a difficult signal

Sometimes it may happens to come across signals for which - unless of know it a priori - it is difficult to correctly define the used modulation;  it's the case of the so-called "semi-modes", where some FSK modulations at certain conditions have the shape of phase manipulation just because such signals possessing both PSK and FSK issues. Such "dualism" is spread enough and concerns tightly connected modulations as (G)MSK and OQPSK as well as CPFSK and SDPSK. A signal sent me by a friend of mine just falls into this category.
Let's get some parameters of the signal such as bandwidth (Bw), baud rate (Br), and shift (Sh): as from Figure 1

Bw = 19000 Hz
Br = 16000 Bd
Sh =  8000 Hz

Fig. 1 - main parameters of the signal

Looking at Figure 2, from "Signals Analyzer - radioscanner.ru" [1], MSK modulation has a bandwidth of about 1.5*Br, GMSK Bw is lesser than this value (in it’s limit is very close to theoretical Br), and SDPSK Bw is more than 1.5*Br. Well, this signal has the value of Sh exactly = Br/2 while Bw is < 1.5*Br: so, judging by these results, it could be a GMSK signal.

Fig. 2 - difference between MSK and GMSK

Another specific feature of the so-called "semi-modes" is the spectrum of their second harmonic: looking at Figure 3, the second harmonic has two very clear and defined lines and the spacing between these lines is equal to Br. As from [1], this is the necessary condition for their identification, but not the sufficient one: indeed, also both SDPSK and OQPSK modes exhibit two spectral lines in the second harmonic. Please note that the carrier in the fourth degree is very weakly expressed, sometimes it is practically invisible at all.

Fig. 3

That said, as shown in Figure 4, some equalization/autocorrelation is necessary to bring out the carrier (a) so that the SA demodulator PLL can lock onto it: this way you have a clearer view of phase plane and constellations. The 4-ary constellation (b) and its transitions pattern (c) rule out the OQPSK mode (and GMSK too) since it should show an 8-ary like constellation but w/out zero-crossing transitions. The relative/differential view (Diff=1) show instead a two-state mode (d,e).
The above considerations suggest SDPSK (Simmetrical Diferential PSK) modulation, just like the one used for Orbcomm series sats [2]. Moreover, note the "Offset mode detected" warning that means a relative phase shift keying, aka offset keying! Indeed SDPSK is equivalent to π/2 DBPSK or PSK2 with phase rotation: ie, as shown by the transitions in absolute mode (c), SDPSK assumes that the phase is rotated by +π/2 for bit “0” and by -π/2 for bit “1” thus there is not a 180° turn.

Fig. 4 - phase plane and constellation of the signal being analyzed

So, while the mathematical relations among Bw/Br/Sh point to a GMSK modulation, phase plane and constellations seem to point to a SDPSK (or even CPFSK) modulation: the relative phase planes and constellations are shown in Figure 5 (the SDPSK and CPFSK signals are synthesized).

Fig. 5 - phase planes and constellations of  (synthesized) SDPSK and CPFSK signals

However, the comparison between the phase detector results shows a behavior more similar to a GMSK signal (Figure 6).

Fig. 6 - phase detector results (CPFSK, SDPSK, our signal)

Since such kinds of signals can be demodulated also as FSK, I tried both the SA universal PSK and  FSK demodulaors: the resulting bitstreams are shown in Figure 8, as you can see they are the same (the 15-bit period is due to the initial preamble).

Fig. 7 - SA universal PSK and MFSK demodulators

Fig. 8 - bistreams after PSK and FSK demodulations

 

To conclude, "There is a lot of information that proves that semi-modes are practically the same from a mathematical point of view but at the receiver side there is no a reliable and easy method to discern the exact type of modulation. However, if the signal has a good quality, there are some clues that can help tip the balance one way or another... even if they could be not the conclusive" my friend AngazU says.

https://disk.yandex.com/d/WwBwL6tD_CTwLw  (.wav signals and bistreams)

[1] http://signals.radioscanner.ru/info/item68/
[2] http://signals.radioscanner.ru/base/signal16/

the so-called "semi-modes"

Below an interesting article by SergUA6 (RIP) from radioscanner.ru about MSK, GMSK, SDPSK, and OQPSK: more info and examples here:
http://signals.radioscanner.ru/info/item68/ 
http://signals.radioscanner.ru/info/item281/ 

The "two-faced" signals, such as MSK and GMSK I name semi-modes, of course, it is not the standard name. It simply was required to allocate somehow this class of signals from the general PSK family, because such signals possessing both PSK signs and FSK signs.

