Research Article
Modeling of Propagation Characteristic for VHF-High Maritime Broadband System
@INPROCEEDINGS{10.1007/978-3-032-38657-1_12, author={Takahiro Ito and Masaaki Yamanaka and Daisuke Anzai and Hirokazu Tanaka}, title={Modeling of Propagation Characteristic for VHF-High Maritime Broadband System}, proceedings={Body Area Networks. 20th EAI International Conference, BodyNets 2025, Okayama, Japan, December 2--4, 2025, Proceedings}, proceedings_a={BODYNETS}, year={2026}, month={10}, keywords={Maritime broadcast VHF-High band Propagation model}, doi={10.1007/978-3-032-38657-1_12} }- Takahiro Ito
Masaaki Yamanaka
Daisuke Anzai
Hirokazu Tanaka
Year: 2026
Modeling of Propagation Characteristic for VHF-High Maritime Broadband System
BODYNETS
Springer
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-38657-1_12
Abstract
The VHF-High band in Japan, covering the 170-222 MHz range, has undergone a major shift in its role. It was once dedicated to analog television broadcasts, but after those services ended, the band became available for new broadband communication applications. Because these frequencies are lower than those used by cellular networks or wireless LANs, they are particularly well-suited for creating links that can maintain stability over long distances. This property makes the VHF-High band a strong candidate for supporting maritime broadband systems, which must function in expansive oceanic areas where other technologies may struggle. However, wireless communication at sea faces an inherent limitation: the Earth’s curvature restricts the reach of line-of-sight signals, creating natural boundaries on transmission range. To better understand how far signals in this band can actually travel across water, this research begins with a detailed investigation of radio propagation in marine environments. By modeling and analyzing these characteristics, the study seeks to quantify feasible communication distances and clarify the potential benefits of using the VHF-High spectrum at sea. The outcomes of this work could contribute to the development of more reliable and far-reaching maritime broadband infrastructure.