Mobile propagation measurements using CW and sliding correlator techniques

This paper describes mobile propagation measurements made in support of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAAs) program to develop a very high frequency (VHF) digital air/ground communication system architecture to be used for air traffic control (ATC). A significant challenge to the measurement program was the requirement to conduct tests in the VHF radio communication band currently utilized for safely critical aeronautical applications using commercial-off-the shelf products. The power constraints on the measurement tests required the development of a measurement system that uniquely improved the processing gain within a confined test emission spectrum. This paper details the measurement techniques that address these challenges and provides results of both fading and time dispersion characterization of the mobile channel.