Term
| 419-1. What is the mission of the DMSP? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 419-2. What types of data do the DMSP strategic elements receive? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 419-3. What is the primary weather sensor on the DMSP satellite? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 419-4. What are the AFSCN control nodes? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 419-5. What are the DMSP tactical users? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 419-6. What type data does the MARK IVB receive and process? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 419-7. How far can the antennas be located from the Processing Area? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
419-8. Which MARK IVB subsystem receives and processes the geostationary and polar satellite data
from the antennas? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 419-9. What equipment comprises the SDAS group and what does the SDAS group do? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 419-10. What unit functions as an automatic patch panel? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 419-11. After leaving the bit synchronizer, where does the data and synchronous clock go next? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
419-12. What operating system does the Product Control Subsystem use and what are the program
languages of the software used to perform its tasks? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 419-13. Name the major software responsibilities of the MDS. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
419-14. Before satellite acquisition, which unit instructs the Switch Controller (Switch Matrix) to make
the necessary equipment selections? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 419-15. Which unit is the primary interface between the operator/maintainer and the MARK IVB system? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 420-1. What is the purpose of DSP? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 420-2. List the DSP’s specific missions in priority order highest to lowest. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
420-3. Which program ground station replaced the legacy DSP control centers after achieving initial
operational capability, and where is it located? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 420-4. What does the MCS use the Remote Ground Stations for? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 420-5. Which agency is responsible for DSP operational control? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 420-6. What are the functions of the MCS? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 420-7. What does RGSM1 do? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 420-8. What is the purpose of the RF set? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 420-9. What comprises the TR set? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 420-10. Which equipment group provides simulated satellite signals? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 420-11. What is the purpose of the DE set? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 420-12. What is the purpose of the DE set workstations? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 421-1. What are the two primary GPS missions? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 421-2. What is the purpose of the navigation mission? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
421-3. What does the nuclear detonation detection part of the satellite payload use to determine if a
NUDET has occurred? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 421-4. What time standard is the GPS program responsible for maintaining? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 421-5. What are the components of the GPS space segment? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 421-6. How many orbital planes does GPS have? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 421-7. What are the two L-band signals transmitted by the satellites? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 421-8. Where is the MCS and what is its purpose? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 421-9. What is the function of the ground antenna? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
421-10. What is the minimum number of GPS satellites that must be tracked to have accurate threedimensional
navigation? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 421-11. Name the major user segment military air operation applications. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 421-12. Describe the AN/PSN–13 Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR)? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 421-13. What allows the DAGR to operate in a jamming environment? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
422-1. To ensure interoperability between all US armed services, in which areas must Milstar systems be
compatible? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
422-2. Name the DOD’s core C2 communications system for US combatant forces in hostile
environments. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 422-3. Name the three distinct segments of the Milstar communications system? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 422-4. What’s the benefit of satellite-to-satellite crosslinking? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 422-5. Which Milstar element provides dedicated day-to-day satellite control? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 422-6. Which Milstar element’s responsibilities include allocating communication resources? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 422-7. Briefly describe the primary function of Milstar. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 422-8. Name the three types of EHF SATCOM terminals in use by the Navy. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 422-9. Briefly describe the Army’s SMART-T. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 422-10. On which types of military aircraft would you find the Milstar airborne terminal? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 11. How many satellites does the completed Milstar II constellation consist of? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 12. Name the Milstar satellite uplink, downlink, and crosslink frequency spectrums. |
|
Definition
| Uplink (UHF and EHF), downlink (SHF and UHF), and crosslink (EHF). |
|
|
Term
| 13. What does the Milstar satellite payload management subsystem message processor control? |
|
Definition
| Frequency hopping, time and frequency permutation, and beam pointing for the downlink. |
|
|
Term
| 14. Briefly describe the purpose of the Milstar satellites’ spot beam antennas. |
|
Definition
Provide selective coverage of any ground station visible on the earth’s surface within the antenna’s
footprint. |
|
|
Term
| 15. How many DAMA networks and network members can a Milstar satellite support? |
|
Definition
| Three DAMA networks—each network allows for up to 1,021 NMs and one NC. |
|
|
Term
| 16. Each Milstar DAMA terminal can set up to act in one of four roles. What are they? |
|
Definition
(1) NC.
