Communication at millimeter waves

The advantage and disadvantages of millimeter waves for terrestrial and satellite communications are enumerated. Atmospheric attenuation is discussed in detail, with brief attention given to signal loss in particulates, sandstorms, snow, hail, and fog. Short closed forms are then found for gaseous attenuation on ground-satellite paths. An exponential rain loss probability density function is used in generating atmospheric loss at arbitrary required availability. It is pointed out that this loss (as a function of frequency) can be used to pick optimum carrier frequencies as a function of location, required availability, elevation angle, and system cost. An estimate is made of the rate-of-change of millimeter wave device availability. Special attention is given to GaAs FETs, not only because they will be useful, but because one phase of their millimeter wave performance is predictable: their noise performance as a function of frequency can be estimated with the aid of a Fukui equation.