Basic Communications Instruction.

[lrd]

I need a radio communications technology primer.

Any suggestions?

[Huey14]

Press the big button to talk.

[lrd]

Originally Posted by Huey14

Press the big button to talk.

Are you sure it's not the little button?

[Roguish Lawyer]

Originally Posted by lrd

I need a radio communications technology primer.

Any suggestions?

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...-72/index.html

[lrd]

Originally Posted by Roguish Lawyer

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...-72/index.html

Thank you, RL. That will get me started.

[CommoGeek]

lrd,
Along the above lines:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...olicy/army/fm/

Got to Edit -> Find (or hit CTRL+F) and enter either "communications", "signal", or "radio". Some of those manuals are older but they may give you some background.

Are you looking for anything specific or just trying to get started?

[lrd]

Originally Posted by lrd

Thank you, RL. That will get me started.

After checking this out, I think I need something more basic.

The last time I studied radio waves was in 1978. I need something that will teach me about radio waves, modulation, and antennas...

I need to know how radios work on a very basic level before I begin putting the systems together.

[lrd]

Originally Posted by CommoGeek

lrd,
Along the above lines:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...olicy/army/fm/

Got to Edit -> Find (or hit CTRL+F) and enter either "communications", "signal", or "radio". Some of those manuals are older but they may give you some background.

Are you looking for anything specific or just trying to get started?

Just trying to get started. I need to understand how the systems I'm supporting work.

[CommoGeek]

Without knowing what precise systems you are supporting, this may help:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...-19/Ch3.htm#s5
Section V above shows how HF antennas are "built".
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...-43/index.html
Was required reading for me as a 2LT. It doesn't cover all of the specifics of SOF commo but covers how Big Army makes commo.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...-32/index.html
Will have info on SINCGARS, the concepts which are similar to some SOF systems (Freq. Hopping)
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...-74/index.html covers ALE and HF radios. We used that recently.

I'm leaving on R and R in the next few days. I can give you my .mil account if you don't have it. For SOF commo I'd hit up SWCS at Bragg and ask to speak to someone from the Special Operations Communications Systems Operators Course (SOCSOC) or the 18E instructors 18E committee. Interoperability is a plus and much of the SOF commo gear is the same from one branch to the other.

Harris Communications makes good commo gear, http://www.harris.com/. If you go there you may get some terms you can google for info on. You can also browse, http://www.viasat.com/ for some info.

Did that help or just muddy the picture?

[lrd]

Originally Posted by CommoGeek

Without knowing what precise systems you are supporting, this may help:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...-19/Ch3.htm#s5
Section V above shows how HF antennas are "built".
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...-43/index.html
Was required reading for me as a 2LT. It doesn't cover all of the specifics of SOF commo but covers how Big Army makes commo.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...-32/index.html
Will have info on SINCGARS, the concepts which are similar to some SOF systems (Freq. Hopping)
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...-74/index.html covers ALE and HF radios. We used that recently.

I'm leaving on R and R in the next few days. I can give you my .mil account if you don't have it. For SOF commo I'd hit up SWCS at Bragg and ask to speak to someone from the Special Operations Communications Systems Operators Course (SOCSOC) or the 18E instructors 18E committee. Interoperability is a plus and much of the SOF commo gear is the same from one branch to the other.

Harris Communications makes good commo gear, http://www.harris.com/. If you go there you may get some terms you can google for info on. You can also browse, http://www.viasat.com/ for some info.

Did that help or just muddy the picture?

Sometime it has to get muddy before it gets clear. (wow. Wasn't that profound. lol)

I was looking at the list of Army Field Manuals, trying to figure out where to start. Thanks for the suggestions. I have your .mil, and will hit you up with questions after your R&R. Have fun.

[CommoGeek]

Originally Posted by lrd

Sometime it has to get muddy before it gets clear. (wow. Wasn't that profound. lol)

I was looking at the list of Army Field Manuals, trying to figure out where to start. Thanks for the suggestions. I have your .mil, and will hit you up with questions after your R&R. Have fun.

I'll let you know when I'm back.... if this damn snow ever clears.

[Team Sergeant]

Originally Posted by lrd

Just trying to get started. I need to understand how the systems I'm supporting work.

No problem, we talking AM, or FM, ELF, VLF, HF, VHF, UHF, SHF, Microwave, Satellite Comms, wireless phones, hand held radios, encrypted, freq hopping, or freq jammers?

Let me know

TS
(you may want to start here before you decide to engage an 18E in a communications conversation. )

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/radio.htm

[lrd]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

No problem, we talking AM, or FM, ELF, VLF, HF, VHF, UHF, SHF, Microwave, Satellite Comms, wireless phones, hand held radios, encrypted, freq hopping, or freq jammers?

Yes.

(you may want to start here before you decide to engage an 18E in a communications conversation. )

I figure by the time you all finish "educating" me the engineers at work won't have a chance.

(Thanks for the link.)

[lrd]

Question:

Amplitude Modulation - Both AM radio stations and the picture part of a TV signal use amplitude modulation to encode information. In amplitude modulation, the amplitude of the sine wave (its peak-to-peak voltage) changes. So, for example, the sine wave produced by a person's voice is overlaid onto the transmitter's sine wave to vary its amplitude.

Is this like a leaf floating on a wave in the water? How is the voice "overlaid" onto the sine wave?
----
I figured it out.

[lrd]

If anyone else out there is studying this, check out this site:

http://www.williamson-labs.com/480_mod.htm

Be sure to click on the various "Links to Some Examples of Types of Modulation."