Broadcast analysis and prediction in the HF band

A comparative study of the commonly used methods for the prediction of the coverage area due to a transmitter operating in the HF band is presented. Those statistical model based tools are: ITU Rec. 533, Ionospheric Communication Analysis and Prediction Program; IONCAP, Voice of America's VOACAP and Ionospheric Communication Enhanced Profile Analysis and Circuit Prediction Program; ICEPAC. The received signal due to a typical transmitter located at Cricklade, England, operating around 7.9-19.1 MHz (HF band I) is computed as a function of frequency, time and the sunspot number. The ray tracing method calculates the virtual height, the calculated results are compared with the experimental data and the discrepancies are examined.