Measurement of variations in RF decametric wave propagation times in ground-to-ground communications
Abstract
Variations in RF communications due to intervening conditions among ONERA rocket tracking stations were examined and results are reported for tests at 35 MHz. Rocket positions are nominally calculated at each station from a received telemetry signal, then transferred by radio link for central processing. Distances are obtained by the measured difference in phase between the signal from the rocket and a reference signal from a clock. The tests comprised the reception of signals at 34.213 MHz emitted by atomic clocks, with a reference frequency of 5 MHz and a phase error signal of 100 kHz. The programmed tests included blocking and open reception and transmission, varying the antenna orientation, and sampling the enacted phase measurements. Signals were found to be influenced by fast changes in phase, by the intervening weather and terrain, and by the distance the signals traversed.
- Publication:
-
L'Onde Electrique
- Pub Date:
- May 1982
- Bibcode:
- 1982LOEle..62...67Z
- Keywords:
-
- Decametric Waves;
- Missile Tracking;
- Radio Communication;
- Radio Transmission;
- Frequency Synthesizers;
- Ground Stations;
- Missile Control;
- Phase Error;
- Signal Measurement;
- Communications and Radar