A propagation model for building blockage in satellite mobile communication systems is developed. This model characterizes the signal transmitted from a low-earth orbiting (LEO) satellite when there is an obstruction in the path of the signal. The obstruction is assumed to be a man-made structure. The analysis is performed using the uniform theory of diffraction (UTD). Using this method, both single and double diffractions from the structure edges were included. Direct and reflected rays from the ground and building were also included, whenever the satellite signal was not completely obstructed. The satellite is assumed to be moving along a circular orbit while the receiver is stationary. The normalized signal level (in decibels) and the signal attenuation rate (in decibels per second) are computed. Such information is considered very useful in developing the mobile system's hand-off algorithm.Index Terms-Geometrical theory of diffraction, satellite mobile communication.

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