ADVANCEMENTS IN HF COMMUNICATIONS

AN EXPERT SYSTEM APPROACH FOR A TRUE BLUE NAVY

Cdr Praveen Chandra, Scale Model RF Test Facility, Naval EMC Unit, Jamnagar

Abstract: The paper highlights the current advancements made in HF communication,

in terms of concepts, applicability, modeling, hardware, and networking which needs to be
exploited in the earnest to realize the much needed “communications anywhere and
anytime” capability. Much discussion ensues presently, concerning the direction that needs
to be pursued for development of tactical Naval Communication systems which can support
the paradigms of network Centric Warfare. Developments in personal communications
(mobile telephony) have taken precedence over other technological pursuits over the past
decade and half. These “COTS” concepts have made deep inroads into military/ tactical
application development and are here to stay. In this context the paper aims to clarify
understanding of the COTS concepts and the pitfalls that lay in their isolated adaptation for
tactical HF communication and justify the requirement of a integrated and holistic all
inclusive approach in terms of an ‘expert system’.
.
Introduction lack of a comprehensive framework for a
result-oriented research and development
1. Long range communications’ has often worked at cross purposes. Since
capability, extending much beyond line of the early nineties this view had undergone a
sight and encompassing a few hundreds to drastic change. This was primarily due to the
thousands of kilometers of operational novel medium to long range communication
domain is vital for strategic force projection tactics tried out by the US marines in Gulf
and tactical sea control. Critical war I and later perfected in Bosnia, Grozny
technological advancements which enable and myriad other conflicts eventually
formulation of tactical concepts and culminating in the all inclusive,
realization of realistic capabilities will be comprehensive JTRS (Joint Tactical Radio
brought out. Also, the comparative Systems) and its variants being envisaged
advantages, HF as a communication presently. Briefly the following are the most
resource can offer vis-à-vis V/UHF and important developments which have
SATCOM are briefly covered. Present day captured the imagination of the overseers of
HF communications’ limitations are dwelt defence development programs worldwide:-
upon. A case is made for comprehensive
approach to incorporate key technological (a) Multi-carrier modulation and access
ingredients with a view to augmenting the schemes like OFD (Orthogonal frequency
present capabilities in quick time, utilizing division multiplexing) have afforded
the incumbent system hardware and without considerable improvements in channel
having to resort for immediate acquisitions. estimation to overcome fading and multi-
path effects.
Technological Advancements
(b) Software radio concepts which
2. HF communications have been incorporate a fixed standard capacity
perceived with apprehension borne primarily hardware with augmentable features being
due to inadequate appreciation. Further, the encapsulated in programmable and easily
changeable software modules. Critical to
these developments were the great strides
made in DSP technology with the
consequent reduction in costs and easy
availability of reliable hardware.
(c) Equally important was the
standardization of the platform hardware
viz. the ubiquitous PC which has enabled
downstream developments to be
configurable at the click of a mouse.
(d) Standardization of protocols with the
attendant reduction in costs of networking
elements like router architectures etc.
(e) Path breaking inventions in VLSI
technology which have made available such
flexible hardware building blocks like
broadband mixed signal ICs, low noise RF
front ends, high IP3 & low distortion power
amplifiers etc.
(f) Ingenious antenna designs and
concepts like NVIS, active antennas (for
reception), conformal conductive coatings,
and diversity techniques with high power
handling capabilities and broadband features
(g) Last but not least the commercial off
the shelf (COTS), motivation has been the
single largest driver of the current day
technologies. With their low
lead/development these have quickened the
pace from conceptualization, prototyping to
mass production and sounded the death knell
of “milgrade”. This has rendered every
component of the system design to be
modular and easily replaceable. Flexibility
which had been a much desired tactical
precept could now be achieved and attendant
with it unprecedented scope for innovation.
Novel Scheme for enhanced Data rates
3. Generic HF modems use a 3 kHz
bandwidth in a serial architecture with
cryptographic/ coding features adding to
overheads. A packet data source is typically
encoded using a cryptographic scheme and
then a channel spreading code is used for
imparting robustness to channel induced
distortions and is then modulated onto a
