Technique for Recording HF (High Frequency) Oblique-Incidence-Sounder Data

摘要

This report details the equipment, formats, and procedures developed for recording and displaying HF propagation data produced by the AN/TRQ-35 RCS-4B oblique-incidence sounder receiver. The information is being published in this form because of numerous requests regarding a means for using the large volume of sounder data accumulated by NRL in the course of its ionospheric effects studies. These techniques may ultimately be incorporated in a proposed worldwide database of ionospheric data. The AN/TRQ-35 sounder equipment is available to all branches of the DoD and is widely used for near-real-time HF frequency management. The data it produces, if properly recorded and stored, can also be used for numerous other purposes related to studies of ionospheric structure and HF skywave communications. These include studies of the electron density versus height profile of the ionosphere; of forecasts of propagation conditions relevant to HF communications; of the geographical and temporal limitations of sounder data application; and of the effectiveness of frequency management techniques. Permanent records of ionospheric propagation have also proved valuable in evaluating tests of HF devices which are dependent on ionospheric propagation, such as communications transmitters and receivers, or direction finding equipment. (RH)