Performance Evaluation of Radio Frequency Visualisation Tool for Wireless Communications: A UNIUYO Campus Case Study

Abstract

This study was motivated by the challenge of evaluating radio frequency (RF) signal behaviour concerning transmitter and receiver positioning prior to deployment and during troubleshooting. This paper presented the development and testing of a MATLAB-based signal visualisation application to enhance RF signal analysis across various frequencies and terrains, specifically focusing on the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) permanent site and selected locations in Uyo. The application featured three distinct tabs with specialised functions. The first tab integrated campus radio broadcasts at 144.5 MHz and visualised signals for mobile communication standards (2G, 3G, and 4G). The second tab offered a computation interface for selected radio propagation parameters and a tool for converting geographic coordinates from degrees, minutes, and seconds (DMS) to decimal degrees (DD). The third tab was dedicated to 5G testing and deployment. To determine the signal travel extent for each transmitter location, the Longley-Rice and Freespace propagation models were used to represent worst-case and best-case scenarios, respectively. The results, illustrated graphically, demonstrated the application’s effectiveness and versatility in RF signal analysis and 5G deployment planning. The study explored two primary 5G deployment strategies: the standalone (SA) approach and the non-standalone (NSA) technique. The SA strategy employed mid-band frequency (3.5 GHz) point-to-multipoint stations within clusters. The application utilised up to 19 transmitters (one main transmitter and 18 repeaters) per cluster. Conversely, the NSA technique integrated 5G technology with the existing 4G infrastructure to enhance coverage. The findings offer valuable insights into optimising 5G deployment in terrains similar to those at the UNIUYO permanent site and Uyo in general.