single carrier for transmission through a
tunable antenna. Fig 1 illustrates this
scheme
Packet
Crypto Modulator
data
source
Fig 1. Typical Packet/ Serial architecture
single modem scheme
Clearly this scheme has several bottle-necks.
To start with the serial packet architecture
imposes a limitation compounded further by
the single carrier and tunable antenna. A
variation on this scheme which can
overcome this is shown in fig 2
Mux & Bank of
Encrypted
modem parallel
Packet data
source bank Modulators
Fig 2. Multiplexed parallel modem with
multiple modulators
4. With the above scheme data rates of
upto 64 kBPS have been realized albeit with
multiple carriers. Clearly in this scheme the
determining factors will be the capability of
the power amplifier to simultaneously
amplify the carriers and put them onto a
single/multiple antenna for transmission.
This type of hardware which can assuredly
furnish interference free performance is now
available and can be harnessed to meet the
system functionality. Also broadband
antennas for shipborne installation can also
be now designed and their performance
ensured by correct placement/installation
onboard. In the latter regard the utility of the
scale model RF test facility need hardly be
underscored. Add to this the feature of
‘diversity techniques’, the possibilities
multiply multifold.
HF Vs V/UHF and SATCOM
5. Given this type of system
functionality which can be achieved by
prudent formulation of a development
programme, one may pause to wonder
where will HF comm. Capability fetch up
vis-à-vis, V/UHF and SATCOM. First the
line of sight range limitation of V/UHF can
be overcome straight away. Second the
requirement of large bandwidth for higher
data rates can be prudently mitigated.
6. As regards SATCOM, the issues
about outage and limited foot-print effects
can be overcome. Also satellites are
vulnerable, in case of real hostilities, to
enemy jamming/ missile attacks. Even in
case of exo-atmospheric nuclear attack it is
the HF (ionosphere) which is the fastest to
regain and hence establishment of HF
communication is a forlorn conclusion.
SATCOM terminals in L band and C band
also present significant EMI/EMC issue
onboard owing to co-location with high
power L-band radar and C-band
illuminators.
Present HF Communication Ethos
7. Present Naval HF communications
are based upon stand-alone sets, more or less
rigidly hard wired to their respective
antennas, transmitters through a Antenna
Base Tuner while receivers are directly
connected. Modems both with and without
networking protocols have occupied the
middle ground. The choice of frequency,
modulation scheme, transmit power and
antenna systems are borne out of a legacy
framework of appreciation. Since the later
choices have not been accorded due
consideration they remain a bottle neck and
largely encumber the capabilities of the sets
and the middleware. As we rigorously
pursue the rapidly changing technology and
try to network and keep pace, the ‘bottle-
neck’ issues need to be resolved. In order to
conceive of the probable shifts in design
paradigms to usher in renewed HF
communications it is in order to appreciate
the critical bottlenecks in existing format.
The following paragraphs focus attention on
devising interesting measures to address
these issues.
Limitations On HF Communications
8. These are due to the following:-
(a) Low carrier frequency 2-30
MHz restricts available
bandwidths to no more than
4-10 kHz.
(b) The propagation channel is
characterized by multi-path
and fading effects
(c) Noise is externally limited
i.e. ambient noise is greater
than that generated within the
electronic circuitry and
therefore becomes the
limiting factor for SNR.
(d) Because of these factors even
with a exotic bandwidth
efficient modulation scheme
(2-3 bits /sec/Hz), there still
exists requirement of
equalization schemes which
further encumber realization
of high throughput.
(e) Antenna inefficiency owing
to its small size vis-à-vis,
 wavelength imposes
additional constraints
necessitating tuning
requirements which could
enhance susceptibility to
interception and thereby
compromise security.
(f) All these factors
cumulatively impact the data
rate which does support the
requirements of Network
Centric Warfare (NCW).
9. These factors contribute to the
prevailing circumspect view about the
robustness of HF communications. Without
resolving the bottle necks, pursuance of
only middleware development to foster
networking capabilities alone may not
enable realization of the full potential of the
development efforts. The following options
should be prudently exercised to reap the
full potential of the development efforts and
translate them to robust system capabilities.
The state of the art concerning these choices
will also be dwelt upon and is available in
the market due to the COTS revolution.
Ionosonde - Dynamic Allocation Of Real
Time Frequency
10. The promulgated COMPLAN should
be based on real time assessment of tactical
