Measurements and modeling of radio propagation in large offices with low metallic partitions

A theoretical model is developed to predict the propagation loss of UHF radio waves in large modern offices with low metallic partitions. It is found that in addition to free-space propagation loss, the shadowing loss due to the blockage by the low partitions in the out-of-sight situation becomes the dominant one. The shadowing loss can be efficiently formulated by using the theory of single or double knife-edge diffraction. The model has been verified by an experiment conducted at 905 MHz, 1.75 GHz, and 2.44 GHz in large offices. The model shows reasonable accuracy.