Analysis of the Effects of Rainfall Intensity into the Performance of Video Conferencing

Abstract

Attenuation due to rain is an important limitation in the designing of the microwave communication links operating at frequencies above 10 GHz. Video conferencing performs over high-speed link via high-speed satellite (WINDS satellite) transmission in the Ka-band which is vulnerable to attenuation due to rain. Using the ITU-R proposed models for the prediction of rain attenuation gives a good estimation for the microwave propagation loss caused by rain for the temperate regions, but it underestimates the rain attenuation prediction for the monthly variation of rain rate by averaging annual rain rate for particular region. This study was carried out at the University of Rwanda/Huye Campus. The rain rates were predicted for 0.01 percentage of time from rainfall data measured during two months of July and August using the RD-80 Joss and Waldvogel Disdrometer. From the data collected and analyzed, compared with ITU-R model, we can see that where Rwanda region is situated in region K, what is different from the obtained results because the data are collected during months that coincide with a dry season.