Signal strength measurements at frequencies of around 300 MHz over two sea paths in the British Channel Islands

In order to gather information about the occurrence of ducting/superrefraction and signal-fading effects at frequencies around 300 MHz with antenna heights appropriate to intership communications, an experimental investigation has been undertaken with a transmitter and two receivers deployed in the British Channel Islands. Signal strength measurements made over a period of 17 months for a path from Jersey to Guernsey from April 2001 to September 2002 and 8 months of data for a path from Jersey to Alderney from November 2001 to September 2002 have been analyzed. Comparisons have been made between the received signal characteristics and several meteorological parameters such as sea state, weather conditions, and season, and the statistics of the occurrence of enhancements in signal strength due to superrefraction and ducting are presented.