Rainfall measurements at Ku-band satellite link in Penang, Malaysia

The rainfall path attenuation at 12.255 GHz measured at Universiti Sains Malaysia for 5 years (2002-2006) is presented. The data obtained are useful to investigate the impairment because of rainfall attenuation in satellite links operating in tropical and equatorial climates. The path attenuation increases significantly with the rainfall rate measured on the ground, with rain fades exceeding 20 dB being measured at rainfall rates of 130 mm/h. Maximum exceeded time for rain rate and attenuation were observed during the wet months. The cumulative distributions of attenuation derived from the measured data are presented and compared with those obtained with existing prediction methods.