(4) Commercial power sources are also susceptible to EMP.
Military
communications equipment should not use commercial power when preparing for
or conducting operations in a nuclear environment.
6.
Unusual Operating Conditions.
Radio operations in unusual climatic
and atmospheric conditions pose special and unique situations for operators.
a. The difficulty in providing good electrical grounds is a major
problem in the arctic. The frozen soil's conductivity is often too low to
allow good ground wave propagation. The most effective means of overcoming
this is to use a counter-poise antenna.
Another common problem in the
arctic is highly charged particles of snow. They may cause high levels of
static when they strike an antenna.
This is overcome by preventing snow
from directly contacting the antenna. To do that, place the antenna in a
dome or plastic covering.
b. The major problem in the tropics' hot and humid atmosphere is
vegetation.
Particularly when wet, it acts like a vertically polarized
signal and impedes good signal propagation. The best solution is to use a
horizontally polarized antenna.
Since vegetation also absorbs radio
signals, transmit from a cleared area or one with a light jungle canopy.
c. Deserts provide poor conductivity to ground.
A counter-poise
antenna (RC-292, OE-254, etc.) should provide the range needed to ensure
quality communications among widely dispersed forces.
Wind-blown metallic
dust passing over a desert's dry surface can create a static discharge of
electricity. This problem can be overcome by operating at the upper end of
a radio set's frequency range.
The static's impact has less effect on
communications in that frequency range.
d. Communications in mountainous areas are affected more by the terrain
than by atmospheric conditions. Using LOS radios in mountainous terrain is
difficult.
Doing so requires the use of relay stations and effective
antenna placements.
SS0135
3-8
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