Learning Lab DO05 Operating in the Next Generation of HF Radio: Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) Operating in the Next Generation of HF Radio: Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) Malcolm Kyser, Hartley Gardner, Chuck Bishop, Steve Haney

Why HF?

Advantages of HF Medium to long distance communications Medium to long distance communications Adaptable Adaptable Fixed, mobile or tactical Fixed, mobile or tactical Survivable Survivable Infrastructure independent Infrastructure independent Works when everything else fails Works when everything else fails Low (or no) operating costs Low (or no) operating costs No recurring charges, air time or usage fees No recurring charges, air time or usage fees

Disadvantages of HF Propagation limitations Propagation limitations Conditions always in flux Conditions 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 size Antenna size Limits station locations Limits station locations Noisy operations Noisy operations Gets turned down or ignored Gets turned down or ignored

Why ALE?

Advantages of ALE Next generation of HF Next generation of HF Moves us beyond single channel “conventional” mode Moves us beyond single channel “conventional” mode Frequency agile Frequency agile Takes advantage of changing propagation conditions Takes advantage of changing propagation conditions Active propagation evaluation Active propagation evaluation Soundings in real-time Soundings in real-time On board database On board database

Advantages of ALE Automated calling and linking Automated calling and linking “Hands-Free” “Hands-Free” Quiet when not in use Quiet when not in use Reduces instances of “turn down”, “turn off” or “ignore” Reduces instances of “turn down”, “turn off” or “ignore” Limited text capability Limited text capability Using built in modem Using built in modem

Disadvantages of ALE None None

ALE Challenges Point-to-point Point-to-point Like a phone call rather than a “broadcast” Like a phone call rather than a “broadcast” Comm planning is essential Comm planning is essential Possible hybrid applications of conventional and ALE Possible hybrid applications of conventional and ALE Soundings interrupt voice communications Soundings interrupt voice communications Operator training Operator training Planning is important Planning is important Sounding data degrades in value over time Sounding data degrades in value over time Use of BIDR Use of BIDR

ALE Challenges Calling is not instantaneous Calling is not instantaneous Operator training Operator training Several possible reason for link failures Several possible reason for link failures Operator training Operator training

ALE System Structure Over 100 HF frequencies Over 100 HF frequencies Nine nets Nine nets Designated message center stations Designated message center stations Tactical and C2 Tactical and C2 National Command Net (Net 9) NER Net 1 NER Wings MER Net 2 MER Wings GLR Net 3 GLR Wings SER Net 4 SER Wings NCR Net 5 NCR Wings SWR Net 6 SWR Wings RMR Net 7 RMR Wings PCR Net 8 PCR Wings

Equipment

How will ALE be used? Tactical Tactical Day to day when beyond range of repeater Day to day when beyond range of repeater In a disaster scenario In a disaster scenario Ground team to ICP Ground team to ICP Ground team to ground team Ground team to ground team Command and Control Command and Control As a survivable back up As a survivable back up Forward operating base to ICP Forward operating base to ICP ICP to area command ICP to area command Area command to NOC Area command to NOC Unit to group, to wing, to region, to NHQ Unit to group, to wing, to region, to NHQ

Constant Watch ‘11 National Communications Exercise National Communications Exercise Intent: Snapshot of our starting point with ALE Intent: Snapshot of our starting point with ALE Simulated New Madrid Earthquake Simulated New Madrid Earthquake Stress the system Stress the system Tasking messages from NOC to wings Tasking messages from NOC to wings Pre-formatted resource report messages from wings to NOC Pre-formatted resource report messages from wings to NOC Side test of mobile ALE on-site reporting Side test of mobile ALE on-site reporting Limited AMD testing Limited AMD testing

ALE Looking Forward Constant Watch – Lessons Learned Constant Watch – Lessons Learned The system can take much more traffic than we anticipated The system can take much more traffic than we anticipated The plan was not clear enough. Regions/wings did not generate traffic The plan was not clear enough. Regions/wings did not generate traffic The overall network structure needs to be better understood The overall network structure needs to be better understood Stations need to understand which net they belong to Stations need to understand which net they belong to Stations need to understand primary and possible alternate routes for traffic Stations need to understand primary and possible alternate routes for traffic Our formal message handling skills are “rusty” Our formal message handling skills are “rusty” Region message center stations need two radios Region message center stations need two radios Multi-net is not a good solution – obscenely long soundings Multi-net is not a good solution – obscenely long soundings

ALE Looking Forward Constant Watch – Lessons Learned Constant Watch – Lessons Learned Message center stations need to understand their role and responsibilities Message center stations need to understand their role and responsibilities Wings need to appoint message centers Wings need to appoint message centers We need some sort of “any” call on ALE We need some sort of “any” call on ALE Need a “BIDR From” display on Micom 3 Need a “BIDR From” display on Micom 3 A “Sounding” display would be helpful on the Micom 3 A “Sounding” display would be helpful on the Micom 3 Mobile operators need to understand their radiation pattern Mobile operators need to understand their radiation pattern 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 leveraged AMD needs to be leveraged

ALE Looking Forward AMD for text messaging AMD for text messaging Proved to be an outstanding weak signal asset Proved to be an outstanding weak signal asset Immediately available with no extra costs Immediately available with no extra costs Standard format being developed Standard format being developed Will utilize the “pre-formatted” message concept Will utilize the “pre-formatted” message concept Deliverable Product: Deliverable Product: Extend WMIRS beyond the internet Extend WMIRS beyond the internet

Questions?