(2) ANC.
(3) MNC.
(4) NM. |
|
|
Term
| 17. Name the types of Milstar DAMA communications channels. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
18. What are the most important factors when determining the impact of rain on the EHF
communications link? |
|
Definition
(1) Instantaneous rain rate (i.e., mist versus downpour, or how hard it’s raining).
(2) The latitude of the earth terminal.
(3) Look angle to the satellite. |
|
|
Term
| 19. How does the Milstar waveform derive its anti-jam capabilities? |
|
Definition
By using a large bandwidth to hide a relatively small information band (75 to 2,400 bps communication
channel) and by the use of narrow antenna beamwidth. |
|
|
Term
| 20. Why can frequency hopping prevent intentional jamming? |
|
Definition
| A potential jammer doesn’t know the hopping pattern. |
|
|
Term
| 21. What benefit do encoding/decoding techniques in the Milstar EHF modem provide? |
|
Definition
| Enhances the link BER threshold. |
|
|
Term
22. What are the command post terminal functions within the constellation of Milstar
communications satellites? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 23. What are the FE terminal functions within the constellation of Milstar communications satellites? |
|
Definition
| Control and communications. |
|
|
Term
24. Briefly describe the difference between the EHF/UHF ground command post terminal and the
EHF/UHF transportable ground command post (CONTINGENCY) terminal. |
|
Definition
The ground command post terminal has a 90-inch dish enclosed in a radome (EHF), and two 14dB gain
"wagon wheel" antennas (UHF); the transportable ground command post (CONTINGENCY) terminal has a
96-inch dish without a radome (EHF), and two 14 dB AFSATCOM antennas (UHF). |
|
|
Term
| 25. What type of antennas are used with the EHF/UHF airborne command post terminals? |
|
Definition
| 26-inch Cassegrain antenna (EHF), and a 3-blade antenna (UHF). |
|
|
Term
| 1. Which agency is the system manager for the DSCS? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
2. Which agency ensures that GMFSC terminals and their assigned DSCS GMFSC gateway stations
are technically compatible? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 3. Which agency operates and maintains all DSCSOCs? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 4. Which agency operates the MCC to provide DSCS spacecraft control? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 5. How does the director of DISA exercise operational control of the DCS? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 6. What’s the purpose of the TCCC? |
|
Definition
| To coordinate DCS status information between the DOCC and user elements |
|
|
Term
| 7. What are the functions of the DOCS? |
|
Definition
(1) Resource allocation.
(2) Satellite link establishment.
(3) Maintenance of link quality.
(4) Satellite signal monitoring.
(5) Satellite housekeeping. |
|
|
Term
| 8. What’s the function of the DSCSOCs? |
|
Definition
Provide direct operational control of DSCS earth terminals and satellite payload by using DOCS equipment
to maintain the corrected network parameters. |
|
|
Term
| 9. How many DSCS III satellite orbital positions are used to provide worldwide coverage? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 10. Who is responsible for satellite control (i.e., launch support, orbit maintenance, and relocation)? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 11. How many independent transponder channels does the DSCS III satellite have? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 12. Name some ways the DSCS satellites have been upgraded. |
|
Definition
(1) Higher reliability and higher power amplifiers.
(2) More selective filters.
(3) More sensitive receive amplifiers.
(4) More efficient gallium arsenide solar cells. |
|
|
Term
| 13. What three configuration choices are available on the DSCS III satellite? |
|
Definition
(1) Receiving antenna.
(2) Transmitting antenna.
