Propagation observations at 3.2 millimeters

A millimeter-wave system for the transmission and reception of television signals has been constructed. The propagation path is 450 meters above sea level at the transmitter and traverses an 18.95-km path to the receiver, which is at an elevation of 39 meters atop a two-story building in El Segundo, Calif. The elevation angle is 1.17 degrees when corrected for curvature and refraction. Received picture quality and tropospheric scintillation and attenuation for various weather conditions are discussed. Tropospheric attenuation ranged from about 13 dB on a typical day to approximately 36 dB when moderate rainfall (∼4 mm/hr) occurred over much of the 18.95-km path. Tropospheric turbulence effects were almost nonexistent on days of heavy fog but reached peak-to-peak magnitudes of 20 dB or more in received signal fluctuations on dry, windy days. High quality television and voice reception were obtained over this link even during light to moderate rainfall periods (∼3 mm/hr). A transmitter output of approximately 100 mW, 0.61-m parabolas at each end of the link, and a receiver noise figure of 25 dB were the main system characteristics. Tropospheric attenuation measurements are in close agreement with values calculated from modified versions of the Van Vleck expressions for attenuation due to oxygen and water vapor. The average of measured tropospheric attenuation rates was approximately 0.7 dB/km for July 1965.