NTIA Report TR-93-291

Simulated Effects of Sounding on Automatic Link Establishment HF Radio Network Performance

December 1992

David A. Sutherland Jr.

Abstract: A discrete event simulation model for an HF Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) radio network is described. The simulation model is based on Federal Standard 1045 "Telecommunications: HF Radio Automatic Link Establishment." The simulation is used to study the effects of sounding on the simulated network. Sounding is the periodic broadcast transmission of identification information by a radio station that may be monitored by other stations. Sounding is used to evaluate the propagation quality of the available HF radio channels (frequencies). The station and channel overhead associated with sounding is indicated by this simulation to be generally detrimental to network performance. The exception is that in poor propagation conditions, at low traffic rates, sounding may significantly enhance some aspects of network performance.

Keywords: automatic link establishment (ALE); Federal Standard 1045; HF radio; modeling; network; simulation; sounding

• Report without Appendices

• Appendix A: IONCAP Output (Examples)

• Appendix B: Results–Propagation Condition 1

• Appendix C: Results–Propagation Condition 5

• Appendix D: Performance v. Traffic Rate

• Appendix E: Performance v. Scheduled Sounding Frequency

Disclaimer: Certain commercial equipment, components, and software are identified in this report to specify adequately the technical aspects of the reported results. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, nor does it imply that the equipment or software identified is necessarily the best available for the particular application or uses.

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