frequency. Ionosonde technology with
requisite vertical and oblique sounding
capability is commercially available. These
nee to be configured into our fleet operating
tactics. The ionosonde data is valid for a
geographical extent of 500 km and needs to
be updated periodically and promulgated by
the OTC (Officer in Tactical Command).
The ALE, (Automatic Link Establishment),
frequency lists and networking software has
to be cued with this data to impart
robustness to the network.
Equalization Algorithms
11. HF propagation channel is
characterized by multi-path due to
interaction between ground wave, and sky-
wave and fading induced due to ionospehric
variations. These cause severe disruptions in
networked HF communications.
Equalization algorithms which form an
essential part of any modem architecture
(middleware) aim to mitigate these effects.
Their cause can only be better served by an
appropriate choice of frequency and
diversity techniques which will be discussed
in subsequent paras. These algorithms work
in conjunction with error correcting codes.
Modulation Schemes
12. Any modulation scheme aims at
improving the spectral efficiency of the
transmitted RF energy. Archaic schemes like
typical analog AM, FM are passé. Even
second generation digital schemes like FSK,
PSK have also lost flavor. Amongst the new
ones being OFDM (orthogonal frequency
modulation) offers reliable advantages of
proven immunity to multi-path and fading
effects albeit with attendant complexities.
These are as follows:-
(a) Complexity of transmitting
source. Existing sets do not
support such modulation scheme
because of the requirement of
simultaneously amplifying a
large no of carriers.
(b) Synchronization of carriers
(c) Not suitable in lower HF band
(2-20 MHz) due to the larger
bandwidth requirement hence
requiring use of higher
frequency band (>20 MHz)
(d) Existing HF sets’ ABT can tune
only one frequency at a time.
13. Other modulation schemes like
DSPK still find acceptance due to relatively
lesser hardware complexities. QAM
varieties are also being suggested as suitable
candidate schemes. Theoretically as well as
commercially these may be seem attractive.
However, their prospect for tactical Naval
application needs to weighed against their
propensity for enhanced operational power
levels with attendant interference.
Receiver Sensitivity/ Interference Issues
14. A typical receiver has a receive
sensitivity of about -113 dBm which is 0.5
micro volt. These work well with a SNR of
12-16 dB which implies a receive power
levels of about -90 to -100 dBm. With the
exotic modulation schemes mentioned above
SNR values go up to 20-25 dB over
sensitivity level of -95 to-100dBm, resulting
in higher power envelope of received
signals with attendant susceptibility issues
and masking of weak received signals.
Transmitter/Power Amplifier/ Multi-
coupler
15. Existing Transmitters/ power amplifiers
have following drawbaks:-
(a) They operate only at discrete
power levels of 100%, 50%
or 25%. Arbitrary Power
cannot be selected.
(b) The power amplifiers cannot
amplify more than one
simultaneous carrier, their
inter-modulation
performance is very poor.
Further, they cannot
withstand VSWR greater
than 2.5. Broadband antenna
performance requires them to
withstand upto 3.5 VSWR.
16. Multi-couplers, which connect more
than one transmitter to a single antenna,
constitute a vital part in realizing utility of
efficient modulation schemes like OFDM.
Presently no multi-couplers are in place.
Antenna Issues
17. The HF antenna is a low efficiency
device owing to its smaller electrical length.
The ABT associated with the transmitter
does not contribute much to enhancing the
transmitted power but is only intended for
protecting the transmitter from burn out due
to high reflected power because of mismatch
between the antenna and the transmission
line. The ABT requires finite time to tune
during which the RF power is being fed to
the antenna and is radiated causing it
vulnerable for detection. Also the ABT and
the antenna being narrow band devices
cannot support larger bandwidths required/
multiple carriers of schemes like OFDM.
These issues can be resolved by devising:-
(a) Broadband matching networks
which need not be tuned and can
support much larger bandwidths.
(a) Antenna multi-coupler
arrangements which can
permit more than one RF
carrier to be fed onto a single
antenna.
18. Further, ingenuous antenna designs
which can support NVIS mode of
propagation and directional propagation
can significantly enhance operational
capabilities by adding in a measure of
localization i.e. preventing radiation over
unwanted regions/ sectors respectively. In
this regard the results of scale model studies
can also be amalgamated to asses the best
antenna choice for the given frequency of
operation and sector of communication.
19. Active antennas are also being
envisaged for fitment onboard for reception.
These have a FET based pre-amplifier at the
base of the antenna itself which serves to
