Software-Defined Radio Ionosonde for Diagnostics of Wideband HF Channels with the Use of USRP Platform

Currently, HF channel occupancy studies focus on employing wideband channels that occupy 4-16 contiguous narrowband channels. This requires to do research into the methods of sounding wideband channels. The paper is addressed to the development of an ionosonde receive terminal designed with the use of USRP (Universal Software Radio Peripheral) platform as well as presents the outcomes of the studies into the performance of SDR ionosonde with an analogue passive chirp ionosonde. Findings of the research allowed to conclude that the developed receive terminal ensures the adequate measurement of wideband channels parameters at different operating frequencies and gives an estimate of the narrowband channels availability.