The second harmonic of these semi-modes, has two bright spectral lines, the spacing between these lines is equal to Br, that is one of the signs of these modes.This is the necessary condition of their definition at the analysis, but not the sufficient one. Two lines in the second degree/power can be also given by both SDPSK and OQPSK modes.

SDPSK, generally, does not demand synchronism of transitions in extremums of the carrier, and because of this, it has the bigger width of the spectrum than MSK. This width of the spectrum can be reduced by filtering of the bit-stream before feeding on the modulator, this procedure is usually realizing through RRC filters. SDPSK (PSK-2 with phase rotation) in essence, has same resulting signal as MSK, only with wider spectrum. It can also be demodulated by FSK demodulator, becos of getting under definition of semi-modes.

Modern methods of creation of the various signals do often erase the distinction between various modes, for the reason, that developers are almost always (it strongly simplifies development) aspire to select a multiple relation between the clock frequency of manipulation and the frequency of the carrier.
In this case developer declares and forms, for example,that the modulation is SDPSK, but the resulting signal, in essence, is MSK. Thus, casually or deliberately some confusion is brought into diversity of the various modes and their definitions.

Very often GFSK modulation is specified,in descriptions of the signals, while in actual fact it is typical SDPSK according to all signs. The example is the signal of the Finnish radiosonde.
When we are looking at the circuit of formation of GFSK modulation, it is easy to understand that if the clock frequency and the generator will be synchronized, and the frequency spacing will be choosen as BR/2, then such “GFSK” will easily turn into one of our semi-modes, at defined parameters of Gaussian filter and high stability of generator’s parameters. Seems like developers just don’t think about it or just do not know.
By the way, in one’s time, by this reason, GFSK was mistakenly classified to these semi-modes on one of sites the modulation ACARS VHF has been declared as GFSK.

In analysis it is very desirable to define what type of modulation is used, at least approximately. It is also necessary to be oriented on the width of the spectrum, which is occupied by the signal and on its form. At pure MSK modulation, width of the spectrum is about 1.5*Br, at GMSK spectrum is lesser than this value, and in it’s limit is very close to theoretical Br, at the same time the spectrum of MSK, GMSK is obviously expressed as bell-looking-like shape/form, at SDPSK the spectrum is more then 1.5*Br. The basic sign of semi-modes is two lines in the second degree/power, the basic but not sufficient, it demands certain accuracy and attention. The spectrums form does also require certain accuracy, because often receivers distort it to unrecognizability, especially if the signal is taking off from AF’s output or from discriminator, in this sense it is much more preferable the I/Q record or IF.

Good luck!

unid 2400Bd/1200 MSK signals

 

Unid transmissions heard on 14669.0 KHz and 14693.0 KHz (USB) around 0800-0900 UTC. At first glance the signals may appear to be a PSK-4 modulation, as indicated by the fourth degree harmonics and 4-state constellation (figure 1-a,b) but actually it's the MSK Minimum-Shift Keying transmission mode (..even if it could be considered as a form of QPSK), indeed:

 

- the frequency spacing (1200 Hz) is numerically equal to half the manipulation speed (2400 Bd)
- there is no zero-crossing transitions in the 4-state phase-plane (figure 1-b)
- there is a long state staying in one frequency: if should it be PSK, the state should come back to carrier and stay there till a new phase change (figure 1-c)

Fig. 1 - a: speed and harmonics, b: constelation, c: phase-detector

The signal can be easily demodulated in SA using the MFSK level 2 demodulator, although it could be also demodulated as a differential mode by sampling data only from the code positions of the phases 90 and -90 degrees: the resulting bitstreams are the same (figure 2).

Fig. 2 - demodulation methods: MFSK-2 and PSK-2s

The signal has a 100 msec ACF that corresponds to a 240-bit length period of the demodulated bitstream (figure 3): each fame consists of the 47-bit length sequence
11100000101010111110000010101011111000001010101
which is probably used for synch, followed by 193-bit length data block. The synch pattern does not seem generated by an LFSR.

