Optimum transmission rate for low power meteor burst communication systems

The role of transmission bandwith on the information capacity of low-power meteor-burst communication systems has been investigated. An optimum bandwidth theorem is presented, based on an equal contribution to the duty cycle from underdense and overdense trails. Such a criterion implies that the best bandwidth is dependent on other system parameters such as transmitter power, antenna gains and threshold level. For a low-power, low-rate system this optimum bandwidth may actually be quite narrow. Experimental data taken recently on the Bozeman-Palo Alto circuit are used to determine certain constants for a capacity-bandwidth relationship.