Forward-scatter microwave link between Italy and spain

On the 4th September 1957 the first commercial troposcatter link was put into service between Minorca (Spain) and Sardinia (Italy). Operating in the 800 Mc/s band over 236 miles the link provides 5 speech and 3 telegraph circuits. Details of the system are given in 2 block diagrams, the first dealing with the diversity and combiner arrangements and the second with the test setup for measuring field and noise over a period of one year. The effect of the diversity method was checked by means of noise measurements and the distribution of instantaneous field levels was measured over various time intervals. A series of graphs give the results which are discussed in the article.