HF doppler receiver

HF Doppler receiver has been developed in the Institute of Radio Astronomy, NASU. The receiver is intended for registration of HF radio signals of different sources such as broadcast radio stations, ionospheric heating facilities and special transmitters. The main measured parameter is Doppler spectrum which contains information about dynamic processes in the ionosphere near the reflection point of the HF radio wave. This receiver is a component of the HF Doppler receiver network which consists of the tree identical instruments. The network includes also the following receiving points: Institute of Radio Astronomy, Kharkiv, Ukraine and Kjell Henriksen Observatory, Svalbard, Norway.

The receiver is fully automatic. All three instruments are controlled over the Internet from the data processing center located in IRA, NASU. The special software allows users to monitor spectrum of the probe signals and control receivers operating conditions in the real time. Every 3 hours diurnal spectrums and signal envelope curves are calculated and sent to the data center where they are available online through the Web interface. Raw data (signal waveforms) is stored locally in the receiving points and sent to the data center at the end of the measurement cycle on a daily basis. The operating algorithm of the HF Doppler receiver network is formed based on schedules of the ionospheric heating facilities and major geophysical events such as solar eclipses, geomagnetic disturbances etc.

HF Doppler receiver consists of

• Personal computer
• Digital HF receiver WinRadio WR-G313i (PCI board)
• High-accuracy 10 MHz reference oscillator (with 1 ppb accuracy).
• Antenna-feeder system (horizontal dipole or active loop antenna)

Digital receiver specifications