(3) Transponder gain level. |
|
|
Term
| 14. What information is derived from the receive power levels of the 61 discrete ports of the BFN? |
|
Definition
| The position of an undesirable radiation signal. |
|
|
Term
| 15. What are the capabilities of transmit MBA assemblies? |
|
Definition
Capability to shape antenna patterns to suit user coverage and connectivity requirements. The antennas can
be commanded from the ground to form patterns ranging from individual spots, to multiple individual
spots, to large composite patterns all the way up to earth coverage. |
|
|
Term
| 16. What’s the difference between transmit and receive MBAs? |
|
Definition
| Transmit MBAs don’t have nulling capability, and they have lower resolution. |
|
|
Term
| 17. What types of modulation can the six independent RF channels of the DSCS III satellite handle? |
|
Definition
| FM, BPSK, OQPSK, and pseudo noise/frequency-hopping spread spectrum modulation. |
|
|
Term
| 18. What’s the frequency translation for channel 6? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 1. Describe the UFO's purpose. |
|
Definition
The UFO's purpose is to provide satellite communications for DOD and other government agencies through
satellites in geosynchronous orbit. |
|
|
Term
2. Which UFO flights contain an EHF package for secure, anti-jam communications, telemetry, and
command data? |
|
Definition
Flights 4 thru 10 also contains an EHF package for secure, anti-jam communications, telemetry, and
command data. |
|
|
Term
| 1. What is the main reason the DOD uses commercial satellite systems? |
|
Definition
Because even with planned upgrades, MILSATCOM cannot meet the increasing data rate and bandwidth
demands of the warfighters. |
|
|
Term
| 2. What additional factors favor using commercial systems? |
|
Definition
(1) Financial savings because research and development are done by the owner/operator.
(2) Financial savings because there are no maintenance costs.
(3) Quick access to the latest technology.
(4) Service can be changed or discontinued once the mission is completed. |
|
|
Term
| 3. List the negative factors that must be considered when using commercial systems. |
|
Definition
(1) Since the military does not control the satellite, there is a chance the owner/operator could terminate
access involuntarily.
(2) The DOD must compete with private organizations, businesses, and news media for bandwidth.
(3) Satellites are vulnerable to jamming but commercial operators are not usually trained to rapidly
identify that jamming is happening to resolve the problem and restore service.
(4) If the transmit carrier of a DOD terminal interferes with another customer, the DOD could incur
penalty fees from the service provider.
(5) Service may not be available when or where the DOD needs it due to coverage limitations or
difficulty getting a host nation’s approval. |
|
|
Term
4. What agency is designated with the responsibility to procure all commercial SATCOM services
for the DOD? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 5. List some of the services provided by the CSB. |
|
Definition
(1) Evaluate requests to see if commercial service is the best option.
(2) Obtain required transponder capacity (using DITCO contracts).
(3) Recommend and/or obtain ground terminals (using DITCO contracts).
(4) Supervise terminal installation.
(5) Help obtain HNA.
(6) Monitor the operation of the network and respond to any problems or needs. |
|
|
Term
| 6. When dealing with host nation approvals, what are landing rights, approvals and certifications? |
|
Definition
Landing rights are a set of agreements between a country and a satellite provider to receive the satellite’s
signals in that country. Approvals are permissions to operate a terminal within a country’s borders.
Licenses deal with the technical issues including beamwidth and transmission frequency clearance. |
|
|
Term
| 7. List some of the responsibilities of the AFCA. |
|
Definition
(1) Act as the day-to-day Air Force MSS System Manager on behalf of HQ USAF Installations and
Logistics Directorate of Communications Operations.
(2) Provide a single point of contact for HQ USAF, MAJCOMs, vendors, and other parties to improve
MSS support and formulate policy changes for HQ USAF review and approval.
(3) Monitor MSS technological advances and changes to identify the types of systems that can best
satisfy Air Force requirements and provide recommendations to MAJCOM/FOA/DRU MSS
managers.
