Abstract
Very High Frequency (VHF) communication systems historically rely on line‐of‐sight (LOS) propagation for effective signal transmission between the receive and transmit antenna(s) for link viability. Traditionally, LOS between transmit and receive locations has been improved by increasing antenna height, moving transmission and receiving points to higher locations, and installing repeaters to boost and repeat the signal. However, these options are not always feasible due to the prohibitive cost of tower construction, cost and/or availability of moving to a new location, and inaccessible geography. This paper explores the potential of atmospheric superrefraction and ducting phenomena to extend VHF communication and propagation beyond typical LOS distance limitations, particularly in maritime environments. We present a model and simulation of a VHF communication link between two sites, where superrefraction/ducting atmospheric phenomena are present, with the ocean as the primary geographic barrier to LOS communication, to determine the optimal VHF antenna configuration. The study aims to determine optimal VHF antenna configurations based on the two sites’ tower height constraints, transmit power, and link distance. A comparative analysis of the optimized parameters and a previous link setup is conducted to evaluate potential improvements and the consistency of received signal strength and overall link reliability, accounting for atmospheric superrefraction and ducting. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on adaptive communication strategies in challenging geographical settings and provides practical simulations to enhance long‐distance VHF communications in coastal and maritime domains by leveraging atmospheric phenomena.