Propagation curves and coverage areas of digital terrestrial television base stations in the tropical zone

This study investigated the propagation curves and coverage areas of some Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcast Stations (DTTBS) over four climatic zones of coastal (Lagos), tropical rain forest (Akure), Sudan Savannah (Kaduna) and Sahel Savannah (Katsina) cities of Nigeria. Measurement of the Received Signal Strength (RSS) was carried out along different routes with each of the DTTBS as reference points. Measurements of RSS were carried out using two specified antenna receiver heights of 1.5 and 3.0 m for each data point. The GPS receiver was used to measure the geographic coordinates, elevation and Line of Sight (LOS) of data points along the routes in a drive test. Measurement was done during dry and wet season months at 1 km interval up to about 20 km in each of the selected routes covering a period of three years (2016–2018). Mean data were obtained and used to generate the propagation curves and the coverage areas over the study locations. Generally, results revealed that RSS undulates with LOS separation distance from DTTBS in all routes irrespective of seasons and routes. Particularly, RSS reduces to about half of its base station's value at about 8 and 12 km LOS from the DTTBS in Akure and Katsina respectively while, it reduces to about half of its base station's value at about 6 km from the DTTBS in Lagos and Kaduna. The implication of this is that higher coverage areas were obtained in suburban compared to urban cities. In addition, radial maps showing coverage areas and their grades useful for networking purposes were generated. Television White Spaces (TVWS) for secondary users were also proposed. For networking purposes and spatial arrangements of DTTBS that will ensure optimum coverage over the study locations, DTTBS can be sited at 8.0 and 13.5 km (LOS) interval from each other in urban and sub urban cities respectively. The overall results will enable system engineers to know the appropriate distance(s) and locations to site additional DTTBS for networking purposes and prepare power budget for optimum coverage area and good quality of services for terrestrial digital channels.