Comparison of various methods for combining propagation effects and predicting loss in low-availability systems in the 20-50 GHz frequency range

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the interest of using 'combin ed' prediction models of attenuation (combinations of single propagation ef fects) for new Xa, V or EHF SatCom systems. These models allow to calculate the attenuation due to gases, clouds, rain and the melting layer. To reach this objective, results of recent propagation campaigns carrying out radio electrical links in the 20-50 GHz frequency range are used as references. R esults from;three-different propagation experiments are considered in this paper: OLYMPUS results obtained from the DBOPEX database, ITALSAT results o btained by Rutherford Appleton Labs at Chilton (UK) and CELESTE results obt ained by ONERA in South of France. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Lt d.