Military Shipborne Satellite Communication Terminal

Abstract

An experimental Canadian UHF shipborne satellite communications terminal was designed to gather the necessary data and experience prior to the possible development by Canadian industry of an operational terminal for use by the Canadian Forces, Maritime Element. Such equipment would provide a UHF satellite communications capability onboard the destroyers and frigates of the Canadian Forces. Described in the paper are the experimental terminal developed at the Communications Research Centre as well as the experience obtained (to date) through its use. In the design of the prototype terminal, flexibility and interoperability with allied forces was of prime importance. The UHF equipment developed has been used with the FLTSATCOM satellite both with high data rate, TDM-formatted signals in a single 25 kHz FLTSATCOM channel as well as with low rate single teletype signals operating near the channel edges. The terminal has the capability of transmitting either MSK or PSK signals derived from a time division multiplex of several baseband data signals. This multiplexing is performed by a programmable microcomputer-based multiplexer/demultiplexer which can supply various mixes of clear voice, secure voice, data and teletype circuits. The experimental terminal has been used during military operations in the Atlantic and as part of a double-hop secure voice circuit demonstration between Halifax and Australia.