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SEABEE COMBAT WARFARE NCR SPECIFIC
105 - COMMUNICATIONS FUNDAMENTALS
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References:
[a] NAVEDTRA 14234, Seabee Combat Handbook, Vol. 1
[b] MCRP 3-40.3B, Radio Operator’s Handbook
[c] Harris Guide 10515-0103-4100 (Rev. A), AN/PRC150(V)(C), Man Pack Radio (Operator’s Manual)
[d] Astro XTS 5000 User Guide
[e] TM 11-5820-890-10-8, SINCGARS, AN/PRC-119
(Operator’s Manual)
[f] COMFIRSTNCDINST 2000.2
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105.1 Explain the importance of messenger service. [ref.
a, ch. 11]
Messenger service is accomplished by personal courier
or by wire. Personal courier is the most secure and can
evade enemy probing but is slowest.
Wire is secure as it does not broadcast over the air and is
faster than personal courier but routes are fixed and can
be probed by enemy and exploited.
Radio is the most flexible but can be detected by enemy
and requires equipment.
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105 .2 Discuss the BEADWINDOW codes. [ref. a,
ch. 11]
BEADWINDOW: A real-time procedure used to alert
circuit operators that an unauthorized disclosure has
occurred over a non secured circuit. The
BEADWINDOW procedure uses the key number from
the EEFI list to identify the information disclosed. Key
numbers are used with BEADWINDOW transmissions
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COMMON BEADWINDOW CODES
01
POSITION
Friendly or enemy position, movement or intended movement: position, course, speed, altitude, or destination of ‘any
air, sea, or ground element unit or force.
02
CAPABILITIES
Friendly or enemy capabilities or limitations: force composition or identity, capabilities, limitations or significant
casualties to special equipment, weapon systems, sensors, units, or personnel. Percentages of fuel or
ammunition remaining.
03
OPERATIONS
Friendly or enemy operations, intentions, progress or results: operational or logistic intentions, assault objectives,
mission participants, flying programs, mission situation reports, results of friendly or enemy operations.
04
ELECTRONIC
WARFARE
Friendly or enemy electronic warfare emission control (EW/EMCON) intentions, progress, or results: intention to
employ electronic countermeasures (ECM), results of friendly or enemy electronic counter-countermeasures
(ECCM), results of electronic warfare support measures (ESM), present or intended EMCON policy, and
equipment affected by EMCON policy.
05
PERSONNEL
Friendly or enemy key personnel: movement or identity of friendly or enemy flag officers, distinguished visitors, unit
commanders, and movements of key maintenance personnel indicating equipment limitations.
06
COMSEC
Friendly or enemy communications security (COMSEC) locations: linkage of codes or code words with plain
language, compromise of changing frequencies or linkage with line numbers, circuit designator linkage of
changing call signs with previous call signs or units, compromise of encrypted or classified call signs, and
incorrect authentication procedure.
07
WRONG
CIRCUIT
Inappropriate transmission: information requested, transmitted or about to be transmitted that should not be passed
on the circuit because it either requires greater security protection or is not appropriate to the purpose for which
the circuit is provided.
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105.3 Discuss the following precedence pro-words and
their order of importance.
FLASH (Z) Message is delivered as fast as humanly
possible to 10 minutes.
IMMEDIATE (O) Message is delivered within 30
minutes.
PRIORITY (P) Message is delivered within 3 hours.
ROUTINE (R) Message is delivered with 6 hours or the
next business day.
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105.4 Discuss the seven components of a radio link.
a. Transmitter – unit that converts the intelligence to
Radio Frequency (RF), amplifies the RF and sends to
the transmitting antenna.
b. Power supply – unit converts AC/DC power into
required voltages for Transmitter/Receiver units.
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c. Transmission Lines – Medium that transfers the RF
from/to transmitter/receiver to antenna(s). Usually a
coax cable.
d. Transmitting Antenna – unit that broadcasts the RF in
a predetermined pattern for maximum efficiency.
High powered antennas are usually identified with a
RED base.
e. Propagation path – The path RF travels from the
transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.
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f. Receiving Antenna – Unit that receives RF. Antenna
is designed to catch RF and increase the gain of
weak signals. Receive antennas are marked with a
blue base.
g. Receiver – unit that takes the RF in and converts it to
intelligence.
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105.5 Discuss frequency range characteristics.
a. UHF (ULTRA HIGH FRQUENCY)
Range: 300Mhz to 3000Mhz (or 3Ghz) (mobile
phones)
Line of sight (LOS) operation
Better with data handling than VHF.
More vulnerable to atmosphere and man made
objects than VHF signals.
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105.5b. VHF (VERY HIGH FREQUENCY)
Range: 30Mhz to 300Mhz
Line of sight (LOS) operation
Better data handling than HF.
Less vulnerable to atmosphere than HF and man
made/terrain objects than UHF signals.
