Over-the-Air LoS Propagation Characteristics of Various Indoor Materials at 28 GHz

This paper presents a measurement study on the propagation characteristics of a 28 GHz communication link in an indoor environment. The research aims to analyze the lineof-sight (LOS) propagation effects by examining the impact of various materials commonly found in indoor settings, such as human body, glass, wood, and drywall, etc. The measurements were conducted using specialized setup, including commercial beamforming transceivers at 4m distance to emulate real-life scenario instead of extracting the performance of the materials in an anechoic chamber. The results highlight some key figures of merit including EVM, spectrum and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), introduced by these materials at 28 GHz, providing valuable insights into the behavior of the communication link in typical indoor setting. Unlike standard material loss measurements that employ CW signal, this setup utilizes a modulated signal to simulate real-world scenarios. The results make a valuable contribution by facilitating an assessment of signal distortion and the sensitivity of modulation schemes in uncontrolled indoor settings, potentially enhancing the design and optimization of forthcoming wireless communication systems operating at mmWave frequencies.