Fig. 3 - ACF and frames

 

The short duration of the transfers (<30 sec) did not allow me Direction Finding attempts, however it is possible to hypothesize a Chinese "source" given the remote KiwiSDR receivers which I used [1][2].

https://disk.yandex.com/d/m9vHldGREa0mxQ  (wav)
https://disk.yandex.com/d/jFVhT7cf-086kQ  (bin)

[1] https://khv.swl.su/  Khabarovsk, Russia
[2] https://nsk.swl.su/  Novosibirsk, Russia

Swedish Navy submarine MSK multi-channel broadcast

(For background it might be helpful to read the relevant entries here)

Swedish Royal Navy (Swedish: Svenska marinen [1]) uses a broadcast function of STANAG-5030 (1) for communication with its subs in the Baltic Sea, the return channel is believed to be low-end HF. These LF broadcasts use the 200Bd/100 MSK waveform and can be heard on 40.4, 42.5, and 44.2 KHz (CF) by using  KiwiSDR receivers located in the island of Gotland which have a good SNR. [2].

All the three signals have the classic set of parameters for (G)MSK: a spectrum equal to 1.5*Br (300Hz), shift equal to Br/2 (100Hz), a characteristic bell-shaped appearance (Figure 1), and others such as 4-point constellation, transitions and real trajectories (Figure 2). Please note that the carrier in the fourth degree is very weakly expressed, sometimes it is practically invisible at all.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Using 200Bd MSK (a form of QPSK) it is possible to transmit two 100 Baud channels X and Y, each on a pair of phase, and each channel can consists of 2x50 Baud multiplexed channels. Thus, MSK can provide a TDM multi-channel broadcast of  up to 4x50 Baud X1 X2 Y1 Y2 channels within the 200Hz assigned band (MSK4).  Some aspects about the similarities bewteen QPSK and MSK are covered in radioscanner forum [3].

In conditions where no messages are available for transmission, the four channels are arranegd with two "empty channel filler" (ECF) patterns, probably generated automatically at the transmitter equipment:

- two channels share the same 15-bit pattern;
- a third channel uses a different 5-bit pattern;
- the fourth channel uses the same 5-bit pattern where one column is repalced by the bits of the pseuso-random sequence generated by the polynomial x^31+x^3+1.
An example of this "idle" mode is shown in Figure 4: here the m-sequence is sent in the Y2 channel (notice the same pattern sent in X1 X2 channels ).

Fig. 3

A more generalized scheme highlighting the position of the m-sequence channel in four different recordings is shown in Figure 4.

Fig. 4

 In case of messages, the four channels use a 5-bit format with different framings:  

- two channels share the same 5-bit framing, i.e 1-bit marker (pos/neg according the polarity) + 4-bit data:

- a third channel uses an unid (to me) framing;

- the fourth channel uses the same 5-bit framing of the first two channels but the marker column is replaced by the bits of the pseuso-random sequence generated by the polynomial x^31+x^3+1.
Figures 5a,5b show such arrangement.

Fig. 5a

Fig. 5b

Due to their strategic and tactical importance, subcomms require secure cryptographic protocols and this could explain the presence of the x^31+x^3+1 pseudo-ramdom sequence which is used to sync the receive KW-46/KIV-7 ciphers (other than to permit channel identification), although an encrypted 4-bit stream is rather unusual as well as the use of the 1+4 bits frames. 

In this regard, one might even think that the actual secured messages channel is Y before the TDM split (Figure 6), while the other channels X1 X2 transport not critical 4-bit coded data (WX forecast, sea conditions, ...). This way, messages could use 10-bit START-STOP code which is then encrypted using the KW-46/KIV-7 equipment. Encryption results in bits 2 to 10 being encrypted and bit 1 (START) being replaced with unencrypted bit defined by the polynomial x^31+x^3+1, or in reverse order - bits 1 to 9 encrypted and bit 10 (STOP) replaced (2). A second hypothesis - perhaps the most likely - is that each channel is encrypted with a specific cipher ...but these are just my speculations.

