Validation of MUF and FOT parameters for plain, mountainous and sea region

In this paper, the validation of different International High Frequency (HF) prediction models for HF communication in plain, mountainous and sea regions of Pakistan are studied. An analytical study for the behavior of Ionospheric parameters, Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Frequency of Optimum Traffic (FOT) has been performed between transmitter station Lahore City and many different receiver stations which are distributed randomly over Pakistani territory. The Ionospheric parameters are calculated using Ionospheric Communications Enhanced Profile Analysis & Circuit (ICEPAC) and REC 533 communication models for all seasons (Summer, Winter, Autumn and Spring) of the year 2013 of the solar cycle 24. Before this study no single model was followed properly for HF communication frequency prediction to meet the requirements of this complex geographical location containing plain, mountainous and sea regions. A comparison of practical and theoretical results shows that ICEPAC model results shows best fitting to plain, mountainous and sea regions of Pakistan as compared to REC 533.