AN EMPIRICALLY BASED PATH LOSS MODEL FOR GSM SIGNAL IN A MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN: CASE STUDY OF IGARRA IN EDO STATE, AJAOKUTA AND OKENE IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA
This paper presents a statistical path loss model derived from 1800MHz experimental data collected from Igarra, Ajaokuta and Okene. The net monitor software installed in NOKIA handset was used to conduct measurements of the received signal strength from transmitting base station from August 2007 to July 2008.The data was analysed to determine the propagation path loss exponent. We also developed model equation to predict the path loss of GSM signal for the mountainous environments. The result of the Empirical model (prediction) was validated by comparing with the measured values and existing models. The result of the prediction (Empirical) model when compared with measured values showed a mean percentage error of 3.64%, when compared with existing models (log-distance path loss model and Egli model) showed a mean percentage error of 0.62% and 5.92% respectively. The result from the comparison is satisfactory.
