High data rate undersea broadband radio-frequency communications

Abstract

Contemporary underwater communications relies heavily upon narrowband, low-rate acoustics. We present an alternative framework for high data rate undersea broadband using radio-frequency communications. Our approach adapts loop antennas matched to sea water in the 3 MHz to 30 MHz HF band for the shallow underwater ocean zone. We present analysis from empirical channel model characterization that indicates information rate bounds for EM radio frequency communications in undersea environments that are 1000× that of acoustics. This will enable significantly new classes of applications, including ocean based underwater networks.