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Performance Analysis of Microwave Radio Refractivity on Radio Field Strength and Radio Horizon Distance Over Akure, Nigeria

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Abstract

Surface radio refractivity studies are being carried out in Akure, \((7.15^{\circ }\hbox {N}, 5.12^{\circ }\hbox {E})\) South-Western Nigeria, by in-situ measurement of atmospheric pressure, temperature, and relative humidity using Wireless Weather Station (Integrated Sensor Suit, ISS). Five years of measurement (January, 2007–December, 2011) were used to compute the surface radio refractivity and its diurnal, daily, seasonal and yearly variations are analyzed. The results were then used to compute radio horizon distance \((\hbox {R}_\mathrm{DH})\) and examine the field strength (FSV) variability. Results obtained show that the surface radio refractivity, \(\hbox {N}_\mathrm{s}\), varies with the time of the day as well as the seasons of the year. High values of \(\hbox {N}_\mathrm{s}\) were recorded in the morning and evening hours while the values were minima around 1,500 h local time. An average value of surface radio refractivity of 364.74 N-units was obtained for this location. The annual maximum mean of FSV is 15.24 dB and the minimum is 2.20 dB. This implies that the output of a receiving antenna in Akure may generally be subject to variations not less than 2 dB in a year, but can be as high as 15 dB.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia for research award under the project code UKM-MI-OUP-of 2011 through its Centre for Research in Instrumentation and Management (CRIM), the Alexander von Humboldtz Foundation; Germany, the University of Bonn, Germany and the Centre for Basic Space Studies of the National Space Research Development Agency (NASRDA), University of Nigeria, Nsukka for donating the sets of Wireless Weather Station (ISS) used for this work and for research collaboration. The authors are also grateful to the management of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Akure, for the use of their facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

    Adekunle Titus Adediji

  2. Department of Electrical, Electronic and Systems Engineering, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia

    Adekunle Titus Adediji, Mahamod Ismail & Jit Singh Mandeep

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  1. Adekunle Titus Adediji
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Correspondence to Adekunle Titus Adediji.

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Adediji, A.T., Ismail, M. & Mandeep, J.S. Performance Analysis of Microwave Radio Refractivity on Radio Field Strength and Radio Horizon Distance Over Akure, Nigeria. Wireless Pers Commun 79, 1893–1909 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-014-1963-0

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