Measuring and Estimating the Propagation Path Loss and Shadowing Effects for Marine Wireless Sensor Networks at 5.8 GHZ

This work presents experimental propagation measurements over sea at 5.8 GHz for a radio link between an antenna installed aboard a boat and an antenna installed onshore. Experimental data include path loss and large-scale fading. We focus on modeling obstructed paths. Measured local mean power values show that a multi-slope path loss model are more appropriate than traditional models that use only one slope for NLOS (Non-Line-of-Sight) transmissions. The received signal was found to attenuate at the rate of up to 130 dB per decade in some shadow regions. It was also found that measurements fit reasonably well the two-ray model while LOS (Line-Of-Sight) condition remains. This investigation is useful, among others, for planning Wireless Sensor Networks offshore.