Propagation influences on the performance of a reduced bandwidth quadrature phase shift keyed digital radio system

British Telecom is running a field trial of a spectrally efficient (4.2 bits/Hz) reduced bandwidth quadrature phase shift keyed digital radio system for the lower 6 GHz and 4 GHz bands in a part of the UK that is subject to above average multipath activity. Some of the observations made during a two-year period are described together with the improvements made to the antennas and the methods likely to be used in predicting system performance in other locations. The current method of predicting multipath fading is examined and found wanting in its application to digital system planning. An alternative is put forward and an example of its use is given.