to - HF Data Link Communications

Fundamentals of HF Data Link
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Framework for Discussion
•  General Overview
–  Propagation
•  The Ground Component
–  Architecture
–  HFDL Ground Station
•  The Airborne Component
–  Architecture
–  HF Data Radio
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Framework for Discussion
•  ARINC Report
–  Provides guidelines or general info found by the airlines to be good
practices, often related to maintenance and support.
•  ARINC Report 634: HF Data Link System Design Guidance Material.
•  ARINC Specification
–  Principally used to define either the physical packaging or mounting
of the avionics equipment, data communications standards or highlevel computer language.
•  ARINC Specification 635-4: HF Data Link Protocols.
•  ARINC Characteristics
–  Define the form, fit, function and interfaces of avionics equipment
•  ARINC Characteristic 719-5: Airborne HF / SSB System.
•  ARINC Characteristic 753-2: HF Data Link System.
ALL SPECS ARE AVAILABLE FROM ARINC.COM
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General Overview
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© 2014Collins.
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General Overview
•  ARINC launched the world’s only High Frequency Data Link
(HFDL) system in 1998.
•  85 worldwide customers.
•  Over 2600+ equipped aircraft with 4.8 million transmissions per
month.
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HFDL 101 … The Basics
•  Long-range, beyond the line-of-sight communications
take place in the HF radio spectrum from 2-30 MHz.
–  Over 167 frequencies used by the HFDL system worldwide.
–  Over 32 different frequencies operating at any one time.
HFDL
VHF
Frequency
Designation
Abbreviation
3-30 kHz
Very low frequency
30-300 kHz
Low frequency
LF
300-3,000 kHz
Medium frequency
MF
2-30 MHz
High frequency
HF
30-300 MHz
Very high frequency
VHF
300-3,000 MHz
Ultrahigh frequency
UHF
SAT
3-30 GHz
Superhigh frequency
SHF
SAT
30-300 GHz
Extremely high frequency
EHF
VLF
–  Air-ground message transmission speed varies depending on radio
wave propagation conditions.
•  300, 600, 1200, 1800 bps.
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HFDL 101 … Propagation
The ionosphere is a region of electrically
charged particles or gases in the earth’s
atmosphere, extending approx. 30-375
miles above the earth’s surface.
Ionosphere
Refraction of signal
One hop
Multi hop
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HFDL 101 … Propagation
•  HFDL propagation is
dependent on the ionosphere.
–  The ionosphere’s shape and
density change throughout the
day and night.
–  In order to compensate, the HFDL
system must also change the HF
frequencies used.
•  The nature of HF propagation
allows for signals to travel
great distances through
multi-hop propagation.
–  15 ground stations provide
overlapping global coverage.
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The Ground Component
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© 2014Collins.
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Architecture
Ground End Systems
•  Airline host processing
•  DSP services
•  CAA systems
•  Tower systems
VHF (POA)
VDL
SATCOM
Transmit
Antenna
Ch1
ARINC Global
Network
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ARINC’s Central
Processing System
(CPS)
Ch2
HFDL
Ground
Station
(HGS)
Ch3
Receive
Antenna
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Worldwide Coverage
HF Ground Stations
Alaska
Bahrain
Bolivia
California
Canary Islands
Guam
Hawaii
Iceland
Ireland
New York
New Zealand
Panama
Russia
South Africa
Thailand
Legend
HFDL ground station
Areas of
Primary coverage
Areas of
Secondary coverage
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HFDL Flights – June 2015
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HFDL Polar Flights – June 2015
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The Airborne Component
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Airborne Architecture
HF Antenna
HF Coupler (x2)
Multi-Functional
Cockpit Display Unit
ACARS
MU/CMU/ATSU
HF Data Radio (x2)
Flight Management
System
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Equipage
•  HFDL is certified as forward-fit on most large commercial
transport aircraft.
–  Boeing
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
B737-700 / 800 / 900
B747-400 / 400F
B757-200 / 300
B767-200 / 300 / 400
B777-200 / 300
B787 (future delivery)
–  Airbus
•  A319 / 320 / 321
•  A330 / 340
•  A380 (HFDL is standard equipment)
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Equipage … cont.
•  Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) available on many
aircraft types.
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
A320 family
B737-800
B747-200 / 300 / 400
B757-200 / 300
B767-200 / 300 / 400
B777-200
MD-11
–  Rockwell Collins owns many of these
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Let’s Wrap This Up …
•  HFDL ground and airborne components work together to make
HFDL a highly reliable data link service.
•  HFDL is a cost-effective alternative to satellite, but used in
conjunction with satellite provides the most reliable long-range
data link combination.
•  Significant operational benefits to be gained from implementing
HFDL.
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