{"id":45507,"date":"2020-09-24T10:28:05","date_gmt":"2020-09-24T14:28:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=45507"},"modified":"2020-09-24T10:35:27","modified_gmt":"2020-09-24T14:35:27","slug":"hf-renaissance-militaries-reinvests-in-shortwave-communications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/09\/hf-renaissance-militaries-reinvests-in-shortwave-communications\/","title":{"rendered":"An HF “Renaissance”: Militaries reinvests in shortwave communications"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributors Michael Guerin and Dennis Dura who share the following story from C4ISR.net<\/a><\/strong> (my comments follow excerpt):<\/p>\n

LONDON \u2014 Special operations commands across Europe are ramping up their capabilities with high-frequency communications to ensure connectivity on the battlefield. Leaders there are turning to high frequency communications as a way to optimize properties that provide a low probability of interception and detection.<\/p>\n

Special forces in France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine continue to receive high-frequency, or HF, systems as a way to diversify communications plans, industry sources confirmed to C4ISRNET.<\/p>\n

Some special operations organizations have selected L3Harris’ AN\/PRC-160(V), industry sources said.<\/p>\n

Enhancements in HF come at a time when NATO members and partner forces are suffering from a disruption of satellite communications, particularly along the alliance\u2019s eastern flank where Russian armed forces continue to conduct electronic warfare.<\/p>\n

In an online presentation to the Association of Old Crows on Aug. 6, Paul Denisowski, product management engineer at Rohde and Schwarz North America, described how communications satellites are vulnerable to antisatellite systems as well as ground-, air- and space-based \u201ckill vehicles.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChina, Russia and the U.S. have all carried out ASAT tests and many other countries are developing ASAT capabilities,\u201d Denisowski said, using an acronym for anti-satellite. To boost resilience, some commands are turning to high-frequency communications.<\/p>\n

During the presentations \u201cLost Art of HF\u201d and the \u201cRebirth of Shortwave in a Digital World,\u201d Denisowski explained that HF is making a comeback in local and global communications. This renaissance comes as the result of improvements in a range of fields, including antenna design, digital modulation schemes and improved understanding of propagation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The market is also helped by reductions in size, weight and power requirements as well as the introduction of wideband data, enhanced encryption algorithms and interoperability with legacy HF sets, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis means end users are now benefiting from easier-to-use and cheaper solutions featuring improved data performance, audio quality, availability and operation. And because of a lack of infrastructure, HF is less expensive and relatively robust, although solar events may temporarily disrupt HF communications,\u201d he said. Specific upgrades include \u201cAdaptive HF,\u201d which comprises automatic selection of frequency and the establishment of communication through automatic link establishment, or ALE, technology.<\/p>\n

The latest technology of its type \u2014 4G ALE \u2014 is capable of supporting wideband HF communications, or WBHF for short, providing end users with the ability to \u201cnegotiate bandwidth, modulation type, error correction and the number of sub-carriers,\u201d Denisowski explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cALE selects frequencies using link quality analysis, which allows it to listen and determine if a channel is in use and adapt if conditions change,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He added that HF can now support data rates up to 240 kilobytes per second on a 48-kilohertz channel, particularly useful for more robust communications in hostile environments.<\/p>\n

\u201cWBHF has already [been] used in military trials. It\u2019s a technology which is most definitely here and now,\u201d Denisowski said.<\/p>\n

[…]The report explained how the U.S. Army and European NATO partners explored such scenarios during a series of joint exercises in 2019 and 2020. \u201cA new need arrives for alternative communication skills, justified through the increasing vulnerability from SATCOM jamming as well as the potential failure of SATCOM as a result of attacks on spacecraft or through the use of anti-satellite surface-to-air missiles,\u201d the report\u2019s author, Jan P\u00e4tzold, told C4ISRNET. \u201cThe development of alternative skills is important to reduce dependence on SATCOM.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to P\u00e4tzold, so-called Skywave HF, which bounces signals off the ionosphere, enables beyond line-of-sight communications across \u201cthousands of kilometers\u201d without requirements. HF communications is also ideally suited to supporting local network coverage. \u201cThis offers advantages over SATCOM in urban areas, but also in mountainous areas or far north latitudes where no line of sight to existing satellites is possible,\u201d P\u00e4tzold said<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Click here to read the full story at C4ISR.net.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

My comment: What’s old is new again<\/h3>\n

As I’ve said in previous posts:<\/a><\/p>\n

The shortwaves\u2013which is to say, the high-frequency portion of the radio spectrum\u2013will never disappear, even though international broadcasters may eventually fade into history. I often think of the shortwave spectrum as a global resource that will always be here, even if we humans are not. But on a brighter note, I expect the shortwave spectrum will be used for centuries to come, as we implement various technologies that find ways to make use of the medium.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

HF communications require so little infrastructure to be effective. It’s a global communications medium that carries messages and data at the speed of light with no regard for national borders. Sure, there are reliability issues with HF propagation, but even amateur radio enthusiasts employ weak-signal digital modes that almost seem to defy propagation. I’m certain with the backing of the military, even more robust digital modes will be used (above and beyond ALE).<\/p>\n

