HF Introduction

Instructor: Mike Rowlinson

Date: 08 January 2018

HF INTRODUCTION
Brief History

Radio technology was born with James Clerk Maxwell’s Treatise on

Electricity and Magnetism in 1873

The first radio waves were detected 15 years later by Heinrich Rudolph
Hertz, whose practical experiments supported Maxwell’s theories

Heinrich’s work inspired Guglielmo Marconi’s early experiments with

wireless telegraphy using Morse code

By 1896, Marconi had communicated messages over a few kilometres

In 1901, Marconi successfully demonstrated wireless communications

from Newfoundland, to Cornwall, England, a distance of 3000 Kilometres.
HF INTRODUCTION
Brief History

Original theories that radio waves only travel in straight lines were
challenged by the fact that over-the-horizon radio communications
were possible. How did it work?

A British physicist, Edward Appleton, answered the question when

he discovered the layer of ionized particles in the earth’s
atmosphere - now known as the Ionosphere

By the 1920’s scientists were conducting experiments measuring

the refractive properties of the Ionosphere in HF and other radio
frequency bands
By 1896, Marconi had communicated messages over a few kilometers
By World War II HF was being used as the primary means of long
haul communications.
HF INTRODUCTION
Brief History

The advent of satellite communication in the 1960’s initiated a period of

declining interest in HF radio and it was often relegated to a backup role
only

Over time the issues of infrastructure, cost, and vulnerability of satellite

technologies became clear, and has driven a resurgence in HF radio
technology

Renewed interest in HF radio has driven manufacturers like Codan to

develop the technology to new and exciting levels

With the advent of automated linking technologies and other

developments HF is again recognized as a robust and highly effective
medium for long haul communications.
HF INTRODUCTION
What is HF

High Frequency (HF) is a form of radio communication to travel further

than line of sight (LOS)

Often referred to as Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS)

The frequency range used is:

1.6Mhz to 30Mhz or 1600Khz to 30,000Khz

Primarily used for long range communications (Voice and Data)

2 main modes of propagation – Ground Wave and Sky Wave

HF INTRODUCTION
Why Use HF

HF allows transmission of signals over extremely long distances, greater

than 10,000km

Due to this, minimal infrastructure is required to communicate nationally

or internationally

Relatively inexpensive to set-up compared with other systems.

HF INTRODUCTION
Why Use HF

HF signals are unique in that they can travel to their destination

differently compared to other frequencies

Most other communication systems (such as satellite, microwave links,

VHF, UHF) generally require line of sight to the receiving station

By utilising the properties of the ionosphere as a reflector, HF signals can

travel large distances.
HF INTRODUCTION
Limitations Of HF

The Ionosphere is a fairly unstable medium. Factors such as the time of

day, seasonal changes and solar activity all have an affect on the signal

Relatively noisy environment compared with other radio systems

Can potentially have interference from other users due to the long
transmission distances.
HF INTRODUCTION
Licensing

Most countries through out the world control frequency use through
regulation to some extent

Difficult to control interference from other countries or international users

unless inter-country agreements are in place.
HF INTRODUCTION
Voice Communications

Some common systems used for voice communications are:

Intercom
Telephone
Radio
Television
Two Way Radio
Transceivers
VOIP.
HF INTRODUCTION
Modes of Communication

Broadcast or Simplex
One way transmission
Used by commercial radio and television stations

Full Duplex
Two way continuous transmission
Used by telephone and some intercom systems

Half Duplex
Two way transmission, one at a time
Used by Walkie-Talkies, Transceivers.
HF INTRODUCTION
Modes of Communication

One of the common methods of communicating voice is by a transceiver

(transmitter/receiver) which uses radio signals

A transceiver generally uses the Half Duplex mode of operation and

requires the use of a Push to Talk or PTT button

The PTT button allows the transmission to be started and stopped. When
not pressed, received audio is heard.
HF INTRODUCTION
Applications

Applications supported by Codan HF Transceivers are:

Voice
Secure
Unsecure
Radio to Telephone
Radio(HF) to Radio(VHF,UHF)

Messaging
Data e.g. file transfer
Email
Person or Vehicle Tracking.
HF INTRODUCTION
Transceivers

NGT 2110 Manpack Envoy

HF INTRODUCTION
Installation Requirements

In order to install a transceiver in either a vehicle or at a base station,

several key factors need to be considered:

