By Robert E. Johnson, Eastern Connecticut Cable Television, Inc.
Fading phenomena, due both to rainfall and to atmospheric conditions constitute a basic limitation on the reliability of CARS band Local Distribution Service. Long paths are of particular interest since both fading mechanisms are critically dependent on path length.
This paper describes the results of several months of continuous observation of fading over a 24 mile path in eastern Connecticut. Fades have been correlated with rainfall and those due to this source have been separated as non-contributory to the body of information already available. All other fades are summarized by number of fades, total duration, and by daily time slots corresponding generally to different television viewing habits.
Empirical expressions are derived describing the occurrence of anomalous propagation fading and the effect on path reliability.