Characterization and modelling of time diversity statistics for satellite communications from 12 to 50 GHz

To compensate propagation impairments on Earth–space communication links, a specific fade mitigation technique to make up for rain propagation impairments is studied in this paper: the time diversity. This process consists in sending the information when the propagation channel allows to get it through. Here the time diversity technique is applied to different experimental attenuation time series collected in Europe: Spino d’Adda (Italy), Louvain-la-Neuve and Lessive (Belgium). These propagation measurements have been collected from 12 to 50 GHz and the performance of time diversity technique is assessed from the generation of time diversity statistics conditioned to the time delay. A prediction method of these statistics is also described. The proposed model relies on the time correlation of the attenuation time series. The model is validated and its accuracy analysed in terms of prediction error calculated using the different databases.