Microcomputer-aided measurement equipment for performance monitoring of a digital radio-relay system in the presence of multipath propagation

A microcomputer-controlled radio-communication controller (μCC) was designed and constructed to analyze and measure a `true´ error rate in a high-capacity digital radio link and to record fast-level variations of received radio frequency power (IF amplifier-AGC voltage) for a better characterization of propagation anomalies. The μCC represents a high-performance measuring device for ascertaining bit, block, and burst errors on out-of-service digital radios, to provide information on the performance degradation owing to the presence of propagation anomalies. The error measurement criteria were chosen specifically to evaluate parameters relating to the CCIR criterion of accuracy. Performance results and a burst statistic are reported.