Rural and urban groundwave propagation in a desert environment

HF groundwave communication in desert climates can be limited to the radio line-of-sight. In this case, near vertical incidence skywave can be employed to provide short-range HF connectivity. The Communication Engineering Laboratory (CEL) of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) performed a series of groundwave propagation measurements in both rural and urban areas in a desert environment. The measurements were performed as part of a test and evaluation program for an HF groundwave communication system. The authors discuss the HF groundwave measurements and compare measured path-loss values with computer predictions.<>