Standard HF Waveform Performances

Contents

This document states the measured performance standards of the RM6.


STANAG 4539

STANAG 4539 standard provides a family of coded data rates from 75 to 9600 bps and an uncoded data rate of 12k8 bps. In addition, these waveforms incorporate AUTOBAUD. STANAG 4539 is an attractive choice for Automatic-Repeat-Request (ARQ) systems.

For this waveform the RM6 modem supports the DTE modes Standard Async, High-speed and synchronous.

Table 1 presents the complete STANAG 4539 suite of waveforms. Included in the table are the modulation, code rate and interleaver settings for each data rate. The lower rates include Tone Excision (TEX) (see TEX column table below). Cancellation of up to 4 tones is possible.

Data Rate (bps) Modulation Coding Interleaver Settings TEX Capability
75 Walsh 0.5 Z, S, L YES
150 BPSK 0.125 Z, S, L YES
300 BPSK 0.25 Z, S, L YES
600 BPSK 0.5 Z, S, L YES
1200 QPSK 0.5 Z, S, L YES
2400 DATA 8-PSK 0.5 Z, S, L YES
2400 VOICE 8-PSK 0.5 Z, S, L YES
3200 QPSK 0.75 US, VS, S, M, L, VL NO
4800 8-PSK 0.75 US, VS, S, M, L, VL NO
6400 16-QAM 0.75 US, VS, S, M, L, VL NO
8000 32-QAM 0.75 US, VS, S, M, L, VL NO
9600 64-QAM 0.75 US, VS, S, M, L, VL NO
12800 64-QAM None None NO
Table 1: S4539 waveform suite

The tables below present the different interleaver sizes.

Setting Display Length[s]
Zero Z None
Short S 0.6
Long L 4.8
Table 2: S 4539 Interleaver settings for 75 to 2400 bps
Setting Display Length[s]
Ultra Short US 0.11958333
Very Short VS 0.35875
Short S 1.07625
Medium M 2.1525
Long L 4.305
Very Long VL 8.61
Table 3: S 4539 Interleaver Settings for 3200-9600 bps

The following tables give performance results for the RM6 unit for various data rates. The results were established using an HF Channel Simulator.

An AWGN channel is representative of ground wave propagation while the POOR channel represents skywave conditions. A RICEAN channel has a steady (specular) component and a fading component, thus representing a mixture of the ground and skywave propagation scenarios

STANAG 4539
AWGN Channel (STANAG 4203 Filters included)

Data Rate [bps]

IB

SNR for BER=10-5[dB in 3kHz]

Mandatory Requirement Design Objective RM6 Measured
12800 N/A 28 25.7
9600 VL 22 20 19.5
8000 VL 19 17 16.4
6400 VL 16 14 13.7
4800 VL 14 12 11.2
3200 VL 9 7 6.6
RICEAN Channel (STANAG 4203 Filters included)

Data Rate [bps]

IB

SNR for BER=10-5[dB in 3kHz]

Mandatory Requirement Design Objective RM6 Measured
9600 VL 32 29 24.2
8000 VL 26 23 20.6
6400 VL 22 19 17.0
4800 VL 18 15 14.0
3200 VL 13 9.4
POOR Channel (STANAG 4203 Filters included)

Data Rate [bps]

IB

SNR for BER=10-5[dB in 3kHz]

Mandatory Requirement Design Objective RM6 Measured
9600 VL 32 29 27.6
8000 VL 28 25 23.5
6400 VL 24 20.8
4800 VL 21 18 17.0
3200 VL 15 12.6
Table 4: Performance: STANAG 4539

MIL-STD-188-110B

The MIL-STD-188-110B serial tone waveform comprises of the same family of data rates, coding and interleavers as STANAG 4539. Each setting is fully interoperable with its STANAG 4539 equivalent. In addition, an uncoded data rate of 4800 bps is supported.

For this waveform the RM6 modem supports the DTE modes Standard Async, High-speed and synchronous.

The lower rates include Tone Excision (TEX) (see TEX column table below). Cancellation of up to 4 tones is possible.

