TITLE:
Cost-Efficient Medium Frequency Propagation Research with Software Defined Radio
AUTHORS:
Casey M. Hess, Sohail Anwar
KEYWORDS:
Ionosphere, Space Weather, Airspy SDR, SDR Sharp, MATLAB Analysis
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Engineering and Technology,
Vol.12 No.1,
February
20,
2024
ABSTRACT: Medium Frequency radio holds significance in modern society as it supports broadcasting and individual communications in the
public, government, and military sectors. Enhancing the availability and quality of these communications
is only possible by enhancing the understanding of medium frequency propagation. While traditional
methods of radio wave propagation research can have a high material demand and
cost, software defined radio presents itself as a versatile and low-cost
platform for medium frequency signal reception and data acquisition. This paper
details a research effort that utilizes software defined radio to help
characterize medium frequency signal strength in relation to ionospheric and
solar weather propagation determinants. Signal strength data from seven medium frequency
stations of unique transmission locations and varying transmission powers were
retrieved in 24-hour segments via a receiving loop antenna, Airspy HF+
Discovery software defined radio, and SDR Sharp software interface network.
Retrieved data sets were visualized and analyzed in MATLAB for the
identification of signal strength trends, which were subsequently compared to
historical ionospheric and space weather indices in pursuit of a quantifiable
correlation between such indices and medium frequency signal strengths. The
results of the investigation prove that software defined radio, when used in
conjunction with a receiving antenna and data analysis program, provides a versatile mechanism for
cost-efficient propagation research.