A theoretical method is required for prediction of mean field strength in land mobile radio systems, instead of the conventional empirical methods. Feasibility study of theoretical prediction using the ray-tracing method, was made in a 1.2GHz band for a model of a small-cell system. Theoretical values showed better agreement with the measured, when diffraction around the side edges of a building is taken into account. Comparison between mean field strengths in summer and winter suggested the seasonal variations in attenuation due to trees.

Theoretical prediction of propagation is required for the future urban mobile communications, in order to make possible precise and universal prediction for arbitrary conditions. The necessity and the fundamental concept of theoretical prediction are introduced, and the theoretical prediction of mean field strength in urban areas is reviewed and discussed. Theoretical method is important particularly in prediction of multipath delay characteristics, in relation to the prediction of error rates in digital mobile radio communications.