HF skywave elevation angle measurements as a diagnostic tool

Accurate measurement of elevation angle on skywave paths is routinely and cost effectively available from such instruments as the CELTIC HFDF/SSL system. In addition super-resolving techniques are becoming available which are able to resolve mixed propagation modes on quite short transmissions. Since it is practical to build digitally adaptive transmit systems, it is now appropriate to ask whether a tailored HF skywave link could be constructed which could be steered to the desired propagation mode in an adaptive fashion. The paper investigates the functionality of such a system, proposes a broad engineering solution and assesses the advantages of such an implementation