International activities in HF sky-wave field-strength estimation (period 1956-1991)

Abstract

Methods for the determination of the strengths of radio signals reflected from the ionosphere and propagated to distant locations are required for service planning and circuit operation. Efforts are described following World War II to arrive at agreed procedures and some of the features of the various empirical prediction methods that have been formulated over the years are discussed. The problems are highlighted of determining a "best" method from among those available. Measurement data collected for this purpose are reviewed and attention is drawn to their limitations of accuracy and coverage. Even comparison of predicted and measured values is not straightforward, and the techniques that have been developed to do this are considered.