Log-distance path loss model

The log-distance path loss model is a radio propagation model that predicts the path loss a signal encounters inside a building or densely populated areas over distance.

Mathematical formulation

The model

Log-distance path loss model is formally expressed as:

$PL=P_{Tx_{dBm}}-P_{Rx_{dBm}}=PL_{0}+10\gamma \log _{10}{\frac {d}{d_{0}}}+X_{g}$

where

• ${PL}$ is the total path loss in decibels (dB).
• $P_{Tx_{dBm}}=10\log _{10}{\frac {P_{Tx}}{1mW}}$ is the transmitted power in dBm where $P_{Tx}$ is the transmitted power in watts.
• $P_{Rx_{dBm}}=10\log _{10}{\frac {P_{Rx}}{1mW}}$ is the received power in dBm where ${P_{Rx}}$ is the received power in watts.
• $PL_{0}$ is the path loss in decibels (dB) at the reference distance $d_{0}$ calculated using the Friis free-space path loss model.
• ${d}$ is the length of the path.
• ${d_{0}}$ is the reference distance, usually 1 km (or 1 mile) for a large cell and 1 m to 10 m for a microcell.
• $\gamma$ is the path loss exponent.
• $X_{g}$ is a normal (or Gaussian) random variable with zero mean, reflecting the attenuation (in decibels) caused by flat fading. In the case of no fading, this variable is 0. In the case of only shadow fading or slow fading, this random variable may have Gaussian distribution with $\sigma \;$ standard deviation in decibels, resulting in a log-normal distribution of the received power in watts. In the case of only fast fading caused by multipath propagation, the corresponding fluctuation of the signal envelope in Volts may be modelled as a random variable with Rayleigh distribution or Ricean distribution (and thus the corresponding gain in Watts $F_{g}\;=\;10^{\frac {-X_{g}}{10}}$ may be modelled as a random variable with Exponential distribution).

Corresponding non-logarithmic model

This corresponds to the following non-logarithmic gain model:

${\frac {P_{Rx}}{P_{Tx}}}\;=\;{\frac {c_{0}F_{g}}{d^{\gamma }}}$

where

$c_{0}\;=\;{d_{0}^{\gamma }}10^{\frac {-PL_{0}}{10}}$ is the average multiplicative gain at the reference distance $d_{0}$ from the transmitter. This gain depends on factors such as carrier frequency, antenna heights and antenna gain, for example due to directional antennas; and

$F_{g}\;=\;10^{\frac {-X_{g}}{10}}$ is a stochastic process that reflects flat fading. In case of only slow fading (shadowing), it may have log-normal distribution with parameter $\sigma \;$ dB. In case of only fast fading due to multipath propagation, its amplitude may have Rayleigh distribution or Ricean distribution.

Empirical coefficient values for indoor propagation

Empirical measurements of coefficients $\gamma$ and $\sigma$ in dB have shown the following values for a number of indoor wave propagation cases.

Building Type	Frequency of Transmission	$\gamma$	$\sigma$ [dB]
Vacuum, infinite space		2.0	0
Retail store	914 MHz	2.2	8.7
Grocery store	914 MHz	1.8	5.2
Office with hard partition	1.5 GHz	3.0	7
Office with soft partition	900 MHz	2.4	9.6
Office with soft partition	1.9 GHz	2.6	14.1
Textile or chemical	1.3 GHz	2.0	3.0
Textile or chemical	4 GHz	2.1	7.0, 9.7
Office	60 GHz	2.2	3.92
Commercial	60 GHz	1.7	7.9

See also

• ITU model for indoor attenuation
• Radio propagation model
• Young model

Further reading

• Introduction to RF propagation, John S. Seybold, 2005, Wiley.
• Wireless communications principles and practices, T. S. Rappaport, 2002, Prentice-Hall.