Data Rate (bps) Constellation Coding Interleaver Settings TEX Capability
75 Walsh 0.5 Z, S, L YES
150 BPSK 0.5 Z, S, L YES
300 BPSK 0.5 Z, S, L YES
600 BPSK 0.5 Z, S, L YES
1200 QPSK 0.5 Z, S, L YES
2400 DATA 8-PSK 0.5 Z, S, L YES
2400 VOICE 8-PSK 0.5 US, VS, S, M, L, VL YES
3200 QPSK None None NO
4800 8-PSK 0.75 US, VS, S, M, L, VL YES
4800 8-PSK 0.75 US, VS, S, M, L, VL NO
6400 16-QAM 0.75 US, VS, S, M, L, VL NO
8000 32-QAM 0.75 US, VS, S, M, L, VL NO
9600 64-QAM 0.75 US, VS, S, M, L, VL NO
12800 64-QAM 0.75 None NO
Table 5: MS 110B Waveform Suite

The MIL-STD-188-110B is functionally the same as STANAG 4539. The Performance specification differs insofar as:

  • The performance requirements for a Ricean channel are omitted.
  • Design objectives are omitted
  • The STANAG 4203 filters are omitted from the HFCS for this test.

The following table gives performance results for the RM6 unit (established using HF Channel Simulator).

MS 110B
AWGN Channel (STANAG 4203 Filters excluded)
Data Rate [bps] IB SNR for BER=10-5[dB in 3kHz]
Mandatory Requirement Design Objective RM6 Measured
12800 N/A 28 25.3
9600 VL 22 19.0
8000 VL 19 16.9
6400 VL 16 13.8
4800 VL 14 11.1
3200 VL 9 6.6
POOR Channel (STANAG 4203 Filters excluded)
Data Rate [bps] IB SNR for BER=10-5[dB in 3kHz]
Mandatory Requirement Design Objective RM6 Measured
9600 VL 32 26.4
8000 VL 28 23.6
6400 VL 24 20.5
4800 VL 21 16.9
3200 VL 15 12.4
Table 6: Performance: MS 110B

STANAG 4285

The STANAG 4285 waveform does not have embedded AUTOBAUD fields. Thus the transmitter and receiver need to be set up to the desired data rate and interleaver at both ends of the link. The setting used in one direction of the link by no means need to be the same as in the reverse direction.

For this waveform the RM6 modem supports the DTE modes Standard Async, High-speed and synchronous.

The STANAG 4285 waveform includes TEX capability. Cancellation of up to 4 tones is possible. Table 7 and Table 8 below summarise the waveform OTA settings.

Data Rate (bps) Constellation Coding Interleaver Settings TEX Capability
75 BPSK 0.0625 S, L YES
150 BPSK 0.125 S, L YES
300 BPSK 0.25 S, L YES
600 BPSK 0.5 S, L YES
1200 QPSK 0.5 S, L YES
2400 8-PSK 0.667 S, L YES
1200 BPSK None None YES
2400 QPSK None None YES
3600 8-PSK None None YES
Setting Display Length[s]
Short S 0.8533333333
Long L 10.240
Table 8: S 4285 Interleaver Settings

The following table gives performance results for the RM6 unit (established using HF Channel Simulator).

The STANAG 4285 standard does not specify any performance requirements. The requirements and measurement conditions given below are based on MS 110A. Please note that the SNR is measured in 3 kHz to alleviate comparisons.

STANAG 4285
STANAG 4203 Filters excluded. Test based on MIL-STD-188-110A requirements

Data Rate [bps]

IB

HF Channel Conditions

Design Objective

RM6 SNR
Measured
[dB]

Doppler
Spread [Hz]

Amplitude
Path 2 [dB]

Multi-Path
Spread [ms]

BER

SNR
[dB]

3600 0 Off < 10-3 17 14.2
3600 0.5 0 2 < 10-3 27 21.4
2400 L 0 Off < 10-5 10 9.8
2400 L 1 0 2 < 10-5 18 14.9
2400 L 5 0 2 < 10-3 30 13.3
2400 L 1 0 5 < 10-5 30 14.8
1200 L 1 0 2 < 10-5 11 7.9
600 L 1 0 2 < 10-5 7 4.5
300 L 5 0 5 < 10-5 7 0.5
150 L 5 0 5 < 10-5 5 -2.2
75 L 5 0 5 < 10-5 2 -4.8
Table 9: Performance: STANAG 4285 (STANAG 4203 filters excluded

STANAG 4529

This waveform is suitable for shore-to-ship use in 1240 Hz channels.

The narrower occupied bandwidth is achieved by using a symbol rate of 1200 symbols per second. The transmitter and receiver need to be set up to the desired data rate and interleaver at both ends of the link.

