The Egli model is a terrain model for radio frequency propagation. This model, which was first introduced by John Egli in his 1957 paper,^[1] was derived from real-world data on UHF and VHF television transmissions in several large cities. It predicts the total path loss for a point-to-point link. Typically used for outdoor line-of-sight transmission, this model provides the path loss as a single quantity.

Applicable to/under conditions

The Egli model is typically suitable for cellular communication scenarios where one antenna is fixed and another is mobile. The model is applicable to scenarios where the transmission has to go over an irregular terrain. However, the model does not take into account travel through some vegetative obstruction, such as trees or shrubbery.

Coverage

Frequency: The model is typically applied to VHF and UHF spectrum transmissions.

Mathematical formulation

The Egli model is formally expressed as:

${\displaystyle P_{R}=G_{B}G_{M}\left[{\frac {h_{B}h_{M}}{d^{2}}}\right]^{2}\left[{\frac {40}{f}}\right]^{2}P_{T}}$

Where,

${\displaystyle P_{R}}$ = Receive power [W]

${\displaystyle P_{T}}$ = Transmit power [W]

${\displaystyle G_{B}}$ = Absolute gain of the base station antenna.

${\displaystyle G_{M}}$ = Absolute gain of the mobile station antenna.

${\displaystyle h_{B}}$ = Height of the base station antenna. [m]

${\displaystyle h_{M}}$ = Height of the mobile station antenna. [m]

${\displaystyle d}$ = Distance from base station antenna. [m]

${\displaystyle f}$ = Frequency of transmission. [MHz]

Limitations

This model predicts the path loss as a whole and does not subdivide the loss into free space loss and other losses.

See also

• Longley–Rice model
• ITU terrain model
• International Telecommunication Union

References

Further reading

• Introduction to RF propagation, John S. Seybold, 2005, John Wiley and Sons Inc.