Results from a wideband HF usability study

High Frequency (HF) radio systems have been used for the transmission of data for a very long time. The recent introduction of waveforms utilizing HF bandwidths much greater than 3 kHz represents a significant change in the potential for moving large amounts of data over HF radio systems. One of the key questions to be answered in respect of the new wideband HF systems is the degree to which the wider bandwidths will provide useful new capabilities. This paper outlines the results of a month long study that employed wideband HF data waveforms, in conjunction with a fourth generation automatic link establishment system, to evaluate the supportability of HF data communications between three sites across Canada.