For this waveform the RM6 modem supports the DTE modes Standard Async, High-speed and synchronous.

The STANAG 4529 waveform includes TEX capability. Cancellation of up to 4 tones is possible. Table 10 and Table 11 below summarise the waveform OTA settings.

Data Rate
(bps)
Constellation Coding Interleaver Settings TEX Capability
75 BPSK 0.125 S, L YES
150 BPSK 0.25 S, L YES
300 BPSK 0.5 S, L YES
600 QPSK 0.5 S, L YES
1200 8-PSK 0.667 S, L YES
600 BPSK None None YES
1200 QPSK None None YES
1800 8-PSK None None YES
Table 10: S 4529 Waveform Suite
Setting Display Length[s]
Short S 1.7066666666
Long L 20.280
Table 11: S 4529 Interleaver Settings

The following table gives performance results for the RM6 unit (established using HF Channel Simulator).

The STANAG 4529 standard does not specify any performance requirements. The requirements and measurement conditions given below are based on MS 110A. Please note that the SNR is measured in 3 kHz to alleviate comparisons.

STANAG 4529
STANAG 4203 Filters excluded. Test based on MIL-STD-188-110A requirements SNR units: [dB] in 3kHz

Data Rate [bps]

IB

HF Channel Conditions

Design Objective

RM6 SNR
Measured
[dB]

Test
Result

Doppler
Spread [Hz]

Amplitude
Path 2 [dB]

Multi-Path
Spread [ms]

BER

SNR
[dB]

1800 0 Off < 10-3 17 12.0 OK
1800 0.5 0 2 < 10-3 27 25.8 OK
1200 L 0 Off < 10-5 10 7.8 OK
1200 L 1 0 2 < 10-5 18 14.6 OK
1200 L 5 0 2 < 10-3 30 21.9 OK
2400 L 1 0 5 < 10-5 30 13.1 OK
1200 L 1 0 2 < 10-5 11 6.5 OK
300 L 1 0 2 < 10-5 7 1.8 OK
150 L 5 0 5 < 10-5 7 1.8 OK
75 L 5 0 5 < 10-5 5 -5.1 OK
Table 12: Performance: STANAG 4529 (STANAG 4203 filters excluded)

STANAG 4415

The STANAG 4415 is also known as the very robust 75 bps HF data waveform. It will operate effectively almost 11 dB below the noise floor in a noise dominated environment.

For this waveform the RM6 modem supports the DTE modes Standard Async, High-speed and synchronous. The STANAG 4415 waveform includes TEX capability. This waveform is also included as the 75 bps rate of STANAG 4539, MIL-STD-188-110B and MIL-STD-188-110A.

The waveform supports the interleaver sizes given in Table 2.

The following tables give performance results for the RM6 unit (HF Channel Simulator).

STANAG 4415 / MIL-STD-188-110B, 75 bps (NATO Robust)
STANAG 4203 Filters excluded

Data Rate [bps]

IB

HF Channel Conditions

Design Objective

RM6 SNR
Measured
[dB]

Doppler
Spread [Hz]

Amplitude
Path 2 [dB]

Multi-Path
Spread [ms]

BER

SNR
[dB]

75 L 0.5 0 10 < 10-4 0 -2.0
75 L 1 0 10 < 10-4 -1 -4.0
75 L 1 0 10 < 10-4 -1 -4.0
75 L 2 0 10 < 10-4 -1 -5.5
75 L 10 0 10 < 10-4 -1 -4.2
75 L 20 0 10 < 10-4 -1 -4.6
75 L 30 0 10 < 10-4 -1 -4.9
75 L 40 0 10 < 10-4 -0.5 -3.1
75 L 0 N/A N/A < 10-3 -9 -11.6
75 L 1 0 2 < 10-3 -9 -5.8
75 L 0.5 0 5 < 10-3 -9 -4.6
75 L 5 0 5 < 10-3 -9 -6.6
STANAG 4415 / MIL-STD-188-110B, 75 bps (NATO Robust)

Data Rate [bps]

IB

STANAG 4415 Mandatory
Interference Conditions

Design Objective

RM6 SNR
Measured
[dB]

BER

SNR
[dB]

75 L Self interference (S 4415 waveform with independent data sequence) < 10-4 -6 -9.3
75 L Swept CW, 0 – 3000 150 Hz/s < 10-4 -40 -59.7
75 L NATO standard voice test tape < 10-4 -25 Not tested
75 L FSK, 75 bps, Mark: 1575 Hz, Space: 2425 Hz < 10-4 -40 -51.2
Table 14: Performance: STANAG 4415 / MIL-STD-188-110B, 75 bps (NATO Robust)

MIL-STD-188-110A

This waveform provides a family of rates from 75 bps to 2400 bps with convolution coding and 4800 bps in an uncoded form. For this waveform the RM6 modem supports the DTE modes Standard Async, High-speed and synchronous.

