On the Rain Attenuation of Ku-Band Satellite Signal and Prediction Model at Bangkok, Thailand

This paper describes the investigation of rainfall rate and Ku band rain attenuation measurement at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), Bangkok, Thailand, using satellite signal from Thaicom3. One year measurement of rainfall rate and rain attenuation of satellite signal by using 0.5 meter antenna with horizontal polarization is presented. The experimental results indicate that the measured rainfall rate at 150mm/hr cause satellite signal attenuate 10 dB. Moreover, we have developed new prediction model of rain attenuation. The model provides for prediction of annual and for expected year to year variations. This model applied to collected data which compared with ITU-R model. From the results of prediction model at KMITL, we found that at 0.01 % of cumulative time the signal attenuation is 11 dB