High Frequency Position Location: An Assessment of Limitations and Potential Improvements.

Abstract : The general problems of using high frequency direction finding techniques as an accurate means of surveillance and position location are assessed. The primary emphasis is on determining the range errors associated with a single site locator by using the intercepted sky wave. Current errors in position locations are on the order of 20 km due to ionospheric variability, antenna size limitations, and data acquisition and processing problems. Improvements in position location accuracies to the order of 1 km will require complementary use of the direct wave and/or the ground wave. (Author)