Path Loss Measurements With Low Antennas For Segmented Wideband Communications at VHF

This paper reports path loss modelling results based on quasi-simultaneous wideband channel measurements at the VHF frequencies 37.8, 57.0, and 77.5 MHz. The measurements were conducted with low antenna heights (2 m) for both the fixed and mobile terminals and are therefore considered applicable to tactical network communication scenarios. For the area surveyed, the least squares fit to the basic log-distance model yielded path loss exponents in the range of 3.0 to 3.6 and shadowing standard deviations between 3.3 and 4.6 dB. In addition, shadowing cross-correlation coefficients among the three bands were found to be in the range of 0.61 to 0.72, the inclusion of which permits a simple, multiband joint statistical path loss model. The sensitivity of model parameter estimates to the choice of spatial averaging interval is also examined