(4) On request, provide training to MAJCOM/FOA/DRU MSS managers in activation, deactivation, and
procurement of MSS systems and service. |
|
|
Term
| 1. What is another name for narrowband services, and to what does it refer? |
|
Definition
MSS. It refers to satellite-based services (digital voice, data, paging, fax, etc.) provided by existing and
emerging commercial communications providers through increasingly smaller and lighter mobile terminals. |
|
|
Term
| 2. Narrowband services are typically below what data rate? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
3. The DOD Policy on Procurement of MSS required that handheld MSS services be provided by
Iridium unless a waiver was granted. Is that policy still effective? |
|
Definition
The policy is still active but was amended in 2006 to allow the DOD to use other MSS providers, for
unclassified purposes only, when both the source and destination are within the CONUS. |
|
|
Term
| 4. What allows Iridium to offer coverage to all parts of the globe including the poles? |
|
Definition
| A constellation of 66 cross-linked satellites in near polar LEO. |
|
|
Term
| 5. What is the purpose of the dedicated government EMSS gateway? |
|
Definition
Provides a dedicated entry point from the Iridium network into the DISN for secure and non-secure
services. Also provides entry to non-secure commercial telephone services. |
|
|
Term
| 6. What is required when using the Iridium handheld phone for voice communications? |
|
Definition
| Handheld voice communications must be secured using the ISM. |
|
|
Term
7. What company besides Iridium is now providing unclassified CONUS-based handheld MSS
services? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 8. What is a major requirement of the Inmarsat charter? |
|
Definition
| That the Inmarsat system must be used exclusively for peaceful purposes. |
|
|
Term
| 9. List the peaceful purpose clause guidelines for military use of the Inmarsat system? |
|
Definition
(1) Armed forces not involved in armed conflict or any threat to or breach of peace may use Inmarsat.
(2) UN peacekeeping or peacemaking forces acting under the auspices of the UN Security Council may
use Inmarsat, even if engaged in armed conflict to accomplish their mission.
(3) Armed forces not acting under the auspices of the UN Security Council involved in international or
non-international armed conflict (civil war) may not use Inmarsat, except in the case of legitimate
individual or collective self-defense against armed attack within the limitations established by UN
charter, Article 51. This exception excludes preventive action and self-help involving armed force in
the absence of armed attack.
(4) Armed forces engaged in armed conflict may use Inmarsat for distress and safety communications,
and for communications relating to the protection of the wounded, sick, shipwrecked, prisoners of war
and civilians, pursuant to the Geneva Red Cross Conventions, 1977. Personal and private, non-tactical
communications by members of the armed forces are permitted; however, use of Inmarsat for
nontactical governmental communications related to or in support of the war effort are not permitted
unless they originate from governments of, or are directed to armed forces engaged in activities
sanctioned by the UN Security Council, or self-defense pursuant to UN Charter, Article 51. |
|
|
Term
| 10. Describe the Inmarsat constellation and its area of coverage. |
|
Definition
The Inmarsat constellation currently consists of nine geosynchronous satellites and provides coverage from
about 75 degrees North latitude to about 75 degrees South latitude. Services are provided using overlapping
earth coverage beams and spot beams. Each earth coverage beam covers roughly one third of the earth’s
surface. Spot beams provide tighter coverage with more power. |
|
|
Term
11. Match each Inmarsat service in column B with the appropriate description in column A. Items in
column B may be used once, more than once or not at all.
Column A Column B
____ (1) Uses portable, notebook-sized terminals typically weighing less
than 6 lbs (2.7 kg). Provides up to 4.8 Kbps voice Kbss fax and
data, internet access and email. This service is provided via satellite
spot beams.
____ (2) Also called global area network. Provides voice at 4, 8, or 64 Kbps,
data at various rates up toe 64 Kbps, and fax at 2.4 Kbps.
____ (3) Provides aircraft with 1-4 simultaneous voice/data channels.
Capabilities include digital voice at 4.8 Kbps, fax and real-time
data at 2.4 Kbps and cockpit data at up to 1.2 Kbps. Used in
narrow-body aircraft and is ICAO/SARPS compliant.
