Statistical tuning of cost 231 Hata model in deployed 1800mhz GSM networks for a rural environment

Radio propagation planning requires the use of propagation models in planning cell size as well as frequency assignment. This paper presents a comparative study of path loss predicted using COST 231 Hata model and ECC-33 model on received signal strength data collected from three deployed GSM networks at 1800MHz in Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research environment (NIFOR), Edo State, Nigeria. Based on the Mean Prediction Error (MPE) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) values obtained from the comparison, the COST 231 Hata model was tuned using the least square approach. The result obtained after tuning shows that for Network A; MPE andRMSE values reduces to 1.17 dB and 5.5dB. For Network B, MPE and RMSE values reduces to 2.26 dB and 7.16dB. While, for Network C; MPE and RMSE values reduces to 6.21 dB and 10.78dB. The results obtained show that the tuned COST 231 Hata model can be used for radio planning in the study environment as well as other environment with similar terrain profile. Keywords: Propagation model, Path loss, COST 231 Hata model, ECC-33 model, Least square tuning approach, MPE and RMS