AISP programmable ionosonde

This paper presents a description of a prototype development project for a pulse compression ionosonde designed for vertical surveys using coded pulse radar. The project exploits Software Defined Radio (SDR) devices in an effort to provide a programmable instrument that is more versatile and advanced compared to traditional ionosondes. The programmable ionosonde (AISP) represents an evolution of the AIS (Advanced Ionospheric Sounder) ionosonde, which was entirely designed and built at INGV and is currently operational at several ionospheric observatories. The AISP ionosonde is intended for vertical soundings and primarily consists of an SDR device serving as both transmitter and receiver of Radio Frequency (RF) signals. Additionally, it generates all necessary control signals for the ionosonde’s operation, including those for the RF power amplifier and antenna. The SDR device communicates with a Personal Computer (PC) via an Ethernet port, allowing for a wide range of configurations and enhancing the versatility of the ionosonde. Vertical surveys are conducted to map the ionosphere in specific regions, facilitating the validation of theoretical models of the global ionosphere.