Miniature Frequency Agile RF Beacon Receivers for Ionospheric Effects Monitoring

The problem to be solved is developing an affordable receiver system for ionospheric measurements. The challenges lie in developing a low-cost node that enables deployment of a large measurement grid to measure the spatial distribution of signal reflections over a substantial geographic area; identification of a suitable assortment of non-cooperative beacon signals; and signal processing algorithms to extract propagation measurements. Softronics proposes to apply its considerable expertise in propagation analysis and experimentation, spectrum occupancy, miniature low-cost receiver design, DSP hardware/software, and system integration to produce just such an affordable node. Our knowledge of algorithms for extracting power, time, and frequency data from uncooperative signals is of key importance. The expected benefits lie in more accurately predicting ionospheric/trans-ionospheric communications characteristics based on statistical or realtime observations, and thereby improving the reliability and quality of communications reflecting from or transiting the ionosphere by adapting the frequency, data rate, and other signal externals. Phase I concludes with an on-air demonstration and a final report recommending a Phase II implementation.