UNIT V

SURVEILLANCE &
COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS
Radio wave
 A radio wave used to transmit and receive messages. A
type of: radio emission, radio radiation, radio wave. an
electromagnetic wave with a wavelength between 0.5
cm to 30,000 m.
 Electromagnetic waves or EM waves are waves that are
created as a result of vibrations between an electric
field and a magnetic field.
The Radio Spectrum
 The Radio Spectrum: ITU Frequency Bands - VLF,
LF, MF, HF, VHF, UHF .
 The International telecommunications Union, ITU
frequency bands define a set of portions of the radio
frequency spectrum: VLF, LF, HF, VHF, UHF, EHF,
etc.
Communication System
 It connects the flight deck to the ground and the flight
deck to the passengers.
 Radio transmitter and receiver equipment was the first
avionic system installed in an aircraft in 1909
manufactured by Marconi Company.
 The VHF aviation communication system works on the
air band of 108.00 MHz to 136.975 MHz.
Communication System
 The concept of radio communication involves in transmission and
reception of electromagnetic energy waves through space.
 Alternating current passing through a conductor creates an EMF around
the conductor.
 If the frequency of alternating current increases, the energy stored in
the field is radiated into the space in the form of electromagnetic
waves. A conductor which radiates the energy is called as transmitting
antenna.
 These transmitted radio waves travel at a speed of 186000 miles per
second.
Communication System
 If a radiated EMF passes through a conductor, some of
the energy in the field will cause the electrons in
motion, in the conductor.
 So this electron flow constitutes a current in the
receiving antenna which is similar to the varying
current in the transmitting antenna.
Communication System
 Frequencies between 108 to 117.975 are splitted into 200 narrow band
channels and they are used for VOR, Automatic Terminal information
Service, ILS and Augmentation System.
 Frequencies between 118 – 137 MHz is splitted into 760 Channels and
they are used for AM voice transmission
 Some channels between 123.100 to 135.950 are available for
government agencies, search and rescue and National Aviation
authority use.
 Aircraft communication can also take place using HF i.e. for
transoceanic flights or satellite communication.
ITU frequency bands designations
 ITU RADIO SPECTRUM BANDS WITH THEIR NAMES, WAVELENGTHS & FREQUENCIES
ITU BAND
BAND NAME ABBREVIATION FREQUENCY WAVELENGTH
NUMBER

