individual number 1.01123

Background to the problem

Radio propagation conditions play a critical role in the operation of mobile wireless networks. They determine the performance of these systems, whether used to transmit real-time voice messages, data, or other types of communication traffic. The propagation conditions over a wireless link are influenced by various factors. Radio waves often encounter obstacles during the transmission, causing reflection, diffraction, and scattering of the electromagnetic radiation.

Let us suppose a 5 GHz radio wave that:

1. propagates through the atmosphere in rainy weather over a distance d, in kilometres (km)
2. and then through one layer of wood of thickness t, in metres (m).

The problem

The problem is to write a function to calculate the total power loss, measured in dB (decibel), under those circumstances given that:

1. rain leads to an atmospheric loss of 1.5 decibel per kilometre (dB/km)
2. wood leads to a further loss of 90 decibel per metre (dB/m)
3. to account for other unknown noise and impairments that might be present, the combined loss (obtained by adding the loss from 1 and 2) is multiplied by your individual number 1.0XYZ. This gives you the total loss.

You can test your approach with typical values of d = 30 km and t = 0.1 m (which should result in a combined loss of 54 dB, which must then be multiplied by your individual number in order to find the total loss).

• i.Include your initial decomposition of the problem in your solution document using the chevron notation (> and >>) from the module materials. The initial decomposition could start as follows:

  > Calculate the total loss in dB

• Instructions for writing the function:

  • Provide a single Python function that implements the algorithm you wrote for Part (c) (ii). Your function must be a translation of your algorithm from Part (c) (ii), otherwise no marks will be awarded.
  • The function should have two arguments: one for the distance d and one for the thickness t of the layer of wood.
  • The function should have one return value for the total power loss.
  • Use techniques and language features that are covered in the module. If you decide to use techniques or language features not covered in the module, you must give a justification for this or no marks will be given.

  (10 marks)