VHF Data Link Communication Characteristics

Details

• Creators:
  Collins, Dennis F. ; Dumanian, J. A. ; Salwen, H. C.
• Corporate Creators:
  John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Aircraft Digital Communication Systems Digital Transmission Minimum Shift Keying Multipath Multipath Transmission Propagation Very High Frequency VHF Communication Equipment VHF Data Link
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT-TSC-FAA-76-8 ; FAA-RD-76-171
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States ; Boston Metropolitan Area
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration
• Abstract:
  This report describes the results of a series of laboratory, field, and flight test experiments designed to characterize the performance of current VHF communication equipment and the VHF channel relative to the communication of digital data in the ATC environment. The experiments were conducted at data rates of 2400 and 4800 bits per second with minimum-shift-keying (MSK) and the baseband modulation. Laboratory experiments were performed to determine the performance of individual VHF communication equipment and subsystems of equipment in Gaussian noise and simulated multipath environments. Field tests utilizing continuous pseudo-random data streams were conducted at Logan Airport, Boston, to obtain estimates of VHF data link performance in the multipath environment of an airport surface. Flight tests were performed utilizing continuous pseudo-random data streams transmitted air to ground to determine bit and block error rates, received signal level, signal fading characteristics, and geographical coverage. Other parameters that were measured include clock slips, carrier losses, and signal fading due to aircraft maneuvers. A second series of flight tests were performed with a computer controlled experimental VHF data link system. The system was tested in a simplex mode with a single aircraft and utilized formatted messages transmitted ground to air and air to ground. The performance of the system was measured in terms of bit error rate, message transaction failure rate, and message throughput. Error distribution data is presented and analyzed. The results of the test program indicate the VHF data link can provide reliable communication for ATC purposes.
• Content Notes:
  Introduction, Laboratory performance measurements of VHF communication equipment, Airport surface tests, Digital data transmission flight tests, Experimental data link system tests, Conclusions, Appendices
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  DOT-TSC-1119
• Collection(s):
  Volpe Center
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f3d80034e7b923f9ec629b6b57d55b04b1085143c75e121aee44cb393dab65734822344fb05385cfdbfc90952341f189e0aecfb582f35b78544c772326076d46
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/9275/dot_9275_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 14.71 MB ]