An HF packet network for the Southern European Task Force

HF packet radio equipment was purchased for the Southern European Task Force Headquarters in Vicenza, Italy. The objective is to demonstrate the capability of HF packet radio to function as a base command, control, and administrative communication system. The HF packet radio system provides a voice and data capability, using commercial-grade, state-of-the-art HF communication transceivers with packet controllers. The authors address the need for propagation prediction algorithms to be integrated into each member site´s computer. PC versions of IONCAP (Ionospheric Communications Analysis and Prediction Program) are available for inclusion into the software that resides in the packet computer. There are a number of alternative prediction systems that are under consideration