research career conducting studies in electromagnetic wave 1977, he joined COMSAT Laboratories, Clarksburg, Maryland,
propagation through the atmosphere and in the remote sensing of and was responsible for theoretical and experimental research and
precipitation via radio and radar techniques. development in radiowave propagation for application to satellite
communications. During his last few years at COMSAT, he was
Dr. Crane is a member of the American Meteorological Soci- Manager of the Propagation Studies Department. In June, 1990, he
ety and the American Geophysical Union. He has been active in rejoined the Communications Research Centre in Ottawa, as Group
the work of Commission F of the International Union of Radio Leader, Earth-Space Propagation, in the Radio Sciences Branch.
Science (URSI) and in the United States National Committee for
URSI. He has also been active in the work of Study Group 3 of the Dr. Rogers is active in Study Group 3 (Radio Propagation) of
radiocommunications sector of the International Telecommunica- the ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), having been a dele-
tions Union. gate to ITU meetings since 1981, and currently is a Vice-chairman
of ITU-R Study Group 3. He is a member of CNCNRSI Commis-
sion F and the American Geophysical Union, and served on the
Science Review Panel for the NASA Propagation Program.
The successful candidate must demonstrate detailed experience in the design and development of
associated low-loss (high power) waveguide feed systems, involving such components as
polarizers, wide-band homs, filters, and symmetrical coupling junctions.
Additionally, the successful candidate will assume immediate responsibility for engineering
activities related to the design and test of such specific antenna systems and associated feed
systems. A university engineering degree and at least 5 years of applied experience is preferred.
Vertex, located in a pleasant and quiet comer of East Texas away from the bustle and traffic jams
of big city life, but still within easy reach of Dallas-Fort Worth, offers an excellent salary and
benefits program. Applicants should submit a resume and a brief statement of related experience
to:
Human Resources Manager
Vertex Communications Corporation
2600 Longview Street
Kilgore, Texas 75662-6842
EOE MfFiHN
wtucker@vertexcomm.com
Fax: 903 984 7769
Tel: 903 984 0555
28 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol. 40, No. 6 ,December 1998