reduce the antenna noise and also amplify
the signal. These therefore enhance SNR,
inpsite of their relatively smaller size when
compared with generic whip aerials.
Diversity Operation
20. Hitherto diversity techniques have
been scarcely employed. The ship structure
has a bilateral symmetry further there is at
least one dimension which is more than half
wavelength at HF band of frequencies.
These features which can be exploited to the
advantage for devising antenna diversity in
reception. This means that the signal
received by more than one antenna which
are spatially separated can be employed to
improve the SNR overcome multipath and
fading effects. In addition by simultaneously
utilizing the received signals from a vertical
whip and a horizontal wire aerial additional
advantages can also be derived in terms of
polarization diversity. Diversity techniques
have been found to significantly enhance
robustness of HF communications. Several
diversity combining schemes have been
designed. The requisite hardware for these
schemes is also easily available requiring no
ab-initio studies.
Scale Model Studies
21. One of the fundamental reasons for
skepticism about shipborne HF
communication is owing to the fact that one
cannot predict decisively in which direction
the radiated energy issues forth from the
antenna. Though the antenna is supposed to
radiate omni-directional, the effect of the
ship superstructure, the lack of a ground
plane and improper feeding arrangement
cause substantial alteration of the resultant
radiation patterns, which precludes easy
prediction. Scale model studies being carried
out at the Scale Model RF test facility at
NEU(J) enable accurate prediction of the
radiation patterns of the HF antennas and
their appropriate tactical exploitation as
details of which frequencies can be best
radiated by which antennas are furnished to
communication planners. These inputs are
extremely vital to realizing robust HF
networks at sea.
Secure Coding
22. Encryption becomes an essential
ingredient of any communication
scheme/protocol. The state of the art for HF
communications is error correcting codes,
block codes. A variety of codes and their
advantages are talked about. The
determining factors will be the through put
to data rate ratio, susceptibility of the code
scheme to channel impairments, jamming
and the bandwidth enhancements that come
about with it.
Concept Of An Expert System
23. From the foregoing it can be seen
that no single component even if it be the
transmitter, state of art middle ware
(modem) or a sensitive digital receiver, the
antenna and its matching device by itself in
a isolated manner cannot enhance the
efficiency and robustness of fleet HF
communications. Clearly the existing system
architecture as brought out in the paper in
the schematic at fig 3 has many inherent
shortcomings. It is therefore incumbent to
device an expert system which takes into
cognizance each one of these factors and
their inter-relationships. Such an expert
system determines based on user input
mission requirements the best frequencies to
use , which antenna to radiate from which
sets to use, which coding/
equalization/modulation scheme to use, how
much power to transmit, which diversity
technique to employ etc. Concept
schematic of such expert system is shown
in fig 4.
24. The network operation and its
functionality can further be associated and
reside within the expert system. Such expert
system cannot be bought off the shelf. There
can be no easy ways out but have to be
painstakingly assembled from concerted
indigenous efforts. The requisite protocol
for the system should be developed in house
and be not pegged to any existing defence/
commercial protocol. Extension of the
system functionality to other frequency
bands can also be envisaged.
Conclusion/ Way Ahead
25. Robust HF f communication systems
with assured reliability and quality of
service can only be achieved if the larger
picture that has been brought about is
concertedly addressed. Rather than
fragmenting and disassociating each of the
above mentioned aspects project steering,
conceptualization should factor in a holistic
approach wherein each aspect of the HF
communication requirements is addressed
adequately and in an integrated manner.
Such an all inclusive approach seems to the
imminently required for assured success in
our efforts to brace upto the requirements of
a Network centric warfare capable Navy.

About the Author

Cdr Praveen Chandra, has been actively involved with NEC efforts to augment HF
communications capabilities ever since he joined the Unit in 1999 and is presently pursuing
design and development of wide band HF antennas, diversity techniques and Scale model
studies. An alumnus of NDA, Khadakvasla, he holds a M Tech in Microwave engineering.
Fig 3. Schematic of Existing System Architecture for HF communications

Fig 4. Schematic of Proposed Expert System Architecture

HF Ambient
Characteristics