Exotic Propagation Possibilities

In the event of an "ultimate" global cataclysm, any or all of the following conditions could exist:

• all satellite communications disrupted

• the upper atmosphere, which provides the mechanism for diffraction propagation, swept away

• volcanic "gloom" which blocks sun and moon light

• earth crustal displacement, resulting in a new geography

In the event of such conditions the normal mechanism for long distance communications would be lost.  The purpose of this Lesson Concept is to present two potential long distance communications mechanisms, and a mechanism for locating the sun and moon, tracking them, and calculating a new equinox date.

Automated Meteor Scatter Communication

Hundreds of times each day meteors enter the earth's atmosphere, burning and providing for a few moments what is known as "Meteor Scatter Propagation".   These events occur randomly and are very short lived.  Ham Radio Operators have long taken advantage of these events for long distance short contacts.  The majority of these contacts occur on the 6 meter band.

What is proposed is the development of a compact device, which is a combination of:

• Computer controller with keyboard input and liquid crystal display of a few lines of text

• Packet electronics and software to provide for the transmission and reception of short "packets" of information

• 50 MHz transceiver for transmission and reception of these packets

The basic idea is to compose a message destined for a specific other so-equipped station.  This device would continually attempt to contact and pass packets to the addressed station until the message is completed.  The vast majority of attempts to send and receive acknowledgement of any packet would fail, due to the absence of propagation from a passing meteor; however, now and then such propagation would exist and the packet passed successfully.

This concept was not invented here; but is implemented in Canada for keeping up with the location of delivery trucks in far flung locations.

While this method would be incredibly slow, it would be reliable and not subject to the disruptions mentioned at the beginning of this page.

Moon Bounce

The utilization of the Moon to reflect VHF/UHF signals for long distance as well as short distance (whoever can see the moon at the same time) communications has been a specialty within Ham Radio for scores of years.  It requires extremely high gain antenna systems and high transmission power; but it does work.  It is not affected by the conditions mentioned at the beginning of this page, as the moon is always there.  The subject of Moon Bounce will be covered in a subsequent Lesson.

Determination and Tracking of Sun and Moon

The exact same equipment that is used for Moon Bounce can be readily used to find and track the sun and moon by searching the sky using a consistent pattern and looking for the unmistakable signature of "sun noise".   Finding the sun and moon is relatively easy, even with a heavily overcast sky, software to track these noise sources over long periods of time can establish the new geographic location as well as equinox dates in the event of crustal displacement.

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