Radio observations on 20 and 40 Mc/s

Abstract

At the Radio Research Station, Slough, measurements were taken of the apparent bearing and elevation angle of the first Russian satellite on a number of occasions on both transmission frequencies, and some other phenomena were also studied. The object of the experiments was not so much to help in fixing the position of the satellite as to obtain information about ionospheric propagation by studying the results retrospectively in the light of exact data about the track of the satellite. The first measurements at Slough were made on the evening of 5 October; these were of the bearing on 20 Mc/s, and were continued at intervals until 16 October. On 7 October equipment for the measurement of elevation angle on 20 Mc/s was brought into use, but unfortunately very few successful observations were made with it, largely because of difficulties with interfering stations. On 8 October measurements of bearing and elevation angle were begun on the frequency of 40 Mc/s on a site at Winkfield, 13 km to the south-west of Slough, and these too were continued at intervals up to 16 October.