Fig. 6 (m-sequence columns are highlighted)

The results of TD0A geolocation indicate three probable transmitter sites that match fairly exactly with those indicated in a map presented by FMV (the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration) [4] at the March 2020 HFIA HF Industry Association [5] Meeting in San Diego, CA (Figure 7):

- 40.4 KHz: SAS/SRC Varberg
- 42.5 KHz: SAS2 Gudinge
- 44.2 KHz: SHR Ruda

Fig. 7

It must be taken into account that I can't record the (KiwiSDR) LF spectrum 24/7 so the results indicated above may be incomplete: further recordings are needed and possibly an update post will be published later. Hints and comments are welcome.

https://yadi.sk/d/RlVneazxS8HT4w idle

https://yadi.sk/d/hDRK-867rvKaqg traffic

(1) STANAG-5030 is a restricted document so no information is publicy available. Moreover, the new STANAG-4724 "VLF/LF MSK Multi Channel Broadcast" is currently being ratified by NATO member states as next evolution:

https://nso.nato.int/nso/nsdd/ListPromulg.html 

(2) max success for x^31+x^3+1 in Y stream was found for a length frame of 10 bit; that same frame does not have parity bits (x^31+x^3+1 column excluded from the checksum)

[1] https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/../marinen/

[2] http://kiwisdr.thulesius.se:8073/ ,  http://158.174.17.55:8073/

[3] http://signals.radioscanner.ru/info/item281/

[4] https://www.fmv.se/english/

[5] https://www.hfindustry.com/

KG-STV MSK 1200Bd/600 (via Qatar-OSCAR 100)

KG-STV is a digital SSTV system developed by JJ0OBZ (K.G. from Japan). Unlike the analog SSTV, which scans the image line by line, KG scans the image in blocks of 16x16 pixels, i.e. 15 scan lines each conisting of 20 blocks of 16x16 pixels, that during transmission are compressed and digitally encoded one by one.The image has also one of the formats used in SSTV, which is 320 by 240 pixels. The 300 blocks of the image are transmitted fropm left to right and from top to bottom. The reception can be made at any time during transmission as in analog SSTV [1].

KG-STV is also the nome of the experimental program coded by JJ0OBZ to transfer digital images and short text-based messages [2].

Fig. 1

The program allows to use one of two types of digital modulation: MSK and 4LFSK. In MSK, KSG forward to 1200 Baud (equivalent in this case of MSK, 1200 bps) and the frequency of marks and spaces are 1800 and 1200 Hz respectively (4LFSK: '00 '1200Hz, '01' 1400Hz, '10' 1600Hz, '11' 1800Hz).

The 4LFSK is a version of 4 levels of MSK, and therefore carries twice as many bits, ie with the same 1200 Baud, transmits 2400 bits per second, but requires a channel with less noise. The transmission can be done with Viterbi convolutional code error correction (NASA standard K = 7 convolutional), but in this case the transmission is obviously more time consuming (almost twice as long).

KG uses a synchronization sequence of 63 bits: 

000011100001001000110110010110101110111100110001010100111111010

and a scrambling pseudo random sequence of 127 bits (polynomial x^21+x^3+1):

1110110011000100100111001111100100000100011010101001101101001010
000101100001100101111111010110111011110001110100010101110000001

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Although KG-STV can be seen on amateur SSTV bands (3733, 7173, and 14233 kHz), I tuned it on 10.496,25 GHz (Fig. 1) via AMSAT P4-A transponder on Qatar-OSCAR 100 (Es’hail-2), the first geostationary amateur radio transponder: more precisely I used the Qatar-OSCAR 100 Narrowband WebSDR [3] since I'm not equipeed for satellite receptions :).

https://yadi.sk/d/CRJan-i7oWL9YA

[1] http://www.wells10000.plus.com/m5aml/kg-stv.htm

[2] http://www.wells10000.plus.com/m5aml/kgstv.zip

[3] https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

STANAG-5030/MIL-188-140 VLF/LF multichannel broadcast to submarines (2)

(this is a follow-up of the post published here)

The narrow 200Hz bandwidth for VLF/LF submarine broadcast and the low efficiency of the aerials are limiting factors, but the use of MSK (a form of QPSK) can allow optimum use of that narrow bandwidth. Indeed, using MSK it is possible to transmit two 100 Baud channels X and Y, each on a pair of phase, and each channel can consists of 2x50 Baud multiplexed channels. Thus, MSK can provide a TDM multi-channel broadcast of  up to 4x50 Baud within the 200Hz assigned band. These transmissions are easy to hear, either locally or, better, using remote SDRs such as the ones provided by Kiwi and thanks to the MSK demodulator coded by my friend Christoph [1] it is possible to study the bitstreams and verify their characteristics. 
The vast majority of users transmit four VALLOR channels (X1, X2, Y1, Y2), i.e. four 50 Baud channels which use KW-46 encryption system. In each channel, data are arrangend in the format defined by STANAG-5065 in which frames are delimited by the pseudo-random sequence generated by the polynomial x^31+x^3+1 ("Fibonacci bits") which also serves to sync the receive KW-46 devices. Error Correction And Detection (EDAC) is performed using (13,12) Wagner coding.

