From the Sun to the modem-an integrated approach to HF system performance analysis

Radio operators, frequency managers and system designers analysing or operating HF systems need to account for the performance of the equipment and the behaviour of the ionosphere. To facilitate this a number of propagation prediction tools have evolved. Their accuracy depends not only upon the models employed but also upon the integrity of the data entered. To improve the latter a number of advanced tools are now available to simulate the behaviour of the equipment, and forecast the state of the Sun. This paper shows how these tools can be used together to provide an integrated approach to the analysis of the performance of HF radio systems.