Small wavelengths - Big potential: Millimeter wave propagation measurements for 5G

This article introduces wideband millimeter wave propagation measurements and the sliding correlator channel sounder system used to measure millimeter wave channels in New York City. The measurement system includes a 400 to 750 Megachips-per-second sliding correlator channel sounder that utilizes steerable directional horn antennas at both the transmitter and receiver. Several recent propagation measurement campaigns were conducted by the NYU WIRELESS research center in indoor and outdoor environments at the 28 and 73 GHz millimeter wave bands, resulting in directional and omnidirectional path loss models and multipath spread characteristics that are presented here. Measurement results for directional path loss, omnidirectional path loss and RMS delay spread are presented here. These results will help engineers design future millimeter wave wireless communications systems and will assist in the standardization of millimeter wave wireless networks.