ABSTRACT

High demands of wireless data service are increase globally and this makes Empirical path loss models of great interest. Path= loss= Propagation= models= are= useful= as= predictive= tools= for= receiving= signal= intensity=at= any= particular= distance= between= the= transmitter= and= the= receiver= at= that= particular= point,= it=is= important= in= many= ways,= such= as= Base= Transceiver= Stations= (BTS)= location,= radio= coverage= area= estimation,= frequency= assignments,= interference= analysis,= optimization= transfer,= power=adjustment= and= connection= budget. This paper presents an assessments and evaluation of five widely used empirical path loss models in predicting signal in the VHF and UHF bands in Kano City, Nigeria. In the work, five error analysis methods are used and a large scale field strength measurement was conducted within Kano State metropolis using specially configured dual band handset, GPS and GENEX® Probe software, data samples were collected along a predefined route Measurement= of= the= drive= test= was= carried= out= in= Kano, Nigeria= to= obtain= path= loss= data= from= various= base= station= transmitters= at= varying= distances. The routes covered are Zaria highway through eastern bypass road Dan Agundi to Bayero University, Kano old site, Hotoro GRA, Badawa Layout to SabonGari along MM way and Kabuga to Bayero University New site.It was found that HATA model provides the best results in terms of minimum mean Error, RMSE and SCRMSE. HATA model has the best fit which falls within the acceptable range of ±10dB.

Keywords: - Wireless data, path loss, VHF Bands, UHF Bands, Kano City