Training Courses


Overview:

The RF propagation courses review groundwave, skywave and earth-space propagation modes relevant to the design and implementation of radar, communications, remote-sensing, electronic warfare, surveillance and other systems operating in the Medium Frequency (MF) to Extra High Frequency (EHF) bands. The occurrence and magnitude of various types of electromagnetic noise is also discussed.

Emphasis is placed on providing an understanding of the physical principles involved, of current modelling and prediction techniques, and of the limitations of such techniques in practical situations.

The courses are based on a graduate electrical engineering course given by Dr. Palmer at Carleton University, Ottawa.

Both standard and customized course presentations for RF Propagation, HF Single Site Location and Superresolution Direction-Finding techniques and other topics are available.

Course Content (5 day Overview Course - RF Propagation)

· Overview

· Definitions and nomenclature

· Groundwave path-loss - geometric optics

· Groundwave path-loss - wave theory

· Empirical modelling of groundwave path-loss

· Terrain obstructions - buildings and foliage

· Other propagation modes - buildings and tunnels

· Multipath effects

· Measurement of multipath parameters

· Groundwave paths - time and space statistics

· Tropospheric structure

· Tropospheric effects - refraction and ducting

· Tropospheric Effects - scattering and absorption

· Tropospheric Effects - precipitation

· Tropospheric Effects - time and space statistics

· Air/air, air/ground and maritime systems

· Terrestrial effects on system performance

· Terrestrial systems - computer models

· Ionospheric structure - the geomagnetic field

· Ionospheric structure - equatorial and high-latitude

· The disturbed ionosphere - sporadic-E, spread-F etc.

· Propagation in ionized media - magnetoionic theory

· Skywave propagation phenomenology - MF and HF

· Skywave propagation phenomenology - VHF

· Measurement of ionospheric parameters

· Skywave path-loss and signal statistics

· Skywave effects on earth-space system performance

· Skywave systems - computer models and ionospheric databases

· Undisturbed earth-space paths - time delay, etc.

· Disturbed earth-space paths - dispersion, etc.

· Transionospheric effects on systems

· Other propagation modes - meteor scatter, etc.

· Diversity techniques

· Electromagnetic noise - solar and cosmic

· Electromagnetic noise - natural terrestrial

· Electromagnetic noise - manmade

· Review