Adjacent radio stations

Power supply requirements

Antenna type, positioning and issues with physical size

Earthing of the transceiver and parts of the antenna

Lightning protection.
HF INTRODUCTION
Frequency Spectrum

Codan HF radios transmit from 1.6MHz (MF) to 30MHz (HF)

And receive from 250kHz (LF) to 30MHz (HF)
HF INTRODUCTION
Electromagnetic Waves

Moving charges cause electric and

magnetic fields

Fields are at right angles to each other

and the direction of travel

Electromagnetic fields travel through

space at the speed of light.
HF INTRODUCTION
Modulation

Amplitude Modulation (AM) is not an efficient transmission mode

To combat AM inefficiencies Single Side Band (SSB) is used
SSB suppresses the carrier and one of the sidebands leaving the Upper
Sideband (USB) or Lower Sideband (LSB)
Speech audio is carried on the signal.
HF INTRODUCTION
Frequency Range vs Distance

HF 1.6 to 30 MHz BLOS 0 – 10000 Km

Longer distances

VHF 30 to 300 MHz LOS 0 – 30 Km

Handheld radios in open space

UHF 300 to 3000 MHz LOS 0 – 30 Km

Handheld radios – better in built up areas – ground to air.
HF INTRODUCTION
Ground Wave

There are 3 types of Ground wave:

Direct Wave

Reflective Wave

Surface Wave.
HF INTRODUCTION
Ground Wave

Direct Wave (line of sight LOS)

Ground reflected wave
Surface wave

Direct wave

Reflected Wave

Surface Wave

More power more range

HF INTRODUCTION
Considerations for Ground Wave

A Ground wave runs parallel to the ground and has a relatively short range.

Can reach beyond the horizon

Range is determined by conductivity of ground
and frequency used
Absorption increases with frequency
Distances over arid desert may only be 20
Miles
Distances over sea water may exceed 200
Miles
HF INTRODUCTION
Considerations for Ground Wave

Frequency (higher more absorption)

Power

Antenna

Distance

Conductivity of the surface

Good Salt water – 180-150 Miles
Bad Dry, arid, rocky <Miles
HF INTRODUCTION
Sky Wave

Sky waves allow beyond line of sight (BLOS) communications possible

At certain frequencies, radio waves are refracted (or bent), returning to

earth hundreds or thousands of miles away

This is achieved by using natures satellite; the Ionosphere.

HF INTRODUCTION
What is the Ionosphere?

Ionosphere - The outer region of the earth's atmosphere, beyond which

is the exosphere

It contains a high concentration of free electrons and ions

It extends from about 50 miles to about 250 miles above the earth's
surface

The height shows daily and seasonal variation, and the composition of
the particles in the ionosphere is also affected by events such as solar
flares.
HF INTRODUCTION
Ionosphere Layers
HF INTRODUCTION
SUN
What is the Ionosphere?
F2

F1

Ultra Violet Rays charge

D ionosphere

F1 and F2 layers combine at

night to become the F Layer
HF INTRODUCTION
D Layer

Little or no refraction

50 to 95 Km above surface

Absorbs low/medium frequency waves

Absorbs noise interference from Ionosphere

Not present at night – more noise present

The higher the frequency the more the absorption

Most active at mid day sun.

HF INTRODUCTION
E Layer

Between 95 to 130 KM above surface

Exists during daylight hours – longer than D layer

Very weak at night

Absorbs much less than D layer

Supports some sky wave communications.

HF INTRODUCTION
F Region

150 – 400 KM above the surface

Most important for Long range HF

F1 F2 combines to form F at night

Divided in day to

F1 150 – 250 KM

F2 250 – 400 KM
HF INTRODUCTION
Considerations for Skywave

Frequency

Power

Antenna

Weather

Ionosphere.
HF INTRODUCTION
Frequency

Requires specific frequency for different times of the day

Higher frequency during the day

Lower frequency during the night

Frequency prediction tools can assist

Best method is to do a 24 hour comms test

You require multiple frequencies to operate over 24hour period.

HF INTRODUCTION
Frequency Selection

The Ionosphere is not a stable medium and varies due to several factors:
Time of Day (Day / Night)
Solar Cycle / Solar Activity
Seasonal
Lat / Long – where you are positioned on the earth

All of these affect HF signals and is managed by having multiple

frequencies

During the day, the ionosphere reaches maximum ionization when the
sun is at its peak and dissipates quickly towards sunset

This has a direct effect on what is the best frequency to use.

