HF-IP: Propagation analysis

This paper presents a study of an HF-IP (high frequency - Internet protocol) propagation scenario based on a 3-node (N₁ -Lancaster, UK, N₂-Portsmouth, UK and N₃-Ulm, Germany) virtual HF-IP Sky wave network operating on a Token Ring (TR) network according to the STANAG 5066/draft edition 2 (S5066Ed2) standard. The 3-nodes are placed in 3 different locations covering sky wave propagation with different median ionospheric conditions. This explores an approach to determine the probability of reliable communications over a required area of coverage for TR network. Initially, the network parameters are discussed for a point to point reliable link setup, which is further expanded for a 3-node sky wave TR network. Laboratory baseband level measurements have been carried out to analyse required parameter settings for existing of TR network using STANAG 4539 modems, STANAG 5066/draft edition 2 RF controllers and a CCIR Report 549-3 HF channel simulator. The work has provided analytical and laboratory study of a sky wave TR network and has discussed the implications of having such a network for HF-IP services.