Ionosonde Description

Ionosonde Instrument Description

Alpha-Wolf

Ionosonde:

Alpha-Wolf (in operation since 16. Nov. 2005)

Normal vertical sounding program:

Usually 6 ionograms per hour (higher resolution possible)

RWD program:

Same as normal program.

Time used in scaled data:

EET (30 deg E, UT + 2 h).

Frequency range:

0.5 - 16 MHz

Sweep time:

about 30 seconds

Peak power:

150 W nominal (actually much less is used)

Gain control:

Fixed gain. Direct Tx rejection is about 120 dB.

Aerials:

Transmitter: Rhombics in 64 m mast.

Receiver: 8 active orthogonal loop antennas ("phased array").

Display:

O-mode ionogram is currently published on web in real-time. Real-time ionograms have 90dB dynamic range. Virtual range up to 3000km.