29 October 2017

Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIOs) in Med'sea, a joint exercise?


The heard communications concern a Maritime Interdiction Operation (MIO) in Mediterranean sea and involve 2 vessels and one ashore station which acts as the net-control station by coordinating all the activities. It is not clear if  the heard activity is part of a routine patrol or rather a naval joint exercise. The ALE IDs used in communications (ie "CMOC", that could stands for Combined Maritime Operation Center), some terms in the messages (such as PUBEX, EVOLEX) and the "special" email domain name (here not reported for confidentiality) make me think to a MIO joint exercise. By the way, I did not find any related news in some specialized websites neither in press-agency sites.
The activity was heard on 7 and 8 MHz bands, expecially on 27 October. Communications  make use of 188-141 2G ALE for link setup while the messages are sent using a battle force email system based on STANAG-5066 HBFTP protocol. STANAG-4539/MS-110A are used as bearer HF waveforms, mostly QAM-64 9600bps and PSK-8 1200bps modulations (Figs 1,2). The STANAG-5066 addresses of the network nodes belong to the dummy block 10.000.000.zzz  which is not assigned to a country.
The language used for working out operational documents and for communications is English and French, this could be another hint in favour of a joint exercise.

Fig. 1 - STANAG-4539 transfer using QAM-64
Fig. 2 - STANAG-5066 stream
In addition to text or routine messages such as request to compress photos ("compresser la photo svp"), link informations ("liaison XXX to YYY par HF est nulle") or some ehortations ("veilles respecter le battle rythme et nous transmettre la situation RMP TN/DZ et vos position 12h00"), I saw some operational messages that are worth seeing. Although it could be a joint exercise, I avoid to go into details and some parts of these messages, as well as callsigns, are obscured or omitted for reasons of confidentiality of sensitive information. 

The firts two messages are related to the operation (tactical instructions?) and to the use of the MIO Board.

Fig. 3
Fig. 4
In Fig.5,  looks like they send informal ACP-like messages using email: note the from CMOC (Combined Maritime Operations Center?) to OTC (Operational Training Center?) header

Fig. 5
The operation was successull since the report on the interception of a boat of narcotrafficants (Fig. 6). Drug smugglers have thrown the material off at sea but it has been recovered by the navy sailors. Note how such reports are rigidly formatted in sections (termed "alfa", "bravo", "charlie") and sub-sections.

Fig. 6
Note also that in some messages, likely the more important ones, they make use of return receipts, as indicated by the MDN (Message Disposition Notification) tags in the email shown in Fig. 7 (turnaround time of 31 secs.). I saw MDNs in both English and French language.

Fig. 7
Many joint exercises (Phoenix Express, Morjane, Osis, MEDEX,...) take place every year in Souther Med'sea, so what I heard could be an ad-hoc scenario just established for this exercise.

update: 31 October 2017

...as expected:
http://en.aps.dz/algeria/20899-naval-force... 


23 October 2017

Japanese Navy "Slot Machine" w/ traffic forwards


Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force ashore transmission from Ichihara, also known as "Japanese Slot Machine" (Enigma Designation XSL), with traffic segments  heard on 8590 KHz. Modulation used is QPSK 1500Bd (Fig. 1). The data frame structure consists of 140 symbols (28K+112U) with a 700-symbol super-frame (Figs. 2,3).
Streaming from remote SDR HL5NTR in South Korea, kindly sent me by ANgazu.
 
Fig. 1 - used modulation and ACF value

Fig. 2 - 140 symbols (28K+112U) frame structure


Fig. 3 - 700 symbols super-frame (5 frames length)



https://yadi.sk/d/67HAXeAK3NzqJn




21 October 2017

strong 4+4 π/4 DQPSK 75Bd Chinese modem


Strong copy of the 4+4 DQPSK 75Bd Chinese modem on 17149.7 KHz/USB at 0915, 1128 and 1129 UTC.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Note the different periods in preamble, 36-bit length, and data segments, 12-bit length: most likely a 6-bit structure signal with 1 stop bit (Fig. 6)

Fig. 4 - 36-bit period in the preamble segments
Fig. 5 - 12-bit period in the data segments
Fig. 6 - 6-bit signal

The same signal was also heard few hours later (around 1130z) at -91dB and no QSB: too good conditions for a signal coming from China:


By the way, the Algerian Navy recently acquired three C28A Corvettes built in China [1] by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, this could explain the strength of the signal.

[1]http://www.defenceweb.co.za/...Sea&Itemid=106 

20 October 2017

BPSK 4800,9600,19200Bd 6,12,24 KHz (Marine Band)

Other WideBand burst waveforms spotted in HF Marine band: speed 4800, 9600 and 19200 Baud, bandwidth  6, 12 and 24 KHz.

Fig. 1 - 16625.0 KHz/USB
Fig. 2 - 16657.0 KHz/USB
Still uncertain whether these transmissions concern the over-the-air tests of KNL Networks CNHF (Cognitive Networked HF) system, as they illustrated in their presentation slide of this system (Fig. 3), or perhaps a real-world testbed/implementation.

https://yadi.sk/i/7bcD0sWZHqF6sw
 Some info about CNHF system can be read in their website.