One of the examples of four VALLOR broadcast is the DHO38 station (Fig. 1): a VLF transmitter on 24.3 KHz used by the German Navy to transmit orders to submarines and navies of Germany and other NATO countries. Figure 2 shows the four X1, X2, Y1, and Y2 14-bit streams: the marked columns are the Fibonacci bits generated by x^31+x^3+1.

Fig. 1 - DHO38 constellation

Fig. 1 - the four 14-bit streams from DHO38

The most interesting subComm station is FUE French-Ny on 65.8 KHz from Kerlouan.

Fig. 3 - FUE constellation

As shown in Fig. 4, X1 and X2 channels use the same format of the French-Ny FSK 50/850 broadcast [2]. That format exhibits a characteristic 21-bit frame and, in a way similar to STANAG-5065, two/three sub-frames which are delimited by the bits of two LFSR markers M1 and M2 and a logical "1" value bit (1-bit). The sequences for the two markers are generated by the polynomials x^6+x^5+1 and x^7+x^6+1.
The other two channels Y1 and Y2 are sent using the 14-bit frames with KW-46 encryption.

Fig. 4 - the four streams from FUE

Don't know if it is their normal way to operate or it's just a coincidence, perhaps they use two channels for the shore-to-sub broadcasts (Y1 Y2) while the other twos (X1 X2) are connected to the shore-to-ship broadcast, maybe to forward these messages to subs, who knows?

[1] https://github.com/hcab14/signal-analysis/blob/master/m/demod_msk.m 
[2] http://i56578-swl.blogspot.com/2015/06/french-navy-broadcast-fsk-50bd850.html 

STANAG-5030/MIL-188-140 VLF/LF multichannel broadcast to submarines (tentative)

The Navy ashore VLF/LF transmitter facilities transmit submarine command and control broadcast which is the backbone of the submarine broadcast system. The VLF/LF radio broadcast provides robustness, availability, global coverage, and has seawater penetrating properties. The 200Hz assigned bandwidth for VLF/LF broadcast and the low efficiency (and narrow bandwidth) of the aerials are limiting factors, but the use of Minimum Shift Keying (MSK), a form of Quadrature Phase shift Keying, can allow optimum use of this narrow bandwidth [1]. 
VLF/LF broadcasts to submarines are STANAG-5030 compliant but unfortunately it's a restricted document so no information is publicy available. Moreover, the new STANAG-4724 is currently being ratified by NATO member states as next evolution.  However, googling the web it's possible to retrieve (few) manufacturers brochures of VLF/LF modulators/demodulators, as the one shown in Fig. 1, and get some informations. These equipments can provide TDM multi-channel broadcast (up to four channels, all 50 baud) and mainly use modulation techiniques as MSK (MSK2 2x50 Baud channels and MSK4 4x50 Baud channels), OQPSK and OOK "on-off keying" (the latter usually associated with the Morse Code).

Fig. 1

waveforms
Reference MSK modulation indicates zero-crossing transitions (eg +1/+1 to -1/-1 and viceversa, +1/-1 to -1/+1 and viceversa) cannot be allowed if phase discontinuity is to be preserved.

I analyzed some easily receivable VLF stations (DHO38, FTA, FUE, GQD, ICV, JXN, NSY, SXA, ...) and found that the phase-plane of some signals exhibits the expected transitions while others signals show odd transitions. The answer is to be found in the harmonics spectrum of the signals (Fig. 2): when the carrier is missing  the PLL algorithm locks onto one of the two spectral lines and causes the odd transitions shown in the phase-plane. The presence/absence of the carrier also makes me think of different solutions adopted by manufacturers since MSK should be coherently detected like OQPSK (that implies acquiring the carrier!) or non-coherently detected like FSK. 

Fig. 2 - carrier is missing in signals like FUE

My friend ANgazu pointed out the use of different filtering (Fig. 3). If a Gaussian filter with a Bt of 0.8 or less is in use, as in FUE, the side lobes are attenuated and the modulation is GMSK. NSY has many side lobes so, most probably, no Gaussian filter is in use and modulation is pure MSK. A special case is JXN that uses a cosine filter.