Extremely Low Frequency ELF 1 3 - 30 Hz 100000 - 10000 km

Super Low Frequency SLF 2 30 - 300 Hz 10000 - 1000 km

Ultra Low Frequency ULF 3 300 - 3000 Hz 1000 - 100 km

Very Low Frequency VLF 4 3 - 30 kHz 100 - 10 km

Low Frequency LF 5 30 - 300 kHz 10 - 1 km

Medium Frequency MF 6 300 - 3000kHz 1000 - 100 m

High Frequency HF 7 3 - 30 MHz 100 - 10 m

Very High Frequency VHF 8 30 - 300 MHz 10 - 1 m

Ultra High Frequency UHF 9 300 - 3000 MHz 100 - 10 cm

Super High Frequency SHF 10 3 - 30 GHz 10 - 1 cm

Extremely High Frequency EHF 11 30 - 300 GHz 10 - 1 mm

Tremendously High
THF 12 300 - 3000 GHz 1 - 0.1 mm
Frequency
Basic components of a Communication
System:
 a) Microphone
 It converts the sound energy into corresponding electrical energy.
 b) Transmitter
 (i) Oscillator – to generate RF signal
 (ii) Amplifier – increase the output
 (iii) Modulator – To add the voice signal
 c) Transmitting Antenna
 It is the special type of electrical circuit.
 d) Receiving Antenna
 e) Receiver
 f) Power supply.
Basic components of a Communication
System:
 The receiver must be able to select the desired
frequency signal from lot of signals present in the air
and also it should amplify the small ac signal voltage.
 The receiver contains Demodulator (to remove the
added signal). The demodulator contains detector (is
used to AM) and discriminator (is used for FM).
ACARS
 Aircraft communications addressing and reporting system is a digital
datalink system for transmission of short, relatively simple messages
between aircraft and ground stations via radio or satellite.
 The protocol was designed by ARINC (Aeronautical Radio,
Incorporated) in 1978.
 Long Range Communication – HF (2 – 30 MHz)
 Near to Medium Range Communication – VHF (30 – 100 MHz)
 Military Aircraft (UHF) – (250 – 400 MHz)
Analog Modulation (AM)
 Amplitude modulation is the simplest and earliest form
of communication.
 AM is used to transmit the information via a radio
carrier.
 AM application including broadcasting in medium and
high frequency applications, aircraft communications
and CB Radio (Citizen‟s Band Radio)
Analog Modulation (AM)
 Amplitude modulation is the simplest and earliest form
of communication.
 AM is used to transmit the information via a radio
carrier.
 AM application including broadcasting in medium and
high frequency applications, aircraft communications
and CB Radio (Citizen‟s Band Radio)
Modulation
 The process by which some characteristics of a carrier
signal is varied in accordance with message signal.
 Modulation is required to expand the bandwidth of the
transmitted signal for better transmission quality. (To
reduce noise and Interference) Information (Low
frequency such as audio or voice)
Basic Principle of Analog Modulation
 Mix the voice frequencies with a radio frequency signal, so
that they are converted to radio frequencies, which can
propagate through free space.
 Carrier – Sinusoidal High Frequency Radio Signal.
 Voice Frequency + Carrier Frequency = Radio Frequency
 Radiate through Antenna
 Propagate at light speed
 Recover those voice Frequency
Basic Principle of Analog Modulation
 Mix the voice frequencies with a radio frequency signal, so
that they are converted to radio frequencies, which can
propagate through free space.
 Carrier – Sinusoidal High Frequency Radio Signal.
 Voice Frequency + Carrier Frequency = Radio Frequency
 Radiate through Antenna
 Propagate at light speed
 Recover those voice Frequency
Antenna
 An Antenna (or sometimes called as an Aerial), is an electrical
device that converts electric power into electromagnetic
waves (or simply radio waves) and vice-versa.
 A signal from a transmission line or the guiding device (hence
the term guided wave) like a co-axial cable, is given to an
antenna, which then converts the signal into electromagnetic
energy to be transmitted through space (hence the term free
space).
Cont.,
 Antenna can be used for both
Transmission and Reception of
electromagnetic radiation i.e. a
Transmitting Antenna with collect
electrical signals from a
transmission line and converts them
into radio waves whereas a
Receiving Antenna does the exact
opposite i.e. it accepts radio waves
from the space and converts them to
electrical signals and gives them to a
transmission line.
Why do we need Antennas?
 There are several reasons as to why we need or why we use

antennas, but an important reason as to why we use antennas is

that they provide a simple way to transfer signals (or data) where

other methods are impossible.

 For example, take the case of an aero plane. The pilot needs to

frequently communicate with the ATC personnel.

 If would not make any sense if we tie up a cable (of dynamically

variable length) to the tail of the plane and connect it to the ATC.
Cont.,
 Wireless communication is the only feasible option and
Antennas are the gateway for that.
 There are many situations or applications where cables
are preferred over wireless communication with
antennas (like high speed Ethernet or the connection
between gaming console and the T.V., for example).
Different Types of Antennas
 Wire Antennas
◦ Short Dipole Antenna

