• Handbook HF broadcasting system design – 1999
  • TABLE OF CONTENTS
  • CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION
    • 1 Introduction
      • 1.1 How to use this handbook
  • CHAPTER 2 – DEFINITION OF SERVICE REQUIRED
    • 2.1 Geographic area intended to be served
      • 2.1.1 Area of primary interest
      • 2.1.2 Minimum area which could be considered
      • 2.1.3 Method of defining the area
    • 2.2 Hours and days of operation
    • 2.3 Permanent or short-term requirement
    • 2.4 Required quality
  • CHAPTER 3 – RECEPTION CONDITIONS
    • 3.1 Reception environment
      • 3.1.1 Impact of topography on reception
      • 3.1.2 Noise considerations
    • 3.2 Field strength related values
      • 3.2.1 Signal-to-noise ratio
      • 3.2.2 Intrinsic receiver noise and noise limited sensitivity
      • 3.2.3 Minimum usable field strength
    • 3.3 Characteristics of receivers
      • 3.3.1 Tuning aspects
      • 3.3.2 Technical characteristics
    • 3.4 Radio frequency protection ratios
      • 3.4.1 RF-protection ratios for DSB
      • 3.4.2 Relative RF-protection ratios for SSB
      • 3.4.3 Signal to interference ratio
    • 3.5 Receiving antenna considerations
      • 3.5.1 Antenna types
      • 3.5.2 Receiving antennas for broadcast listeners
  • CHAPTER 4 – TRANSMISSION FACILITIES
    • 4.1 General
      • 4.1.1 Available facilities
      • 4.1.2 New facilities
    • 4.2 Transmitters
      • 4.2.1 Transmitter technology
      • 4.2.2 Amplitude-modulation double sideband (AM-DSB) operation
      • 4.2.3 Single sideband (SSB) operation
      • 4.2.4 Frequency tolerance and stability
      • 4.2.5 Spurious radiation level
      • 4.2.6 Overall transmitter efficiency
    • 4.3 Transmitting antennas
      • 4.3.1 Introduction
      • 4.3.2 Radiation patterns
      • 4.3.3 Types of transmitting antennas for HF broadcasting
      • 4.3.4 Selection of optimum antenna
      • 4.3.5 Designation of types of antenna
      • 4.3.6 Calculation of antenna pattern
      • 4.3.7 Measurement of antenna pattern
      • 4.3.8 Comparison of measured and calculated pattern
  • CHAPTER 5 – PROPAGATION
    • 5.1 Propagation prediction
      • 5.1.1 Recommendation ITU-R PI.533 method
      • 5.1.2 Other methods
    • 5.2 Fading
      • 5.2.1 Short-term fading
      • 5.2.2 Long-term fading
      • 5.2.3 Combination of short- and long-term fading
  • CHAPTER 6 – SELECTION OF TRANSMISSION PARAMETERS
    • 6.1 Basic considerations
    • 6.2 Selection of frequency band
      • 6.2.1 Consideration of synchronization
      • 6.2.2 Need for multiple frequency bands
      • 6.2.3 Synchronization and multiple frequency use per programme
    • 6.3 Use of existing facilities
    • 6.4 Selection of antenna type
    • 6.5 Selection of transmitter power
    • 6.6 Special considerations for broadcast in the Tropical Zone
    • 6.7 Need for new transmitter or antenna
  • CHAPTER 7 – TROPICAL ZONE BROADCASTING
    • 7.1 Introduction
    • 7.2 Propagation prediction
      • 7.2.1 Prediction of MUF
      • 7.2.2 Prediction of sky-wave field strength
    • 7.3 Atmospheric radio noise and signal-to-noise ratio
    • 7.4 Minimum field to be protected
    • 7.5 Transmitting antennas
      • 7.5.1 Dipoles
      • 7.5.2 Horizontal arrays of horizontal dipoles
      • 7.5.3 H-1/2 Array fed out-of-phase
      • 7.5.4 High incidence array
    • 7.6 Interference due to sharing of bands
    • 7.7 Fading
      • 7.7.1 Fading due to sporadic-E
      • 7.7.2 Fading due to F-region irregularities
      • 7.7.3 Surge fading
      • 7.7.4 Fading allowance for the planning of HF broadcast services in the tropical bands
  • CHAPTER 8 – OPTIMIZATION OF SETS OF ANTENNAE AND SETS OF TRANSMITTERS
    • 8.1 Antenna set optimization
      • 8.1.1 Types of rotatable antennas
      • 8.1.2 Electrical characteristics
      • 8.1.3 Mechanical characteristics
      • 8.1.4 HF feeding of a rotatable antenna
      • 8.1.5 Usage of rotatable antennas
    • 8.2 Selection of transmitters
  • CHAPTER 9 – ESTABLISHING AN HF-BROADCASTING PLANT
    • 9.1 Siting considerations
      • 9.1.1 Preliminary site requirements determination
      • 9.1.2 Environmental considerations
      • 9.1.3 Site requirements
      • 9.1.4 Utility availability
      • 9.1.5 Cost considerations
    • 9.2 Transmitting plant infrastructure
      • 9.2.1 Site planning
      • 9.2.2 Site development
      • 9.2.3 Building requirements
    • 9.3 Transmitting station subsystems
      • 9.3.1 General
      • 9.3.2 Program feeds
      • 9.3.3 RF power generating subsystem
      • 9.3.4 RF switchbay
      • 9.3.5 Baluns
      • 9.3.6 Dummy loads
      • 9.3.7 Transmission lines
      • 9.3.8 Power supply
      • 9.3.9 Safety and protection
    • 9.4 Minimization of the numbers of transmitters and antennas
      • 9.4.1 Number of transmitters and their power ratings
      • 9.4.2 Number of antennas required to support a given transmission schedule
      • 9.4.3 Selection of transmitter
  • CHAPTER 10 – STATION START-UP
    • 10.1 Organization of operation
    • 10.2 Technical resources required for operational conditions of work
    • 10.3 Documentation
    • 10.4 Training
  • CHAPTER 11 – FREQUENCY MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION
    • 11.1 General considerations
    • 11.2 Selection of frequency
    • 11.3 Assessment of the interference situation
    • 11.4 Coordination of frequency usage
      • 11.4.1 Summary of existing planning methods and identification of relevant ITU-R Recommendations and Resolutions
    • 11.5 HF bands allocated to the broadcasting service
      • 11.5.1 Decisions of WRC-95
      • 11.5.2 Decisions of WRC-97
    • 11.6 Notification to the appropriate bodies/organisations
    • 11.7 Immediate evaluation of the success of the transmission
    • 11.8 Practical aspects of frequency planning
  • CHAPTER 12 – VERIFICATION OF OVERALL SYSTEM PERFORMANCE AND SERVICE ACHIEVED
    • 12.1 Objective method
    • 12.2 Subjective method
  • CHAPTER 13 – PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
    • 13.1 Maintenance of transmitter
      • 13.1.1 Introduction
      • 13.1.2 Physical maintenance
      • 13.1.3 Operability
      • 13.1.4 Safety
    • 13.2 Maintenance of antenna system
      • 13.2.1 General
      • 13.2.2 Maintenance of antenna
      • 13.2.3 Maintenance of antenna field
      • 13.2.4 Maintenance of tower systems
      • 13.2.5 Maintenance of transmission lines
      • 13.2.6 Maintenance of wooden poles
      • 13.2.7 Safety
  • CHAPTER 14 – CONCLUSION
  • CHAPTER 15 – ANNEX