Fig. 3 - differing filterings

That being said, some equalization/correction is needed to emerge the carrier in the midlle of the two tones as shown in Figure 4:

Fig. 4 - FUE constellation after and before equalization

However (G)MSK doesn't seem to be the sole modulation used: using Diff=1 in the phase-plane it turns out that OQPSK-like modulations are used, as in case of FTA and DHO38 (Fig. 5)

Fig. 5

Indeed, MSK is a special case of Continuous-Phase Frequency Shift Keying (CPFSK) which is a special case of a general class of modulation schemes known as Continuous-Phase Modulation (CPM). It is worth noting that CPFSK is a non-linear modulation and hence by extension MSK is a non-linear modulation as well. Nevertheless, it can also be cast as a linear modulation scheme, namely Offset Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (OQPSK), which is a special case of Phase Shift Keying (PSK)... identifying the used modulation may become a nightmare!

data format
Traffic is encrypted and each channel may convey four different types of broadcasts, reference Figure 1:

VALLOR: a VLF/LF single-channel 50 Bd submarine broadcast operating as a backup to the VERDIN (1) system and using KW-46 encryption system (VALLOR is the codename for KW-46 system);

JASON: it's probably a proper feature of the shown product depicted (maybe a codename of an encryption system?);
CLEAR: most likely clear-text traffic (no encryption is used);
ECF: (Empty Channel Filler), in conditions where no messages are available for a transmission channel, Empty Channel Filler data is generated automatically at the transmitter equipment. 

Data are arrangend in a stream incorporating in a regular manner a symbol dedicated to synchronization and placed every r data symbols, i.e. in the same format defined by STANAG-5065 in which frames are delimited by the pseudo-random sequence generated by the polynomial x^31+x^3+1 (aka "Fibonacci bits"). These formats may also be related to the patent WO2009071589A2 [2]. Error Correction And Detection (EDAC) should be performed using Wagner coding.


transmit system

Figures 7a and 7b show simplified block diagram of the VERDIN (1) VLF/LF transmit system and a real-world equipment used by US-Ny. Shore-to-Sub broadcast is a continuous transmission sequence of prioritized messages which normally lasts two hours. It is generated by ISABPS (Integrated Submarine Automated Broadcast Processor System) and sent to the transmit terminal which is used to multiplex, encrypt, encode, and modulate up to four 50 bps submarine broadcast channels into VLF/LF radio frequency signals which is amplified/radiated by the VLF/LF transmitter antenna. [3]

Fig. 7a - VERDIN system

Fig. 7b - a VERDIN receiver

(to be continued here)

(1) VERDIN is a digital data, multichannel communications system operating in the VLF range from shore to deployed submarines. VERDIN permits transmission of up to four 50 Bd channels from an individual transmitter using time division multiplexing.The system is normally operated in a four-channel mode.

[1] https://www.google.it/.../MIL-STD-188-140.010193.pdf
[2] https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2009071589A2/en

[3] https://fas.org/man/dod-101/navy/docs/scmp/part07.htm

STANAG-5065 MSK300, LF shore-to-ship surface broadcast

Nice catch of a STANAG-5065 MSK300 signal picked up by a colleague using the Alicante Kiwisdr on 145.0 KHz. By the way, we wish here to thanks the owner of Alicante kiwisdr for his kindness allowing the use of his sdr uninterruptedly for long periods.

The signal is transmitted from Guardamar de Segura in Spain (also known as "Torreta de Guardamar" [1]) currently operated by the Spanish Infanteria de Marina to convey messages to submarines. The use of the S5065 Low Frequency MSK300 waveform (surface broadcast) and the "mission" of Guardamar site, suggest that these transmissions could be intended for surfaced submarines or submarines cruising at periscope depth.  

 

Fig. 1- TDoA results (left), Tx location obscured by Google Earth (right)

While other broadcast stations for submarines such as DHO38 or NSY transmit continuously, Guardamar only transmits if there is traffic to send, and, since the low bandwidth that characterizes the LF band, transmissions may last for some more than an hour. Most likely the Thales TRC 2556 VLF/LF digital multi-channel receiver is used aboard [2].

