Fading countermeasure for high frequency data communications using errors correcting codes

Abstract

High Frequency (HF) data communication links remain relevant even in today's satellite era because they offer beyond line-of-sight without third-party equipment's and expensive satellite services. The disadvantage is that HF is a difficult medium to use, with significant channel distortion and background noise at any given frequency. This has severely limited the maximum data rate on HF data modems. In this paper the medium data rate communications on HF channels over seawater is considered using different approaches forward error correction (FEC) coding with adequate waveforms, and comparative evaluations are presented.