Abstract

Path loss models are a vital component in planning of wireless communication, as they assist in achieving optimal signal levels in deploying mobile communication base stations. This study compared field-measured data with various propagation models of Walfisch-Bertoni (WB), Dual-Slope (DS) and Vector Parabolic Equation (VPE). Measurements were obtained from three base transmission stations (BTS-1, BTS-2, BTS-3) in a high-density urban environment, in South West Nigeria, using a Mobile Station (MS) setup. The setup consists of a laptop with the Ericsson Test Equipment for Mobile System (TEMS) investigation software, at an operating frequency of 1,900MHz. MATLAB software was used to simulate the path loss for the propagation models. The comparison of the path losses from the measured data and the propagation models showed that the Vector Parabolic Equation model, generally, gave a better prediction of path loss in the study area. The VPE is thus recommended for path loss estimations within the South Western part of Nigeria and other terrains with similar features