As said, the S5065 MSK 300Bd/150 is the used waveform:

Fig. 2 - MSK 300Bd/150Hz waveform

Messages use 7-bit START-STOP ITA2 (Baudot) code which is then encrypted using the KW-46 crypto equipment (KWT-46 transmitter and the KWR-46 receiver hase the code name Vallor). Encryption results in bits 1 to 6 being encrypted and bit 7 (STOP) being replaced with a deterministic unencrypted Fibonacci bit defined by the polynomial x^31+x^3+1 which provides synchronization to the receive KW-46 equipment. 

In MSK300 mode the encrypted data from KW-46 are coded into a (13,12) Wagner error coding scheme and then applied to the MSK modulator (as seen here, processing for STANAG-5065 FSK operations does not include Wagner encoding). As shown in Figure 3, the encoding includes blocking the information into 2 character groups, substituting a parity bit for every second Fibonacci bit to form a (13,12) Wagner odd parity code block (odd numbers of 1s) over 12 informations bits (Fibonacci bit excluded).

Fig. 3 - (13,12) Wagner encoding of KW-46 encrypted stream

In MSK modulations the intelligence is contained in the phase shifts and is not consistent with the frequency shifts, thus the signal can't be demodulated using a generic FSK demodulator.

Fig. 4 - MSK300 phase-plane (before equalization)

After some unsuccessful demodulation attempts I asked my friend Christoph Mayer for help, he too checked the S5065 waveform and kindly sent me an MSK demodulator written by him and re-coded for Octave. The results of the analysis of the modulated stream, shown in Fig. 5 after left shifted, perfectly matches the schema of Figure 3.

Fig. 5 -  S5065 MSK300 stream after demodulation

It's very interesting to note that both the sequence obtained with n F-bits and that obtained with n/2 (n/2 -1) F-bits are attributable to the same polynomial x^31+x^3+1, my guess is that this feature maybe helps the initial synchronization of the FEC process detecting the position of the Wagner odd parity bits.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torreta_de_Guardamar

[2] https://www.thalesgroup.com/.../vlflf-digital-multichannel-receiver

Japanese Military, OFDM-30 +2 (mutichannel hybrid modem)

For several days, at a frequency of 12384.0 and 16553.0 kHz on USB (16553.0 is a constant for the Japanese MIL 8 freq signal), we heard unmodulated carriers only, and then finally they went to the data! 

At a first glance the signal looks like an OFDM 32 tones, ~70Hz spaced and BPSK modulation at 50 Baud (pic.1). A separated unmodulated tone, the lower in the spectrum, acts as a pilot-tone for Doppler correction and is transmitted at a higher level that the other tones.

 

pic.1 - OFDM analysis

studying more carefully the individual tones and especially the first two tones in the lower part of the spectrum, the signal is not properly constructed with OFDM technology but rather is a multichannel waveform with a DPSK or MSK modulation with 25 Hz shift and 50 Baud speed for what concerns the 30 upper channels.

Indeed, once isolated the higher tone, there is no evicence of carrier harmonics in the 2^ power and the phase detector shows a characteristic FSK-2 shape with 25Hz shift (pic.2).

pic.2 - absence of the carrier in the 2^ power harmonics

The 4-ary phase plane related to such channel reveals no diagonal transitions and two-state  transitions in Diff.1: signs of a DPSK or MSK modulation (pic.3)

pic. 3

The upper 30 tones are then MSK 50Bd 25Hz shift, spaced by 70 Hz.

The two lower tones just after the pilot tone (the lowest one) exhibit a BPSK modulation and a speed of 25 Baud for the first (pic. 4) and 50 Baud for the second (pic. 5). It is worth noting that:

- the sequence "0101010101" which is transmitted with these two channels is maybe used for sync purposes,

- these two tones are tranmitted at a lower level that the upper 30 tones. 

pic. 4 - the lower BPSK channel

pic. 5 - BPSK 50Bd in the second channel

Sumarizing the characteristics (pic. 6):

30 data-channels DPSK/MSK 50Bd/25Hz, 25Hz spaced (OFDM)

2 service-channels BPSK 25 and 50 Baud, transmitted at lower level than the 30 upper tones

1 pilot-tone, transmitted at higher level that the 30 upper tones

pic.6

Both 16553.5 kHz USB and 12384.5 kHz USB was previously channels for the old Japanese 8-tone mode, probably a litlle mis-tuning.