HF INTRODUCTION
Power

Power is often misunderstood

Power is used to boost output of radio signal

High power may not be needed.

HF INTRODUCTION
Antenna Considerations

Direction you need to communicate

Multi station
Single station

Orientation of Antenna
Broadside
End on

Antenna should match frequency

Broadband antenna
Field expedient antenna

Distance
Shorter – steeper angle
Longer – lower angle
HF INTRODUCTION
Antenna Considerations

Different antennas have different characteristics

No antenna is perfect

Selection is based on compromises

Multi-station working over varying distances requires various propagation over

varied terrain

Antennas propagate in all three dimensions in different shapes and intensities

Antenna propagation varies with design, frequency and height above ground.
HF INTRODUCTION
Vertical Whip Antenna
HF INTRODUCTION
Sloping Wire

Max. Radiation

Insulator

Ae Braid
Support

Support

Coax to set
HF INTRODUCTION
Inverted V

Mast or support

Coax
Braid Support
HF INTRODUCTION
Skip Zone

The skip zone is an area where ground wave signals have been attenuated to
zero and sky wave signals first return to earth

The beginning and end of a skip zone varies in length depending on the region
and environment
Sky Wave 150 km

Ground
Wave Skip Zone

20 km 130 km
HF INTRODUCTION
Combating the Skip Zone

Near Vertical Incident Skywave (NVIS) antennas allow a high take off angle for
signals and combats the skip zone
The higher the take off angle the closer it returns to earth
NVIS antennas are available for both base station and vehicle installations
All vehicles should carry an NVIS antenna.
HF INTRODUCTION
Near Vertical Incidence Skywave - NVIS

Forcing your radio signals to travel straight up 80-90 degrees and back
down
Coverage in circular radius for 300 miles +
Frequencies between 2 and 12 Mhz
Whip antennas can be made to be parallel to the ground
Weaker signal strengths but more reliable communications
Can overcome terrain obstructions between stations such as:

Mountains
Jungle
Built up areas.
HF INTRODUCTION
Interference
There are a few factors to be aware of that can interfere with HF signals Interference can be
short or long term
Solar flares
Solar flares alter the ionosphere structure altering signal propagation
11 Year Solar cycle
At the peak of the solar cycle signals can be refracted from an over ionised
ionosphere in complex ways which can either hinder or increase propagation of
signals
Residential noise
Power stations cause electrical interference
Earthquakes
Earthquake interference can last several hours to several days depending on the
magnitude. This type of interference can cause black spots in communications (not
just HF).
HF INTRODUCTION
Frequency Prediction
Since the 1930’s radio operators started anaylsing factors that affected
performance

Analysis is far more practical with the invention of computer software.

HF INTRODUCTION
Information required for frequency prediction

Location of radio stations longitude & latitude

SSN (Sun Spot Number)

Antenna type and length

Power output of transceiver

Mode.
 http://www.voacap.com/prediction.html

HF INTRODUCTION Transmitter Information

Prediction Example 1 Dushanbe
Base Antenna – 411 Horizontal

Receiver Information
Murghab
Base Antenna – 411 Horizontal

Distance
458 Km’s

Frequency Prediction
4.0 MHz – 7 MHz
 http://www.voacap.com/prediction.html
HF INTRODUCTION
Prediction Example 2 Transmitter Information
Dushanbe
Base Antenna – 411 Horizontal

Receiver Information
Kandahar
Base Antenna – 411 Horizontal

Distance
824 Km’s

Frequency Prediction
5.0 MHz – 11 MHz
HF INTRODUCTION
Voltage Standing Wave Ratio

Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR), or SWR for short, of an antenna is a

measure of how efficiently your radio is radiating the energy it produces when
you transmit. It is represented as a ratio and is generically; all though not
accurately, referred to as the ratio of emitted power to reflected power within an
antenna.

SWR of 1.0 is ideal

SWR of 1.5 5% reflected

SWR of 2.0 10% reflected

SWR of 6.0 50% reflected

HF INTRODUCTION
Summary

HF does not require any further infrastructure other than an antenna

The right antenna selection is vital to good communications

NVIS antennas are used to combat skip zones

Frequency selection is key to 24/7 communications

The basic rules are

The higher the sun the higher the frequency
The longer the distance the higher the frequency

There are interfering factors to be aware of.

 Questions?

Date: 08 January 2018