DYNAMIC REQUIREMENTS FOR DIVERSITY COMBINERS

Abstract

In order to provide nearly continuous data on missile and Space launches, polarization diversity is utilized at acquisition sites. Diversity signals are also combined to further reduce data dropouts. It is shown in this report that the right hand circular (RHC) and left hand circular (LHC) signals undergo rapid transients during certain portions of the flight, and that the channel dropouts are sometimes independent. The nature of the transients is described and a test set which simulates the transients discussed. Finally bench test data is compared with flight test data to verify that combiners with rapid transient response are required to cope with the RF transients.