ATS-5 Multipath/Ranging/Digital Data L-Band Experimental Program. Phase V. Multipath/Ranging Analysis and Results.

• Other Authors: BOEING COMMERCIAL AIRPLANE CO SEATTLE WASH
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1973
• Subjects: Air Navigation and Guidance; *AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS; *MULTIPATH TRANSMISSION; *RANGE FINDING; L BAND; RADIO LINKS; SURVEILLANCE; AIRCRAFT; ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES; Tone ranging; ATS-5 satellite; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0783588; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0783588

Experimental results are presented for 30 multipath and ranging test flights involving an FAA KC-135 jet airplane, the NASA ATS-5 satellite, the NASA/Rosman ground station, and the FAA NAFEC facility. Tests included overocean multipath measurements and one-way tone ranging between the ground station and airplane via the satellite. Data were acquired over the North Atlantic at satellite elevation angles between 9 degrees and 31 degrees, within the 1545 to 1655 MHz frequency band allocated for future aeronautical satellite services. Significant multipath experiment results include determination of the multipath signal amplitude statistics, power spectral density, polarization properties, and selective fading characteristics. Multipath results are correlated with theoretical predictions based on use of the physical optics scatter model. Ranging experiment results include performance confirmation of a narrow-band cw tone ranging technique, characterization of the effect of multipath on ranging accuracy, and concept demonstration using low-gain slot dipole aircraft antennas. Comparison of experimental ranging results with theoretical predictions is given. (Author) See also AD-783 587.