The MIL-STD-188-110A waveform suite includes TEX capability whereby suppression of up to 4 interfering tones is possible.

Table 15 summarises the waveform OTA settings.

Data Rate
(bps)
Constellation Constellation Interleaver
Settings
TEX
Capability
75 Walsh 0.5 Z, S, L YES
150 BPSK 0.125 Z, S, L YES
300 BPSK 0.25 Z, S, L YES
600 BPSK 0.5 Z, S, L YES
1200 QPSK 0.5 Z, S, L YES
2400 DATA 8-PSK 0.5 Z, S, L YES
2400 VOICE 8-PSK 0.5 Z, S, L YES
4800 8-PSK None None YES
Table 15: MS 110A Waveform Suite

The waveform supports the interleaver sizes given in Table 2.

The following table gives performance results for the RM6 unit (HF Channel Simulator).

MIL-STD-188-110A (Serial mode)
STANAG 4203 Filters excluded

Data Rate [bps]

IB

110A Mandatory
HF Channel Conditions

Design Objective

RM6 SNR
Measured
[dB]

BER

SNR
[dB]

Doppler
Spread [Hz]
Amplitude
Path 2 [dB]
Multi-Path
Spread [ms]
4800 0 Off < 10-3 17 14.4
4800 0.5 0 2 < 10-3 27 23.3
2400 L 0 Off < 10-5 10 8.7
2400 L 1 0 2 < 10-5 18 14.5
2400 L 5 0 2 < 10-3 30 11.1
2400 L 1 0 5 < 10-5 30 13.8
1200 L 1 0 2 < 10-5 11 9.5
600 L 1 0 2 < 10-5 7 5.9
300 L 5 0 5 < 10-5 7 0.1
150 L 5 0 5 < 10-5 5 -2.9
75 L 5 0 5 < 10-5 2 -4.6
Table 16: Performance: MIL-STD-188-110A (Serial mode)

MIL-STD-188-110B Appendix F (ISB operation)

The rates specified in MIL-STD-188-110B Appendix F are for ISB operation and require an ISB capable radio. These rates of this waveform family include 9600, 12800, 16000 and 19200 bps (all coded). This waveform is suitable for very high data rate traffic under ground-wave or benign HF propagation conditions.

For this waveform the RM6 modem supports the DTE modes Standard Async, High-speed and synchronous.

Table 17 represents the data rates for MIL-STD-188-110B Appendix F.

Data Rate
(bps)
Constellation Constellation Interleaver
Settings
TEX
Capability
9600 8-PSK 0.75 US, VS, S, M, L, VL NO
12800 16-QAM 0.75 US, VS, S, M, L, VL NO
16000 32-QAM 0.75 US, VS, S, M, L, VL NO
19200 64-QAM 0.75 US, VS, S, M, L, VL NO
Table 17: MS 110B-F Waveform Suite

The following table gives performance results for the RM6 unit (established using HF Channel Simulator).

The MS 110B App. F standard does not specify any performance requirements. The requirements and measurement conditions given below are bases on STANAG 4539.

MIL-STD-188-110B App. F (ISB)
RICEAN Channel (STANAG 4203 Filters included)
Dual channel (ISB) HF Channel Simulator:
LSB & USB HF Channel distortion is coupled
LSB & USB noise in independent

Data Rate [bps]

IB

SNR for BER = 10-5 [dB in 3 kHz]

Mandatory
Requirement

Design Objective
[dB]

RM6 Measured

19200 VL 32 29 25.8
16000 VL 26 23 21.0
12800 VL 22 19 17.8
9600 VL 18 15 14.4

POOR Channel (STANAG 4203 Filters included)

19200 VL 32 29 28.5
16000 VL 28 25 24.0
12800 VL 24 20.9
9600 VL 21 18 17.6
Table 18: Performance: MIL-STD-188-110B App. F (ISB)