EMC analysis of a shipboard frequency-hopping communication system

Abstract

This paper details the EMC study conducted for the installation of a frequency-hopping VHF transceiver on board a U.S. Navy amphibious ship. The computational tools used for this analysis are described, including a "hybrid technique" which combines method of moments and geometric theory of diffraction approaches to calculate VHF antenna-to-antenna coupling losses. Also, the compatibility evaluation of the RF system using the cosite analysis model (COSAM) program in the frequency hopping mode is examined. Finally, a link analysis program which calculates ground wave and sky wave propagation losses is used to predict the range of the VHF radios with and without cosite interference.