The free space path loss, also known as FSPL is the loss in signal strength that occurs when an electromagnetic wave travels over a line of sight path in free space. In these circumstances there are no obstacles that might cause the signal to be reflected refracted, or that might cause additional attenuation.
The free space path loss calculations only look at the loss of the path itself and do not contain any factors relating to the transmitter power, antenna gains or the receiver sensitivity levels. These factors are normally address when calculating a link budget and these will also be used within radio and wireless survey tools and software.
To understand the reasons for the free space path loss, it is possible to imagine a signal spreading out from a transmitter. It will move away from the source spreading out in the form of a sphere. As it does so, the surface area of the sphere increases. As this will follow the law of the conservation of energy, as the surface area of the sphere increases, so the intensity of the signal must decrease.
As a result of this it is found that the signal decreases in a way that is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source of the radio signal in free space.