Mahindra University
École Centrale School of Engineering
EC 5153 – Wireless Communications, Fall 2025
Tutorial #1 (Problems on Large-scale path loss)
Question 1: Power measurements for indoor propagation
Assume that a set of measured data, for local average power inside a building, fit a distance-
dependent mean power law model having a log-normal distribution about the mean. Assume the
mean power law was found to be 𝑃𝑟 (𝑑) ∝ 𝑑 −2.5 .
A signal of 1 mW was received at 𝑑0 = 1m from the fixed transmitter.
At a distance of 10 m, 10% of the measurements were stronger than -25 dBm (i.e.
𝑃[𝑃𝑟 (𝑑) > −25 dBm] = 0.1).
• Derive the standard deviation (in dBm) of the received signal power about its mean.
• Also, calculate the difference (in dBm) between the area mean signal power between this
given situation and the situation of LoS (line-of-sight) being available.
HINT: You will need the following shadow fading model for statistical measure of signal power
–
𝑃𝑟 (𝑑)[dBm] = 𝐸[𝑃𝑟 (𝑑0 )][dBm] − 10 × 𝑛 × log10 (𝑑⁄𝑑 ) + 𝑋𝜎 [dBm]
0
Where 𝑋𝜎 ~ℵ(0, 𝜎 2 dBm). It implies that 𝑃𝑟 (𝑑)[dBm] is a non-zero mean Gaussian Random
Variable. Assume, 𝐸[𝑃𝑟 (𝑑0 )] = 𝑃𝑟 (𝑑0 ).
Question 2: To ensure high SNR for maximum possible time (link budget calculation for SNR at
a mobile receiver in a probabilistic sense)
A minimum -20 dB of SNR of is desired to ensure good quality of service in a cellular system to
be deployed.
Communication Protocol (soon to be regulated to Standard) parameters for the system: Forward
link (Base station to Cellular handsets) carrier frequency: 900 MHz, Base station (BS)
transmission power: 15 W, BS Antenna gain: 10 dB, Handset antenna gain: 3 dB, receiver noise
power: 10 dB. Find the percentage of time the desired SNR is achieved at a distance of 10 km
from the BS transmitter.
[HINT: you can use the shadow fading model given in last question but with 𝑛 = 4 and 𝜎 = 8
dB. All units are in dB now instead of dBm.
Take reference distance 𝑑0 = 1 km. Calculate 𝐸[𝑃𝑟 (𝑑0 )][dB] using Friis equation (𝑛 = 2),
𝑃𝑟 (𝑑0 )[dB] = 𝑃𝑡 [dB] + 𝐺𝑡 [dB] + 𝐺𝑟 [dB] + 20 log10 𝜆 − 20 log10 4𝜋 − 10 × 2 × log10 𝑑0
Find an expression for SNR[dB] = 𝑃𝑟 (𝑑 = 10 𝑘𝑚)[𝑑𝐵] −Noise power [dB]; then calculate the
probability 𝑃[𝑆𝑁𝑅(𝑑) > −20 dB] ]
Question 3. Co-channel interference problem in cellular system design
Consider a seven-cell frequency reuse as shown in Fig (a). Cell B1 is the desired cell and B2 is a
co-channel cell i.e. it uses the same set of frequency bands as cell B1. For a mobile transceiver
located in cell B1, find the minimum cell radius R to provide a forward link (BS to mobile)
Carrier to Interference power ratio (C/I) of at least 18 dB for 99% of the time.
(NB: For many digital modulations, carrier power is same as signal waveform average power
and because of shadow fading, receiver C/I is random in nature)
Assume the following:
− Co-channel interference is due to Base Station (BS) B2 only;
− Forward link Carrier frequency is 890 MHz;
− 𝑑0 = 1 km. Calculate 𝐸[𝑃𝑟 (𝑑0 )][dB] using Friis equation;
− For all BS, transmitted power is 10 W.
− Omnidirectional antenna gains: 𝐺𝐵𝑆 = 6 dBi, 𝐺𝑀𝑂𝐵𝐼𝐿𝐸 = 3dBi; dBi stands for isotropic
gain in dB
− Models for different Path Losses in dB:
For the path B1 to X:
𝑃𝐿(𝑑)[dB] = ̅̅̅̅𝑃𝐿(𝑑0 )[dB] + 10 × 2.5 × log10 (𝑑⁄𝑑 ) − 𝑋𝜎1 [dB], 𝜎 = 0.
0
For the path B2 to X:
𝑃𝐿(𝑑0 )[dB] + 10 × 4 × log10 (𝑑⁄𝑑 ) − 𝑋𝜎2 [dB], 𝜎 = 7.
𝑃𝐿(𝑑)[dB] = ̅̅̅̅
0
(a) Seven-cell Frequency Reuse structure (b) Co-channel Interference
geometry between B1 and B2