By Chris de Combe, Manager of Applications Engineering, Ultra Electronics TCS, Ultra Electronics TCS
SubscribeSoftware products to support the deployment of tactical communications
Ultra Electronics offers a range of software to support our tactical radio and multiplexing products.
Element Manager
A software element manager is available for the AN/GRC-245 and the SUPERHIGHWAY products to allow them to be controlled by a computer. The software provides a simple to use way of controlling and monitoring the equipment. A widows' approach is used and each equipment is identified by its IP address.
Crypto key Management software
Crypto Key management software is available to generate keys distribute keys to the SUPERHIGHWAY encryption elements. The Crypto Key Manager software is divided in 2 sections:
- Unit Definition
- Key Generation
Unit Definition
This section of the Crypto Key Manager allows the security officer to:
- Add new elements into the Crypto Key Manager database. This information is required when the application creates key packages and allows the Crypto Key Loader application to recognize the unit at the moment of the key download.
- Edit the element's information.
- Delete an element no longer used from the Crypto Key Manager database.
- Sort the element list by Serial Number, MAC Address, Unit Type or Description in order to help unit management.
The Key Generation
This section of the Crypto Key Manager allows the security officer to:
- Generate keys, which will be kept in the Crypto Key Manager database.
- Edit keys descriptions
- Remove keys from the Crypto Key Manager database.
- Generate key packages, which will be transferred in the PDA.
- Sort the key list by key name or key description in order to help key management.
Keys are distributed to the SUPERHIGHWAY units using a computer or PDA. Software is available for the computer and PDA to allow the efficient handling of keys.
Radio Planning Software Tool
The Radio Planning Software Tool is a software application, which runs on a laptop computer. This computer application allows a radio link planning operator to engineer, plan and optimize a tactical radio network made up of any type of Ultra Electronics radio links. This program allows the radio links to be placed in the required geographical locations on a geographical map, the path loss performance of each of the radio links in the network to be predicted, and frequency assignments to be made rapidly and efficiently. The tool offers a wide range of propagation models, and supports radios operating a FDD, TDD, single carrier, or frequency-hoping modes.
The tool utilizes digital terrain models to simulate communication effects with a dynamic two and three-dimensional displays.. Thousands of sites can be managed within any one project, including all their coverage information. A three dimensional cartographic workspace (Digital Elevation Model) is typically used for all operations and analysis. Analysis results can be displayed on 2D or 3D display
Key features of this planning tool include:
- Frequency Assignment
-The Radio Planning Software Tool automatically assigns frequencies and optimizes the spectrum occupancy, re-using frequencies when possible and minimizing interference.
The tool uses C/I or threshold degradation as design criteria. - Cartographic Data Management
- Antenna, Sites, and Transmitter Databases
- Propagation Performance Predictions
- Point to Point Calculations and transmitter sites coverage
- Interference Matrix Generation
-The tool includes an interference analysis of assigned UHF frequencies featuring full carrier to interference ratio modelling with co-channel, adjacent channel and composite interference calculation. Critical sources of interference are clearly identified, facilitating rapid convergence to a robust frequency plan.
