Smart radio will be ground-breaking for military communications

BMT (RIP) · 02-11-2010, 20:11

http://www.smartplanet.com/people/bl...ications/1956/

BMT

Ret10Echo · 02-11-2010, 20:21

Quote:

Plus, no more time wasted fiddling with knobs, trying to tune to a certain radio channel

I may be a little old school...but I LIKE having knobs to fiddle with. Because when the OD green box decides to go terminal stupid I have something to work with.

Quote:

the smart radio would use a computer program to determine how signals are set and received, tuning and calibrating itself. It would adjust to receive wireless signals and TV broadcasts, act as a GPS device and access ham radio and walkie-talkie frequencies.

Where are my Hammies?

I did check out a demo recently that utlized a smart radio technology over multiple modes. Based upon SNR, type of information to be transmitted and available routes/modes the system would determine most efficient path. Additionally there was a handoff when the SNR reached an unacceptable level in order to maintain the link. It was pretty sweet....and it had knobs.

R10

mojaveman · 02-11-2010, 20:54

Interesting.

Imagine that those soldiers in that picture could do so much with so little.

I was in a country in North Africa onetime and was fortunate enough to have been able to work with JCSE. They set up a communications control network like the one described in the story but in the two months that we were there they never got it to work 100%. Their equipment also took up half of a good sized room and required a large generator to power.

Technology sure has come a long way.

Dozer523 · 02-11-2010, 21:00

During the set up for the Iran Desert One Raid there was a heated discussion at the C&C regarding what deserved refrigeration more, blood or radios. Blood won.
Personally, I miss PRC 77's and CEOI's. At least I could always find someone to talk too and authenticating was easy.

Richard · 02-11-2010, 21:03

So now who cranks the generator?

Richard

2018commo · 02-12-2010, 04:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

So now who cranks the generator?

Richard

,

Bring back the Lieutenants, they can carry the ropes too!

albeham · 02-12-2010, 08:58

Ant that nice..

I too like knobs, SDR systems are nice, but there is a lot of other things that can go bad real quick.

Too much to tell, but I have seen a SDR system, and what I've seen is all they did was move the smarts from the human to the radio.

Frequency selection will be done by a set of rules that are setup by other rules, but the question is always going back to who makes the rules, what country, and what level of priority does one get to over ride others in a SDR system? ( I know I am using SDR a lot, for that's what it is)

Systems are low power with the ability to select other spectrum to allow it to work, with out the op knowing it is taking place, but them again who's systems will it work on ?

This is a nice , but allowing an operator to kick in a "Special Channel" to talk to get that needed help when needed has always been my need. And I am not a needy guy, at times yes, like when the system fails do to EMI /RFI, and the rules are not set right for that radio to work. What then?

Like a lot of you, being in Spectrum management, EMI resolution, this dose not set well with this Ham.

A analog system has always worked, even when the Signal to noise ratio is bad for a digital systems to work. Now a digital works great when you need eyes on target to make sure it is the right target, you have it or you don't.

But like looking for that one tree in the forest, a analog system will allow me to hear that special tree, even when the trees have a lot of noise..

A lot out of the box, but that's how AL C's it..

BT AR

02-12-2010, 09:10

My greatest success has been when I had the luxury or "dialing in" the Freq. It's the micro adjustments that make for excellent 5/5.

Never trusted pushsets, or presets. Give me low Freqs, and long wires.

WD

albeham · 02-12-2010, 09:16

WETDOG,

I support you in that!!

There is something to say about getting it just right.

Ant CW a digital signal ?

02-12-2010, 09:43

Now if I can just get BullGuard v9.0 to fire-up.

brown77 · 02-12-2010, 15:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ret10Echo

I LIKE having knobs to fiddle with

Quote:

Originally Posted by albeham

I too like knobs

Chaps, forgive me if I'm out of place here, but a friendly word of advice... if you ever get into this topic with your British counterparts, a re-phrase would be strongly recommended!!!

Dozer523 · 02-12-2010, 15:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by brown77

Chaps, forgive me if I'm out of place here, but a friendly word of advice... if you ever get into this topic with your British counterparts, a re-phrase would be strongly recommended!!!

And it's a Battle HAND-OVER not a Battle HAND-OFF

Ret10Echo · 02-12-2010, 16:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by brown77

Chaps, forgive me if I'm out of place here, but a friendly word of advice... if you ever get into this topic with your British counterparts, a re-phrase would be strongly recommended!!!

Well we will keep the flashlight in the trunk and the engine under the hood...keeping track of knobs and willies all the while...

Mind the gap