A Meteor Burst Communication System with Dynamic Channel Estimation and Variable Modulation Type

A software modem for Meteor Burst Communication (MBC) is presented. The software is running on a DSP board, connected to a PC for user interface. MBC is a unique type of radio communication, which is suitable for non-realtime remote data collection. Forward scattering of radio waves from ionized trails of meteors provides reliable communication channel for path lengths from 300 to 2000 km and in the frequency band of 40 to 100 MHz. The channel is bursty in nature and requires special treatment while designing modulation-demodulation scheme and communication protocol. So far all the modems available for MBC are hardware modems with inherent inflexibility. Here we present a system, which minimizes hardware bondage as much as possible. Adaptability, with respect to modulation type, has been implemented into the system. A unique dynamic channel estimation scheme, appropriate for MBC channel, has been developed and implemented. The system also incorporates an MBC network protocol, implemented within the DSP software.