September 1983 | Sponsor Report NTIA DOT/FAA/ES-83/3
The IF-77 Electromagnetic Wave Propagation Model
Cite This Publication
G. D. Gierhart and M. E. Johnson, “The IF-77 Electromagnetic Wave Propagation Model,” Sponsor Report NTIA DOT/FAA/ES-83/3, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, September 1983.
Abstract: This report provides a description of the computational details in the IF-77 (ITS-FAA-1977) radio wave propagation model. The IF-77 model is useful in estimating service coverage for radio systems operating in the 0.1 to 20 GHz frequency range. It is applicable to many air/air, air/ground,air/satellite, ground/ground, and ground/satellite systems. Irregular terrain and propagation beyond the line-of-sight range are considered in the model. However, the terrain feature is keyed to the lower (or facility) antenna and the radio horizon for the upper (or aircraft) antenna is (1) determined from the facility horizon obstacle (common horizon) or (2) taken as the smooth earth radio horizon when a common horizon is negated by the earth's bulge. Previous publications concerning IF-77 include (l) an applications guide for computer programs that use IF-77, (2) an extensive comparison of predictions made using IF-77 with measured data, and (3) an atlas of propagation curves applicable to aeronautical systems. Details concerning the computer programs are not included in this report.
Keywords: air-to-ground propagation; propagation model; transmission loss; air/air; earth/satellite; protection ratio
For technical information concerning this report, contact:
Paul M. McKenna
Institute for Telecommunication Sciences
(720) 603-1728
pmckenna@ntia.gov
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