High Altitude Relay and Router
Abstract
The Satellite and Wireless Networking Section of NRL's Transmission Technology Branch has been tasked with determining the feasibility of the use/development of communications relays held aloft by balloons at high altitude (~ 65,000 ft above mean sea level, or MSL). The objective of this High Altitude Relay and Router (HARR) program is to extend the range of line-of-sight (LOS) communication links, particularly those compromised by terrain. The HARR project objectives are to: (1) develop payloads capable of doing on-board routing of network traffic between multiple ground nodes within and out of line-of-sight, and (2) develop payloads capable of extending tactical communications in the UHF band for both data and voice communications for point-to-point links. NRL has developed two candidate relay platforms. The first operates in L-band using the 802.11b protocol, and incorporates a router in the sky that can direct traffic from ground site to ground site, either directly or via another balloon-based relay. Converter/amplifiers allow these routers and associated ground terminals to operate at ranges exceeding 100 miles. The second payload simulates a UHF FLTSAT payload, providing 25-kHz "bent-pipe" relays that can operate at SATCOM channels or LOS channels, transponding the signal to avoid self-interference. Voice at 240 miles and data at 80 miles were demonstrated using legacy UHF military systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA518321
Entities
People
- J. Doffoh
- M. Rupar
- R. Mereish
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory