On HF communication link parameter estimation in the Baltic region

The paper summarizes the results of measurements of background noise level and electromagnetic field strength at four shortwave reception sites in Estonia. Measured background noise levels were compared with reference levels given by ITU-R P.372. The fading in relatively short HF radio links was modelled using the Rician channel model with surface wave as a specular component and sky wave as an incoherent component of the received signal.