Performance Analysis of Path Loss Prediction Models on Very High Frequency Spectrum

Implementations of Radio frequency wave propagation models are necessary to determine propagation characteristics through a medium. Its study provides an estimation of signal characteristics and the effect of environment and the medium over which it travels. This paper performs some analysis on few empirical Propagation models the mechanisms, their path loss behavior suitable for path loss prediction techniques in broadcast communication. Experimental measurements of received signal strength indication for the 92.9 MHz Radio broadcasting Station were made in urban areas of Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nigeria. Measured data were compared with those obtained by three prediction models: COST-231, ECC-33 and OKUMURA-HATA models, the results show that in general the ECC-33 Model over-predicted the path loss in all environments with Root Means Square error (RMSE) of 166.46, while the COST-231 model has 18.33 having the best results. Okumura-Hata predicted well in the near field with 16.50 and deviated from measured data at the far field. The prediction analysis also accessed the Received Signal Strength Indication of Kapital FM in twenty (20) locations in Abuja; hence, it identifies Route A to be less susceptible to signal attenuation as compared to Route B.