◦ Dipole Antenna

◦ Loop Antenna

◦ Monopole Antenna

 Log Periodic Antennas

◦ Bow Tie Antennas

◦ Log-Periodic Antennas

◦ Log-Periodic Dipole Array

Different Types of Antennas
 Aperture Antennas
◦ Slot Antenna

◦ Horn Antenna

 Micro strip Antennas

◦ Rectangular Micro strip Patch Antenna

◦ Quarter-Wave Patch Antenna

 Reflector Antennas
◦ Flat-plate Reflector Antenna

◦ Corner Reflector Antenna

◦ Parabolic Reflector Antenna

Different Types of Antennas
 Lens Antennas
 Travelling-wave Antennas
◦ Long Wire Antenna
◦ Yagi–Uda Antenna
◦ Helical Wire Antenna
◦ Spiral Antenna
 Array Antennas
◦ Two-Element Array Antenna
◦ Linear Array Antenna
◦ Phased Array Antennas
Wire Antennas
 One of the most commonly used
antennas are wire antennas.
 They can be found in vehicles
(automobiles), ships, aircrafts,
buildings etc.
 Wire Antennas come in different
shapes and sizes like straight
wire (Dipole), Loop and Helix
Short Dipole Antenna
 Perhaps the simplest of all antennas is the Short Dipole Antenna.
 It is a special case of the Dipole antenna.
 In its simplest form, it is basically an open circuit wire with the
signal being fed at the center.
 The term “short” in short dipole antenna doesn’t directly refer to
its size but rather to the size of the wire relative to the wavelength
of the signal.
 For a typical Short Dipole Antenna, the length of the wireless than
the tenth of the wavelength of the frequency of operation.
 Dipole Antenna
◦ A Dipole Antenna is made up two conductors in the same axis
and the length of the wire need to be small compared to the
wavelength.
 Loop Antenna
◦ A Loop antenna is formed by a single or multiple turn of wire
forming a loop. The radiation produced by loop antenna is
high comparable to a short dipole antenna.
 Monopole Antenna
◦ A special case of Dipole antenna is the monopole antenna i.e.
it is half of the dipole antenna.
Loop Antenna
Dipole Antenna

Monopole Antenna
Corner reflector Antenna
Parabolic reflector Antenna

Flatplate reflector Antenna

Fundamental Parameters of Antennas
(Characteristics)
 These parameters are sometimes also called as Properties of

Antenna or Characteristics of Antenna. Certain basic

characteristics of antenna are listed below:

 Antenna Radiation Pattern
 Radiation Intensity
 Directivity and Gain
 Radiation Efficiency and Power Gain
Fundamental Parameters of Antennas
(Characteristics)

 Input Impedance
 Effective Length
 Bandwidth
 Effective Aperture
 Antenna Polarization
Transponder

 A radio or radar set that upon receiving a

designated signal emits a radio signal of its own

and that is used especially for the detection,

identification, and location of objects and in

satellites for relaying communications signals.

Uses of Transponders

 A transponder is a wireless communications,

monitoring, or control device that picks up and

automatically responds to an incoming signal. The

term is a contraction of the words transmitter and

responder. Transponders can be either passive or

active.
Air traffic control systems (Mode S
transponder):
 As a means to aid the identification of individual

aircraft and to facilitate the safe passage of aircraft

through controlled airspace.

 The ATC transponder allows ground surveillance radar

to interrogate aircraft and decode data, which enables

correlation of a radar track with a specific aircraft

Principles of Transponder
 A ground based primary surveillance radar (PSR) will

transmit radar energy and will be able to detect an aircraft

by means of the reflected energy-termed the aircraft return.

 This will enable the aircraft return to be displayed on an

ATC console at a range and bearing commensurate with

the aircraft position.

Secondary Surveillance radar
 Coincident with the primary radar operation, Secondary

Surveillance radar (SSR) will transmit a series of

interrogation pulses that are received by the on- board

aircraft transponder. The transponder aircraft replies with

a different series of pulses that gives information relating

to the aircraft, normally aircraft identifier and altitude.

PSR and SSR
 If the PSR and SSR are synchronized, usually by being co-

bore sighted, then both the presented radar returns and the

aircraft transponder information may be presented together

on the ATC console.

 Air-to-air as well as air-to-ground communication.
 The ability of aircraft autonomously to determine the precise

whereabouts of other aircraft in their vicinity.