____ (4) Provides digital voice at 4.8 Kbps and low-speed data and fax
communications at 2.4 Kbps. Land mobile units are typically
briefcase-sized portable terminals with a flat array antenna.
____ (5) Accomodates up to 64 Kbps full-duplex data, 16 Kbps voice and up
to 9.6 Kbps fax. Terminals typically have a one meter flat array
antenna and weigh between 30-40 lbs.
____ (6) Provides aircraft with 1 channel of 4.8 Kbps voice, 2.4 Kbps fax or
data services using a small, lightweight terminal. Operates in the
Inmarsat spot beams and is ideal for smaller aircraft. It is not
ICAO/SARPS compliant. |
|
Definition
(1) c.
(2) d.
(3) e.
(4) b.
(5) a.
(6) f. |
|
|
Term
| 1. Over what frequencies could you expect to operate when using commercial wideband services? |
|
Definition
| C-band (3.625-6.425 GHz), Ku-band (10.95-14.5 GHz), and Ka-band (20.2-31.0 GHz). |
|
|
Term
| 2. List some of the common commercial wideband applications. |
|
Definition
(1) Private communication networks using VSAT.
(2) Deployable video teleconferencing.
(3) Real-time command, control, communications and intelligence functions for unmanned aerial
vehicles.
(4) Emergency response and restoral.
(5) International high-speed internet connectivity. |
|
|
Term
| 3. What are some of the major wideband service providers currently used by the DOD? |
|
Definition
| INTELSAT, PanAmSat, EUTELSAT, and XTAR. |
|
|
Term
4. Which commercial wideband service system is specifically designed to interface with current Xband
terminals? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 1. Name some of Global Hawk’s primary functions. |
|
Definition
(1) Autonomous, long endurance, all weather, day/night wide area reconnaissance.
(2) Surveillance imagery and SIGINT collection.
(3) Imagery dissemination |
|
|
Term
| 2. Global Hawk is an integrated system. What are the major components? |
|
Definition
(1) UAV.
(2) Ground stations.
(3) Support segment. |
|
|
Term
| 3. What SATCOM equipment does Global Hawk carry? |
|
Definition
Ku-band, UHF and Inmarsat equipment used for control of the air vehicle and transmit of sensor data to the
ground stations. |
|
|
Term
| 4. What data rate can Global Hawk’s Ku-band system handle? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 5. What does the MCE GICS contain? |
|
Definition
UHF SATCOM system, Inmarsat system, Ku-Band SATCOM subsystem and a CDL subsystem to provide
command and control, wideband communications, and imagery processing and dissemination to
exploitation stations for the UAV while en-route and in the collection area. |
|
|
Term
6. What is the purpose of the Global Hawk MCE SATCOM subsystem and what capabilities does it
provide? |
|
Definition
To communicate through a Ku-Band satellite to the Global Hawk AICS onboard the UAV. It provides
backup capability for C² of one UAV from the MCE, and a full-duplex encrypted digital voice channel. |
|
|
Term
| 7. Name some of Predator’s primary functions. |
|
Definition
(1) Autonomous, long endurance, day/night wide area reconnaissance.
(2) SIGINT collection.
(3) Hunter/killer operations.
(4) Video dissemination. |
|
|
Term
| 8. What are the major components of the Predator system? |
|
Definition
(1) RPA.
(2) GCS(s).
(3) Support Segment. |
|
|
Term
| 9. What SATCOM equipment is on board the Predator? |
|
Definition
Ku-band SATCOM equipment used for control of the air vehicle and to transmit sensor data, video, and
voice to the ground stations. |
|
|
Term
| 10. What data rate can the Predator’s Ku-band system handle? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
11. What is the purpose of the Predator GCS SATCOM subsystem, and what capabilities does it
provide? |
|
Definition
To communicate through a Ku-Band satellite to the Predator PCM onboard the RPA. C² of four RPA’s
from the GCS, and a full-duplex encrypted digital voice channel. |
|
|
