| Please explain the purpose of operation: |
Testing a communications system that is designed to provide connectivity to distributed fixed and mobile ground-based users in a rural environment with a minimal number of relay nodes.
This system is a communications system that is designed to provide connectivity to distributed fixed and mobile ground-based users in a rural environment with a minimal number of relay nodes. The primary application is to for defense purposes, although there are potential commercial applications. The system sends low (~100 kbps) data rate transmissions. The purpose of the tests is to show the that new networking algorithms are stable and don't require excessive bandwidth, and to validate that selecting the best operating frequency greatly increases the link range (thus, significantly reducing deployment costs).
The system has different modes where the number of channels that could potentially be used is varied depending on the mission/scenario. The system uses Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) software that rapidly identifies, and then operates on, the unused channels and thus effectively co-exists with a wide range of legacy systems without causing the legacy systems interference. The system selects the best operating channel that maximizes the link range, which is critical in rural areas. A large number of potential channels (10 to 100) are made available to the radio. The system sends probe messages on some or all of the potential channels to determine the 'best' channel based on the interference from other users, potential interference to legacy users, the propagation loss, the antenna loss, and radio hardware losses. Once acceptable channels are indentified, data is transmitted. The probe messages are occasionally resent to update the channel ranking.
The field evaluations include: (1) Development testing in the vicinity of the SSC offices, and (2) Development evaluations and VIP demonstrations within a 20 mile radius of North 40° 26' 18", West 102° 46' 47" which is southeast of Sterling, Colorado.
The tests will be short duration. Each of the above tests will last for a few days within the time window requested. The tests on each day will last 8 hours or less.
Several signal types will be used. The communications system uses either 1 MHz or a 4 MHz bandwidth signal. Some testing will use a CW signal to measure the actual propagation loss. |