Comparison of Sub 6 GHz and mmWave Wireless Channel Measurements at High Speeds

Abstract

Next-generation mobile communication systems employ millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency bands with high bandwidths to enable high data rate transmissions. Further, the importance of high mobility scenarios, such as vehicular communication or high-speed train scenarios, is steadily increasing. To learn how wave propagation and scattering effects change from classical sub 6 GHz to mmWave frequencies, measurements in both bands have to be conducted. We perform wireless channel measurements at 2.55 GHz and 25.5 GHz center frequency at high mobility. To ensure a fair comparison between these two frequency bands, we perform repeatable measurements in a controlled environment. Our measurement methodology enables measurements at the same transmitter and receiver positions and velocities, but at different center frequencies. We compare measured wireless channels at the two employed frequency bands in terms of the delay-Doppler function.