A Practical Comparison between Different Methods of Calculating Skywave Field Intensity

Abstract

In this paper, a comparison is presented between the CRPL, the SPIM and the RPU-9 methods of calculating skywave field intensities. Field strength figures recorded during a period of more than 5 years at Nagpur, on short-wave services originating at Delhi, Madras, Bombay and Calcutta, have been used for this comparison. This analysis does not appear to directly favour any of the above methods in all respects. The period of the present analysis, however, coincided with high solar activity and for more judicious conclusions, extension of such analysis to periods of lower activity is suggested. For more generalized deductions, desirability of repeating such comparisons, using data collected for other geographic locations and involving different propagation conditions, is also stressed.