19 October 2017

Radio Teleswitch, an example of AM Signalling System (AMSS)
(by ANgazu)

BBC Radio-4 (LF 198 Khz) is a radio station that broadcasts a great variety of programs. At first glance, it looks like any other AM commercial emitter, but there is a feature that makes it different: its carrier is PSK modulated, transmiting  data to switch electric meters and consumer appliances to take advantage of best electric tariffs [1].
This sample was recorded using TWENTE sdr in USB mode so to preserve the carrier, its spectrogram is as any standard AM broadcast (Fig. 1) and it's occupation is about 12 Khz as most AM comercial stations.

Fig. 1
When zooming on carrier (Fig. 2), there is a  signal using about 50 Hz BW on each side of the carrier and once filtered, the modulation speed is 50 symbols/sec (Fig.3).

Fig. 2
Fig. 3
In this case, carrier is the AM carrier so we  can go to  the signal constelation that shows that the carrier phase is shifted  ±  22.5º (Fig. 4). This small shift is suitable  for retrieving data and is small enough to avoid interferences with the intended AM signal.

Fig. 4
To  demodulate this signal, you have to filter out the carrier and proceed as in any BPSK signal. ACF is about 2 seconds, this means that there are 30 frames within each second and everyone carries 100 bits. Signal is "manchester" coded so we will have 50 bits of information per frame (Fig. 5). The signal is idling most of the time (01010101…) 

Fig. 5

[1]

14 October 2017

BPSK & QPSK 2400Bd, QPSK 1500Bd, ARQ system (Maritime Band)


Robust ISB SDR ARQ system heard on 6231.5 KHz/USB (Maritime Mobile band) 2800Hz offset from carrier, around 0630z on 12 October and in which the two channels are used as follows:

- on USB upper channel: user data transfer using adaptive 2400 Baud PSK-2 and QPSK burst waveform, according to the channel conditions and the feasible data-rate. Initial bursts use PSK-2 modulation at 2400 Baud;  
- on LSB lower channel: link and traffic management (ACKs and mode used for data transfer) using 1500 Baud PSK-2/QPSK waveform; 

is not clear if the change of the mode used for data transfer is signaled in the management channel by the caller or it is requested by the called station.

Fig. 1 - user data transfer waveform (upper channel)
Fig. 2 - link and traffic management waveform (lower channel)

At least in this sample, data bursts last 2088 msec for PSK-2 and 3144 msec for QPSK, the initial bursts have a duration of 520msec; link and traffic management bursts last 310 msec. PSK-2 and QPSK data bursts exhibit strong ACF spikes every 523 msec which suggest a 1256 symbols frame structure (Fig. 3); initial data bursts have ACF = 0, probably Walsh modulation is used (Fig. 4).

Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Together with IK1YDE we studied the bitstreams after PSK-2 and QPSK demodulations and found a frame structure similar to those provided by the recent MS-110 Appendix C for the waveforms ID 5 and 6 (Fig.5). Indeed both PSK-2 and QPsK frames consist of 288 symbols (Fig. 6): 32 knwon symbols (mini probes) followed by 256 unknown (data user) symbols. It must be noted anyway that the data rate of the analyzed waveform (in its USB channel) is 2400 Baud and doesn't match the one provided by the waveforms 5 and 6 of MS-110 App.C.
Most likely the 1256-bit ACF is due to the length of the interleaver or the scrambler sequences.

Fig. 5
Fig. 6 - data bits and symbol numbers

A similar system was heard on 5 November 2016: in that case ACK burst were sent after each BPSK data burst (Figs. 7,8)
.
fig.7
fig.8

Talking with KarapuZ about this system, he suggested a SDR equipment rather than a ISB mode (I edited the text of the post accordingly) and proposed to have a look at the KNL Networks website since they are testing a proprietary 3G HF hybrid system (termed CNHF) to support the ship traffic in Artic regions [1]. In that high latitudes satcomm links can't be easily used since geostationary satellites do not cover these areas, moreover due to the long dark periods the low portion of HF shall be used (lack of F layers). Perhaps may catches are related to their tests... but it's only my guess (I emailed them to ask a confirm and maybe shed some ligth on this system).





TADIRAN HF modem running in scrambler mode

Tadiran/ElbitHF modem, probably the HF-6000 model, running in COMSEC mode using FSK 125Bd/300Hz Digital Coded Squelch (DCS) and scrambled voice-comms. Transmission heard on 5885.0 KHz/USB at 0755z with a very poor SNR. The sample marked as "A" is the "autocall" waveform: it precedes the MFSK/scrambler sessions, marked as "B", and terminates the link (Figure 1).
Fig. 1
The FSK segmentes (the DCS part) sent during the scrambled voice-comms have a speed of 125Bd and 300Hz shift, ie same parameters of the F7B (apparently MFSK-4) waveform, and cosists of 84 bit repeated strings:

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

12 October 2017

OFDM modem 12+12 tones 48Bd (Marconi 25-tones)


Probably a simplex transmission heard on 6246.5 KHz/USB. Although the SNR is poor, it's possible to see a central un-modulated tone a + 1500Hz  that splits the signal in two identical parts which I analyzed separately. The results show an OFDM modulation of 12 + 12 tones at a rate of 48 symbols/sec; the on-air constellation seems to be QPSK on each channel.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
 The initial part exhibits an upper un-modulated tone and a short FSK

Fig. 4

 Modem name and users are unknown to me.

Update:
thanks to hf_linkz who pointed me to the correct identification of this modem: it's the "Marconi 25-tones" as depicted here:
http://signals.radioscanner.ru/base/signal125/ 
https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Marconi_Selenia_25-Tone_Modem