High Frequency (HF) and Meteor Burst Communications in a Polar Environment

• Main Author: Katan, J. R.
• Other Authors: NAVAL UNDERSEA WARFARE CENTER NEWPORT DIV NEW LONDON CT NEW LONDON DETACHMENT
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1993
• Subjects: Radio Communications; *RADIO EQUIPMENT; *METEOR BURST COMMUNICATIONS; FREQUENCY; REQUIREMENTS; METEORS; PROPAGATION; MEASUREMENT; RADIATION; HIGH FREQUENCY; COMMERCE; ENVIRONMENTS; PREDICTIONS; LOW COSTS; COMPUTERS; LAYERS; PARAMETERS; COMPARISON; RUPTURE; REGIONS; D REGION; BUOYS; SUNSPOTS; ARCTIC REGIONS; SUMMER; AUTOMATIC; IONOSONDES; ABSORPTION; WORK; TELECOMMUNICATIONS; COSTS; BROADBAND; ANTENNAS; ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES; OPERATION; STORMS; SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS; PE62232N; Antarctic; Arctic; Scott Base; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA271604; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA271604

HF radio provides a low-cost, long-range communications alternative to satellite communication (SATCOM). In the polar environment, however, the frequent occurrence of dense sporadic E layers during summer in high-sunspot periods can prevent propagation in the HF band for the desired communications ranges. During solar storms, intense radiation may induce significant D-region absorption which further reduces the utility of HF radio. These phenomena cannot be defeated by the use of automatic link establishment (ALE) HF radio equipment because of the broadband nature of these effects. The use of VHF communication techniques, such as meteor scatter, provide a viable supplement to maintain connectivity when normal ALE HF radio is ineffective. This study combines the analysis of Scott Base Ionosonde data with computer predictions using A Stand- Alone Prediction Program (ASAPS) from the Australian Radio Prediction Service and IONCAP from the Institute for Telecommunications of the U.S. Department of Commerce to quantify the possibility of HF communications and suggest suitable radio system design parameters. Similarly, predictions of meteor burst (MF) link performance are provided for comparison with available measurements so that comparisons may be performed with actual link operations. Finally, an HF/VHF radio system design is envisioned to meet polar communications requirements and follow-on work to develop and verify design details is recommended. Buoys, Radio Communications, Antarctic, High Frequency (HF), Radio Propagation, Antenna, Meteor Burst, Technology Block, Arctic, Radio Communications