Daily Archives: March 10, 2019

60 GHz Millimeter Wave Band – Seems Like a Free Lunch

Let us start by first listing down the advantages of the 60 GHz Millimeter Wave Band, a band spread between 57 GHz and 64 GHz. This unlicensed band was first released in the US in 2001 but with limited allowance for transmit power (EIRP of 40 dBm). Later on, in 2013, this limit was increased to allow for greater transmit power (EIRP of 82 dBm) and larger range. The higher EIRP can be achieved with an antenna gain of 51 dBi or higher (EIRP is simply the product of transmit power and antenna gain). But first the advantages:

  1. Unlicensed band means you do not have to pay for using the frequencies in this band.
  2. Wide bandwidth of 7 GHz allows high data rate transmissions. Remember Shannon Capacity Theorem?
  3. High atmospheric absorption resulting in greater path loss (up to 20 dB/km) and shorter range. This means lesser co-channel interference and higher reuse factor.
  4. Smaller antenna sizes allowing for multiple antennas to be put together in the form of an array providing high gain.
  5. This band is quite mature and electronic components are cheap and easily available.
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