Mitigation of rain attenuation in fixed WiMAX using cell site diversity

A study of the cell site diversity technique in fixed WiMAX is carried out using data collected in the United Kingdom through a dense network of rain gauges. The analysis includes both dual- and foursite scenarios and covers radio transmissions at frequencies between 10 and 50 GHz over 5 km terrestrial links. It is found that a simple dual-site configuration that connects a subscriber station to one of two base stations separated in azimuth by 1808 provides an effective mitigation against intense rain, reducing required rain fade margins by up to 40%.