Learning Lab DO05Learning Lab DO05

      Operating in the Next Operating in the Next Generation of HF Radio: Generation of HF Radio:

Automatic Link Automatic Link Establishment (ALE)Establishment (ALE)

Malcolm Kyser, Hartley Gardner,Malcolm Kyser, Hartley Gardner,

Chuck Bishop, Steve HaneyChuck Bishop, Steve Haney

Why HF?Why HF?

Advantages of HFAdvantages of HF

Medium to long distance Medium to long distance communicationscommunications

AdaptableAdaptable Fixed, mobile or tacticalFixed, mobile or tactical

SurvivableSurvivable Infrastructure independentInfrastructure independent Works when everything else failsWorks when everything else fails

Low Low (or no) (or no) operating costsoperating costs No recurring charges, air time or usage feesNo recurring charges, air time or usage fees

Disadvantages of HFDisadvantages of HF

Propagation limitationsPropagation limitations Conditions always in fluxConditions always in flux No single channel works all the time No single channel works all the time Diverse channels needed Diverse channels needed Requires understanding of propagation Requires understanding of propagation

Antenna sizeAntenna size Limits station locationsLimits station locations

Noisy operationsNoisy operations Gets turned down or ignoredGets turned down or ignored

Why ALE?Why ALE?

Advantages of ALEAdvantages of ALE

Next generation of HFNext generation of HF Moves us beyond single channel Moves us beyond single channel

“conventional” mode“conventional” mode Frequency agileFrequency agile

Takes advantage of changing Takes advantage of changing propagation conditionspropagation conditions

Active propagation evaluationActive propagation evaluation Soundings in real-timeSoundings in real-time On board databaseOn board database

Advantages of ALEAdvantages of ALE

Automated calling and linkingAutomated calling and linking ““Hands-Free” Hands-Free”

Quiet when not in useQuiet when not in use Reduces instances of “turn down”, “turn Reduces instances of “turn down”, “turn

off” or “ignore”off” or “ignore” Limited text capabilityLimited text capability

Using built in modemUsing built in modem

Disadvantages of ALEDisadvantages of ALE

None None

ALE ChallengesALE Challenges

Point-to-pointPoint-to-point Like a phone call rather than a “broadcast”Like a phone call rather than a “broadcast” Comm planning is essentialComm planning is essential Possible hybrid applications of conventional and Possible hybrid applications of conventional and

ALE ALE Soundings interrupt voice communicationsSoundings interrupt voice communications

Operator trainingOperator training Planning is importantPlanning is important

Sounding data degrades in value over timeSounding data degrades in value over time Use of BIDRUse of BIDR

ALE ChallengesALE Challenges

Calling is not instantaneousCalling is not instantaneous Operator trainingOperator training

Several possible reason for link Several possible reason for link failuresfailures Operator trainingOperator training

ALE System StructureALE System Structure

Over 100 HF frequenciesOver 100 HF frequencies Nine netsNine nets Designated message center stationsDesignated message center stations Tactical and C2Tactical and C2

Equipment

How will ALE be used?How will ALE be used? TacticalTactical

Day to day when beyond range of repeaterDay to day when beyond range of repeater In a disaster scenarioIn a disaster scenario Ground team to ICPGround team to ICP Ground team to ground teamGround team to ground team

Command and ControlCommand and Control As a survivable back upAs a survivable back up Forward operating base to ICPForward operating base to ICP ICP to area commandICP to area command Area command to NOCArea command to NOC Unit to group, to wing, to region, to NHQUnit to group, to wing, to region, to NHQ

Constant Watch ‘11Constant Watch ‘11

National Communications ExerciseNational Communications Exercise Intent: Snapshot of our starting point with Intent: Snapshot of our starting point with

ALEALE Simulated New Madrid EarthquakeSimulated New Madrid Earthquake Stress the systemStress the system Tasking messages from NOC to wingsTasking messages from NOC to wings Pre-formatted resource report messages Pre-formatted resource report messages

from wings to NOCfrom wings to NOC Side test of mobile ALE on-site reportingSide test of mobile ALE on-site reporting Limited AMD testingLimited AMD testing

ALE Looking ForwardALE Looking Forward

Constant Watch – Lessons LearnedConstant Watch – Lessons Learned The system can take much more traffic than we anticipatedThe system can take much more traffic than we anticipated The plan was not clear enough. Regions/wings did not The plan was not clear enough. Regions/wings did not

generate trafficgenerate traffic The overall network structure needs to be better understoodThe overall network structure needs to be better understood Stations need to understand which net they belong toStations need to understand which net they belong to Stations need to understand primary and possible alternate Stations need to understand primary and possible alternate

routes for trafficroutes for traffic Our formal message handling skills are “rusty”Our formal message handling skills are “rusty” Region message center stations need two radiosRegion message center stations need two radios Multi-net is not a good solution – obscenely long soundingsMulti-net is not a good solution – obscenely long soundings

ALE Looking ForwardALE Looking Forward

Constant Watch – Lessons LearnedConstant Watch – Lessons Learned Message center stations need to understand their role Message center stations need to understand their role

and responsibilitiesand responsibilities Wings need to appoint message centersWings need to appoint message centers We need some sort of “any” call on ALEWe need some sort of “any” call on ALE Need a “BIDR From” display on Micom 3Need a “BIDR From” display on Micom 3 A “Sounding” display would be helpful on the Micom 3A “Sounding” display would be helpful on the Micom 3 Mobile operators need to understand their radiation Mobile operators need to understand their radiation

patternpattern Don’t do BIDR’s out of curiosity! Don’t do BIDR’s out of curiosity! Preformatted messages WORK! Preformatted messages WORK! AMD needs to be leveragedAMD needs to be leveraged

ALE Looking ForwardALE Looking Forward

AMD for text messagingAMD for text messaging Proved to be an outstanding weak signal Proved to be an outstanding weak signal

assetasset Immediately available with no extra costsImmediately available with no extra costs Standard format being developedStandard format being developed Will utilize the “pre-formatted” message Will utilize the “pre-formatted” message

conceptconcept Deliverable Product: Deliverable Product:

Extend WMIRS beyond the internetExtend WMIRS beyond the internet

Questions?Questions?