Radio Navigation This course will help you understand the fundamentals of Radio Navigation. We shall be discussing basics of radio aids and introduction, types of radio aids and advancement in radio navigation. | strongly recommend all of you to have a published Radio Navigation textbook while you go through this course and always refer to it when in doubt.Radio Theory * The word Radio means the radiation of electromagnetic waves conveying information, and detection of such waves. * The word Radio in itself has innumerous applications, but we shall look into air navigation aids used in aviation through this course. * Radio waves travel at the speed of lignt, can travel through vacuum and are stopped by a metallic screen.Basic Terminology Amplitude / , Cycle / \ \ / \ WavelengthDefinitions Cycle - One complete series of values. Amplitude - The maximum displacement the wave attains from the mean position. Frequency - Number of cycles in one second. Denoted by ‘f’. Unit is hertz (Hz). Wavelength - Physical distance travelled by wave in one cycle. Denoted by ‘d’.Wavelength & Frequency Relationship * Radio wave travels at the speed of light. * As frequency increases, the wavelength decreases in same proportion and vice versa. * This is expressed using a formula as follows: G Bec a Poa — where ‘c’ = speed of light (3 x 108 m/s)Polarisation * Each wave when transmitted from an antenna has an electrical and a magnetic component. * When the transmission is made from a vertical aerial the electrical component travels in the vertical plane and the magnetic component travels in the horizontal plane. This is called vertically polarized wave. y va Vertical Polarization Som, Me Bee, |Modulation * A plain radio wave is of no use as it cannot be heard nor can it convey any information. * The process of impressing information on a carrier wave is called modulation. * There are many types of modulation but we shall be discussing two of them here: — Amplitude Modulation — Frequency ModulationAmplitude Modulation * The amplitude of the carrier is varied in accordance to amplitude of the message signal, keep the carrier’s NAANAAN | \ \ WI VUVUY WIV frequency constant. VUVUV ANALFrequency Modulation * The frequency of the carrier is varied in accordance to amplitude of the message signal, keep the carrier’s amplitude constant. STAI NATATATATAN INNNINT | QIU LY VV VY NeProperties of Radio waves In a given medium, radio waves travel at a constant speed. The velocity of wave changes when passing from medium to another with different refractive index. Radio waves are reflected by objects commensurate with their wavelengths. Uninfluenced, radio waves travel in a straight line, i.e., great circle path on the earth.sRadio Spectrum mE [requenes | VLF - Very Low Frequency LF - Low Frequency MF - Medium Frequency HF - High Frequency VHF - Very High Frequency UHF - Ultra High Frequency SHF - Super High Frequency EHF - Extremely High Frequency 3-30 kHz 30-300 kHz 300-3000 kHz 3-30 MHz 30-300 MHz 300-3000 MHz 3-30 GHz 30-300 GHzPropagation Paths PROPAGATION Now-ionosPHeric —————L___tonospHeric Surface Wave 20 kHz-50 MHz (Used 20 kH2-2MHz) Space Wave >50 MHz Skywave 20 kHz-50 MHz (Used 2-30 MHz) Satellite (UHE, SHF) Ducting <20 kHzSurface Wave When electromagnetic waves are radiated from an omnidirectional aerial, some of the energy will travel along the surface of the earth. These are called surface waves or ground waves. _SURFAGE..WAVE._ @ a EARTH The range achievable is dependent on factors like frequency, surface on which wave is travelling and the polarization of the wave.lonospheric Propagation The ionosphere extends from 60 km to 1500 km. Due to such heights and the strength of solar radiation, gaseous atoms are widely dispersed and in ions state. These ions help in propagation of radio waves over long distance. lonization is not linear with altitude but the ionized particles form into discrete layers.Layers of the lonosphere —_ (km) F2 400 400 400: ; 8 F2 g F 2 Gb Go o F1-225 FA 200 200 200. FA D-75 D D Winter & Summer Winter Day Night Summer Day This structure gives stable conditions during day and night, but around dusk and dawn the ionosphere in transitional state causing excessive interference and disruption.> “ie Sky Wave ESCAPE RAYS SKIP DISTANCE — EARTHSky Wave FIRST SKY WAVE (CRITICAL RAY) CRITICAL ANGLE OTHER SKY WAVESDefinitions * Critical Angle: The angle the wave makes with the vertical at the transmission point is called the critical angle. * Skip Distance: The distance between the transmitter and the point on the surface where the first sky wave returns is called the skip distance. * Dead Space: The area after the surface wave and the point of reception of the first sky wave is called dead space.