Even the business world sees opportunity. Case in point: we’ve seen stock traders set up point-to-point HF communications<\/a> to edge out their competitors who rely on fiber optics.<\/p>\n

HF systems are more durable and easier to harden to endure times of intense space weather events that affect our sat networks as well.<\/p>\n

But then again, I’m preaching to the choir.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Michael Guerin and Dennis Dura who share the following story from C4ISR.net (my comments follow excerpt): LONDON \u2014 Special operations commands across Europe are ramping up their capabilities with high-frequency communications to ensure connectivity on the battlefield. Leaders there are turning to high frequency communications as a way to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,43],"tags":[8838,5875,3063,3628,3735,4655,84],"class_list":["post-45507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-c4isr-net","tag-dennis-dura","tag-michael-guerin","tag-military","tag-military-communications","tag-why-shortwave","tag-why-shortwave-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-bPZ","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12690,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/03\/shortwave-radio-recordings-eam-messages\/","url_meta":{"origin":45507,"position":0},"title":"Shortwave Radio Recordings: EAM messages","author":"Thomas","date":"March 24, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Inspired by SWLing Post reader\u00a0@K7al_L3afta, a few weeks ago, I monitored\u00a015,016 kHz\u00a0for US Air Force EAM (Emergency Action Messages). I'm no expert on military communications, but I did manage to catch a few messages--that I assume are EAM(?)--on the same frequency. All of these recordings were made on\u00a0the afternoon of\u00a0February\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"StrategicAirCommand","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/StrategicAirCommand.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/StrategicAirCommand.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/StrategicAirCommand.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57454,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/08\/shortwave-modernization-petition-fcc-declines-request-to-extend-comment-period\/","url_meta":{"origin":45507,"position":1},"title":"Shortwave Modernization Petition: FCC declines request to extend comment period","author":"Thomas","date":"August 8, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dennis Dura, who shares this news from Radio World: FCC Declines Request to Extend Comment Period on Shortwave Modernization Petition A request by the Shortwave Modernization Coalition (SMC) for the FCC to amend its rules to allow fixed, long-distance, non-voice communications above 2 MHz\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Spectrum-Waterfall-SDR.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Spectrum-Waterfall-SDR.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Spectrum-Waterfall-SDR.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10066,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/06\/qsl-international-radio-for-disaster-relief-irdr\/","url_meta":{"origin":45507,"position":2},"title":"QSL: International Radio for Disaster Relief (IRDR)","author":"Thomas","date":"June 27, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"SWLing Post\u00a0reader, Michael Guerin, writes: \"Just received [this QSL card] from HFCC in Czech Republic. Heard Radio Australia's test program with fair copy. Sent report by mail the next day to both HFCC and RA.\" Many thanks for sharing this card, Michael! I'm impressed the HFCC issued them so quickly.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"IRDR-QSL-Michael-Front","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/IRDR-QSL-Michael-Front-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/IRDR-QSL-Michael-Front-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/IRDR-QSL-Michael-Front-1024x768.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12326,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/02\/catching-a-usaf-hf-gcs-transmission-in-morocco\/","url_meta":{"origin":45507,"position":3},"title":"Catching a USAF HF-GCS transmission in Morocco","author":"Thomas","date":"February 17, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"My buddy,\u00a0@K7al_L3afta\u00a0(on Twitter), posted this interesting recording of the US Air Force\u00a0High Frequency Global Communications System\u00a0on 15,016 kHz USB at 18:01 UTC yesterday: I don't believe I've ever heard or noticed this type of USAF HF-GCS transmission before. \u00a0Sounds almost like a numbers station. Update: SWLing Post reader, Daniele, comments:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"HF-GCS-logo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/HF-GCS-logo.jpeg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":62933,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/05\/meteor-burst-communications\/","url_meta":{"origin":45507,"position":4},"title":"Meteor Burst Communications","author":"Thomas","date":"May 13, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dennis Dura, for sharing the following article from Hackaday: Radio Apocalypse: Meteor Burst Communications This piece explores Meteor Burst Communications (MBC)\u2014a method of bouncing radio signals off ionized meteor trails to enable long-distance communication without relying on satellites or infrastructure. Used historically in military\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Perseids meteor shower Photo: NASA","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/perseids_meteor_shower.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":64588,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/11\/hackaday-the-cold-war-era-survivable-low-frequency-communication-system-slfcs\/","url_meta":{"origin":45507,"position":5},"title":"Hackaday: The Cold War-Era Survivable Low-Frequency Communication System (SLFCS)","author":"Thomas","date":"November 13, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dennis Dura, who shares the following article about Cold War\u2013era low-frequency communications, from Hackaday: During the Cold War, the U.S. developed the Survivable Low-Frequency Communication System (SLFCS) \u2014 a radio network designed to function even after a nuclear attack. Using long-wavelength LF and VLF\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Oscar-Zero_Missile_Alert_Facility_Minuteman_ICBM_Launch_Control_20100410.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Oscar-Zero_Missile_Alert_Facility_Minuteman_ICBM_Launch_Control_20100410.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Oscar-Zero_Missile_Alert_Facility_Minuteman_ICBM_Launch_Control_20100410.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45507","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45507"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45507\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45507"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}