Determination of Coverage Area of VHF Television Signal in Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigates the coverage areas of VHF television signal in Benue State, Nigeria, by quantitatively measuring the electric field strength of the signals. The signal levels of the transmitter of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Makurdi, Channel 10, on a frequency of 210.25 MHz were measured along several radial routes with the transmitting stations at focus. The distances, elevations above the sea level and locations (longitude and latitude) where every signal level was taken were also measured. The signal levels were taken using Digital Signal Level Meter GE-5499 while other measurements were done with GPS 72 – Personal Navigator. Measurements were taken along all the accessible radial routes in the state until all the signals faded away completely. From the data obtained, Surfer 12 software application was used to draw the contour maps of the signal levels of the areas covered by the transmitting station. The results obtained showed that the present configuration of the transmitter of the television station does not give an optimum coverage of the state. Only 6.13% of the entire land mass of the state has the television signal coverage, consequently, greater percentage of Benue State is out of the television signal coverage. So, there is need to have repeaters stations at some intervals to ensure reception of the television signals throughout the state