This paper analyzes fade slope for the Alaska, Florida, and New Mexico Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) propagation data at 20 and 27.5 GHz for the first two years of the experiment (December 1, 1993-November 30, 1995). The propagation experiment will continue to collect data for at least another 21 months. Fade slope is examined on a statistical basis for the three sites. The Florida and New Mexico receiver sites have very different weather characteristics but almost identical elevation angles, while the Alaska receiver terminal has an extremely low elevation angle. The cumulative statistics illustrate the relationship between fade slope, fade level, transmission frequency, and elevation angle for all three sites.

Important elements in the design of Ka-band communication systems are the duration of fade and nonfade events at a particular fade depth. The choice of modulation and forward error correcting codes will depend on both the fading time dynamics and annual fade occurrence statistics. This paper examines the fade duration measured at locations in three of the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) propagation experimental regions, namely, Florida (rain zone N of the radiocommunications sector of the International Telecommunications Union ~ITU-R\ model), New Mexico State University (ITU-R rain zone M), and Alaska (ITU-R rain zone C). Within each region, measures of the underlying uniformity are described and an interregional comparison examines the ability to scale the local results.

New propagation data from a 30/20-GHz propagation experiment at several US sites, including Fairbanks, AK, and Norman, OK, are presented to examine existing models for scintillations. Beacon measurements were collected at one sample per second continuously and at 20 samples per second for selected intervals. The widely separated measurement frequencies and the wide range of measurement elevation angles of about 8-52/spl deg/ provide a solid set of measurements to test existing models and formulate new ones. It is found that current scintillation prediction models overestimate the magnitude of scintillation. The Karasawa model was modified to fit the Fairbanks data, with this modification valid for the climate zone containing Fairbanks. The model of the radiocommunication sector of the International Telecommunication Union was examined for several sites, and an elevation angle modification was attempted to bring it into agreement with the data sets. Measurements indicate a frequency dependence of f/sup 7/12/.

Describes the measurement of the surface shape of the primary reflector of the NRAO 12-m radio telescope and the use of the measurements to machine the shape of a secondary mirror to compensate for the primary reflector errors. The method known as holography was used with the 38.04-GHz transmitter on the geosynchronous Lincoln Experimental Satellite to map the main reflector. The machining of the secondary compensated for the errors in the primary shape, and as a result, at 345 GHz, the axial gain of the instrument was increased by about 50% and the antenna pattern correspondingly improved.>