Propagation and Performance Measurements over the Berlin-Bocksberg Digital Troposcatter Communications Link

摘要

The report discusses propagation and performance measurements that were obtained over a digital troposcatter communication link between Bocksberg, West Germany, and West Berlin. The measurements were unusual because three general types of data were collected simultaneously over the link: propagation data, digital performance data, and meteorological data. The propagation data include received signal level (RSL) and multipath measurements made with a channel probe; the performance data consist of bit-error data obtained from a 1.544 Mbps T1 bank; and the meteorological data (in the form of radiosonde messages) have been used to generate profiles of the radio refractive index over the link. The results include the measured impulse response of the channel, delay spread, RSL, bit-error ratios, and refractive index profiles. Previous studies have addressed many facets of troposcatter propagation. The report attempts to bring all of these facets together, to present a more complete description of the troposcatter channel, and to enhance future digital upgrades of existing troposcatter links.