Evaluation of Ka-band Rain Attenuation for Satellite Communication in Tropical Regions through a Measurement of Multiple Antenna Sizes

The Ka-band is modifying the mode of legacy communication towards versatile satellite-oriented systems with the beam-spot capability and a high-throughput architecture to provide twice the capability of classic Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) satellites, thus significantly reducing the cost per bit. Given this background, the contribution of precipitation rate and Ka-band downpour attenuation are expected to improve statistical models for effect prediction. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and local researchers are working tirelessly to determine the best prediction model for tropical climates. However, persistent and continuous efforts are required because currently available models do not perform well. The current prediction model for large datasets exhibits a certain deviation. Direct beacon measurement has been compared with an available prediction model that analyses rain effects in tropical regions. Theoretically, the size of the antenna and its gain influence the performance of the receiving signal. Size and availability are two factors which cause degradation and outage in the receiving signal. The majority of extant studies focus on a single antenna with a diameter lesser than 2.4m. Theoretically, antennas with a smaller diameter possess a smaller margin in comparison with antennas with larger diameters. This condition could affect the prediction model when the high attenuation causes a rapid outage in a small antenna and lead to the unavailability of measurement results. To study such effects and provide a good recommendation, the current work measures the beacon attenuation data at two locations, namely, Bukit Jalil (Kuala Lumpur) and Cyberjaya (Selangor). The locations are approximately 15 km apart and have antennas from 0.65m to 31.1m in sizes. Analyses using an available prediction model revealed that ITU-R P.618 provides the lowest RMS value of 14.37 with regards to rainfall rate on two selected samples in Malaysia. High-accuracy prediction can be achieved through the contribution of this study, and comparative data can be obtained for future research. This study is an encouraging step towards a highly comprehensive and accurate prediction of tropospheric impairments in Ka-band satellite communications in the tropical region.