Experimental validation of adverse weather effects on a 240 GHz multi-gigabit wireless link

Abstract

The influence of hydrometeors on a MMIC-based wireless data transmission at 240GHz carrier frequency was experimentally evaluated in a climatic wind tunnel over a distance of 90 m. Successful transmissions of up to 24 Gbit/s QPSK modulated signals through heavy rain at 43 mm/h and dense fog at 3 g/m3 is achieved. The climatic impact is evaluated in terms of EVM. Reducing the bandwidth makes a transmission still possible with a BER <; 1 × 10-3 under conditions, where a free space optical link would fail.