Secure Digital Voice

Overview

Voice communications has been the main service of radio networks since their inception. Single Sideband (SSB) voice is used in beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) HF systems, while VHF systems traditionally use frequency modulation (FM). Practically, however, this analogue voice capability suffers three major drawbacks:

Digitising the voice communications allow these shortfalls to be overcome.

RapidM provides a best-in-class voice modem solution in the RA, RT and embedded product families, aimed specifically at HF beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) communications. This next-generation solution is highly secure, significantly reduces operator fatigue and increases clarity and understandability both for point-to-point and broadcast voice communications. It allows for extended range superior voice communication performance even in adverse channel conditions.

The following products feature Secure Digital Voice (SDV) as a software function:

Key Features

The RapidM Secure Digital Voice (SDV) is characterised by the following key aspects:

Solution Description

The RapidM Secure Digital Voice (SDV) modem solution tightly couples a dedicated digital voice waveform with strong encryption (AES-256) and the latest generation low-rate voice coder technology (*TWELP or **MELPe).

* TWELP Voice Coding by DSP Innovations Inc. (www.dspini.com)
** MELPe for US, NATO, PFP and Australian Government End-Users Only

RapidM’s Secure Digital Voice solution can be used either one of the following two modes:

Broadcast: Initiated by simply pressing the press-to-talk (PTT) and talking, allowing everyone on the secure network to receive and decrypt the communications. Vocoder rates will start at 600bps and automatically change to 1200bps if the channel conditions allow. If PTT is pressed in a scanning network, a 3G broadcast link set-up (LSU) is first sent to all stations on the network.

Private Line: a call is established by selecting a recipient from an address book, allowing a secure voice connection between two parties. Calls can be established on automatically adjusted or fixed Vocoder rates varying between 300, 600, 1200 and 2400bps. Point-to-point calls are established using 3G ALE.

The 300bps robust secure voice rate requires the operators to speak slower and to clearly articulate. This ultra-low rate mode is intended for last ditch real-time voice communications between trained operators.

Automatic Data Rate Change (DRC) takes place by nodes continually exchanging received Link Quality Assessment (LQA) information, allowing the voice quality to be continually optimised for the channel condition.

RapidM Secure Digital Voice

Security

Because of its digital nature, RapidM Secure Digital Voice can be protected by Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with 256-bit key length, which is a super strong trusted algorithm.

For a non-export-controlled alternative, Digital Encryption Standard (DES) with 56-bit key length can be used.

Dedicated RapidM Key Management Software (KMS) is used to create, wrap and transport unique, customer-defined cryptographic keys.

Export Control

Under the Wassenaar Arrangement, low rate voice coders are listed as munitions under export control for data rates below 700bps. Also under Wassenaar, symmetric encryption algorithms with key lengths greater than 56 bits are under export control.

ServiceControlledNon Controlled
Low-rate Vocoder30060070012002400
Crypto AlgorithmAES-256DES-56 & AES-256

Performance – Gaussian Channel

To evaluate the RapidM Secure Digital Voice solution, we compare several recordings made through the RapidM RS8 Channel Simulator using a Gaussian (AWGN) Channel, which is representative of a line-of-sight white noise environment. The results are graphed below as Intelligibility versus Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR). The intelligibility metric measures clarity relative to typical groundwave over-the-air HF channel conditions.

sdv performance on a gaussian channel groundwave and line of sight

#Vocoder & RateAudio fileSNR (dB)ChannelGraph
1Original voice clip>+30N/A
2Over-the-air SDV signal-3.0AWGN
3Analogue Voice-3.0AWGNA
4600bps TWELP-3.0AWGNA
5Analogue Voice-1.5AWGNB
6600bps TWELP-1.5AWGNB
7Analogue Voice0AWGNC
81200bps TWELP0AWGNC
9Analogue Voice+1.5AWGND
101200bps TWELP+1.5AWGND
11Analogue Voice+1.5AWGNE
122400bps TWELP+1.5AWGNE
13Analogue Voice+6.0AWGNF
142400bps TWELP+6.0AWGNF
15Analogue Voice-6.0AWGNG
16300bps TWELP-6.0AWGNG

Performance – CCIR Poor Channel

To evaluate the RapidM Secure Digital Voice solution for a more typical beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) sky-wave channel, we compare several recordings made through the RapidM RS8 Channel Simulator using a CCIR Poor channel. The results are graphed below as Intelligibility versus Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR). The intelligibility metric measures clarity relative to typical skywave over-the-air HF channel conditions.

sdv performance on a gaussian channel groundwave and line of sight

#Vocoder & RateAudio fileSNR (dB)ChannelGraph
17Analogue Voice+3.0CCIR PoorH
18600bps TWELP+3.0CCIR PoorH
19Analogue Voice+6.0CCIR PoorI
201200bps TWELP+6.0CCIR PoorI
21Analogue Voice+8.0CCIR PoorJ
222400bps TWELP+8.0CCIR PoorJ
23Analogue Voice-0.5CCIR PoorK
24300bps TWELP-0.5CCIR PoorK

Summary

It is evident that the RapidM Secure Digital Voice solution overcomes the shortcomings of analogue voice by providing a secure and clear digital voice communication service for tactical, naval, governmental and commercial users alike.