1

Friis Transmission Formula Friis Transmission Formula

P
t
P
r
The Friis Transmission Formula enables us to calculate the
power received (P
r
) given that a known power (P
t
) is
radiated. Friis assumes that both antennas are isotropic
and that they are in free space.
Free Free--Space Loss Space Loss
Free space implies that there are no objects present
to affect propagation
To satisfy the Law of Conservation of Energy, the
energy leaving any closed surface around a radiator
must be independent of the distance (R) from that
radiator
R
Spherical
Surface
2
Free Free--Space Loss (2) Space Loss (2)
The spherical surface has an area of 4tR
2
,
the power and the power density will be
uniform over that surface since radiation is
isotropic. Hence, the power density will be:
2
2
/
4
t
P
S Watts m
R t
=
For a non-isotropic source, the above equation
can be modified by the antenna pattern to
account for variation with angle
Friis Transmission Formula Friis Transmission Formula
This gives us radiated power density as a function of radiated
power and distance.
2
2
Watts
(4 )
t
r
P
P
R

t
=
where G is the gain of the antenna, and is the wavelength.
For an isotropic antenna, G=1, and the power received is:
2
4
e
G
A

t
= For any antenna:
The maximum power that can be delivered to a matched load
by a receiving antenna, P
r
, is given by P
r
=SA
e
, where A
e
is the
Effective Aperture of the receiving antenna.
Friis Transmission Formula: assumes both transmitting and
receiving antennas are isotropic
3
Expressing Friis in Decibels Expressing Friis in Decibels
since =c/f, where c is the speed of
light (3 x 10
5
km/s)
2
2
(4 )
t
r
Pc
P
Rf t
=
10 4
2 2 6 2 2 2
(9 10 ) 5.6993 10
(4 ) ( 10 )
t r
km MHz t MHz km
P P
R f P f R t


= =

Taking 10 log of both sides we get the ratio of P

r
/P
t
in dB:
4
10log 10log(5.6993 10 ) 20log( ) 20log( )
32.44 20log( ) 20log( )
r
MHz km
t
MHz km
P
f R
P
f R

| |
=
|
\ .
=
Free-space gain in dB
Including the Effects of Antenna Including the Effects of Antenna
Gains Gains
Free-Space Channel Model
Signal
from
XMTR
(dBm)
XMTR
Antenna
gain (dBi)
Free-Space
Gain
(dB)
RCVR
Antenna
gain (dBi)
Received
Power
(dBm)
4
Example Problem Example Problem
A ground-based communication system transmits to a geo-
synchronous satellite located 41935 km from the transmitter
at a frequency of 1 GHz The gain of the ground-based
antenna is 25 dBi, and the satellite antenna has a gain of
15 dBi.
Assuming free-space propagation path loss, what must be
the transmitter power in Watts to produce 5V
RMS
at the
output of the satellite antenna? Assume that the satellite
antenna is matched to 50O.
Example Problem Solution Example Problem Solution
?
+25 dBi
+15 dBi
-185 dB
32.44 20log(1000) 20log(41935) 185 = =
-93 dBm
( )
2
6
2
13
13
5 10
5 10
50
5 10
10log 93
0.001
RECEIVED
dBm
V
P
R
P dBm

= = =

= =
93 ? 25 185 15 ? 52 or 158.5 Watts dBm = + + =