Directional measurement and analysis of propagation path variations in a street micro-cell scenario

We present results from field experiments in a street-micro scenario downtown Tokyo, which have been carried out to explore the main mechanisms leading to path parameter variations. The measurements have been carried out using a wideband-vector-channel-sounder. The transmitter (mobile station) was equipped with an omni-directional antenna whereas at the receiver (base station) a uniform linear array has been used. The parameters of the dominant propagation paths have been estimated using high-resolution parameter estimation algorithms (joint unitary ESPRIT and SAGE). From these parameter estimation results three main mechanisms leading to propagation path parameter variations have been discovered. The observed channel characteristics are useful for the development of realistic directional urban multi path propagation models.