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105.5c. HF (HIGH FREQUENCY)
Range: 3Mhz to 30Mhz
Over the Horizon (OTH)
Best medium/long range frequency for quick
communication because of ionosphere reflection.
Can go over most obstacles because of sky wave.
But different frequencies are reflected during the
day/night times and solar activity.
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105.6 Discuss Single Channel Radio (SCR) radio
equipment, the principal means of communications
support for MAGTF operations on the move.
SINCGARS (SINgle Channel Ground/Airborne Radio
System) family. The RT-1523E is the heart of the
system. It employs a single frequency to
communicate to the distant receiver. It is VHF (Line
of Sight) FM with 2230 different frequencies to
choose from. Has built in encryption card.
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105.7 Explain employment considerations and
capabilities of High Frequency Radio.
HF operation is dependent on the best location of
the antenna and wave propagation. There are three
main types that NCF employs HF antennas:
a. Omni directional – RF energy is radiated in a 360
degree pattern. Best employed for transmitting to
moving radios.
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105.7b. Bi - directional – RF energy is radiated in a
narrow beam pattern. The distant end is at a fixed
bearing and requires less energy to reach.
105.7c. Near Vertical Inductance Skywave - (NVIS).
Transmitting elements are nearly horizontal so the
energy is radiated towards to ionosphere where it can
reflected back to Earth. It then bounces back to the
Ionosphere and the pattern repeats itself until the
energy is dissipated. Used for hilly areas.
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105.8 Identify the primary combat VHF radios used in
the MAGTF for communications for command and
control and fire support on the battlefield.
SINCGARS (SINgle Channel Ground/Airborne Radio
System) family. NCF currently employs the RT 1523E configured in three ways:
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105.8a Identify the primary combat VHF radios used in
the MAGTF for communications for command and
control and fire support on the battlefield.
1. AN/PRC-119 – Portable man pack
2 lithium batteries (BA 5590)
1 Bag frame
1 RT-1523E
1 handset
1 3ft flexible tape antenna
1 10ft whip antenna
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Receiver- Transmitter (RT) 1523 (PRC-119)
General Characteristics
-VHF SINGARS Radio
-30 to 87.975 MHz freq
-2320 channels/freq’s
-Sends and receives secure voice and digital data
-6 COMSEC channels/ 6 frequency hopping channels
-8 single channels (SC) for plain text
-Transmits 200 meters to 10 kilometers or more
-Batteries last 4 (BB690) to 30 (BA5590) hrs depending
on type & use
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-3ft tape – up to 5 miles
-10ft whip- up to 10 miles
-OE-254- up to 36 miles
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2. AN/VRC-90 – Vehicle /Base radio
1 lithium batteries (BA 5590)
1 RT-1523E
1 AM-7239 Amp/Radio Mount
1 AM-7238 50w amplifier
1 handset
1 AS-3900 vehicle antenna (Range appox. 25NM)
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AN/VRC-90A
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3. AN/VRC-92 – Vehicle Dual Radio (RETRANS SITE)
2 lithium batteries (BA 5590)
2 RT-1523E
2 handsets
1 AM 7239 Amp/Radio mount
2 AM 7238 Amplifiers
1 AM 6353 Amp mount
2 AS-3900 Vehicle Antennas (Range 25NM)
2 OE-254 Field Antennas (Range 35NM)
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AN/VRC-92A For RETRANS SITE
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105.9 Discuss radio frequency interferences and ways
to prevent them.
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105.10 Discuss the capabilities of the NCR TOA
communication assets.
a. XTS-5000
b. AN/PRC-119
c. AN/PRC-150
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XTS-5000 Portable Radio
•
•
•
•
•
Handheld secure radio
VHF radio with 1 – 6 watts
Crypto fill via cable
VHF – 136 to 174 MHZ
Range – 1 to 3 miles
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AN/PRC-150
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105.9 Identify the following capabilities for “Radio” receiver-transmitter
(RT 1694):
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Long range secure radio (RT-1694 HF)
No external encryption device required
Requires 2 BA-5590 or 2 BB-690 Batteries
Smaller and lighter than AN/PRC-104
Frequency Range: 1.6-59.999 MHz
Modes of Operation:
Lower Side Band (LSB), Upper Side Band (USB), Amplitude Modulation Equivalent
(AME), Continuous Wave (CW) Modulation, Frequency Modulation (FM)
Power Output: (HF) 1, 5, 20 Watts PEP/avg. (FM) 1, 5, 10 Watts PEP/avg.
Pre-Set Channels: 200
Data Rate: 39 tone data to 2400 bps; Serial tone data to 2400 bps (TX), 75 bps (RX);
FSK data to 600 bps
Embedded US Type I Encryption: VINSON (Voice & Data) ANDVT/KYV-5 (Voice &
Data)
KG-84C (Data)
Dimensions: 10.5 in x 3.5 in x 13.2 in (485.1 inch3)
Weight: 10 lb. (without batteries)
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105.11 Discuss the purpose of security clearance and
access lists.
Security Clearance – A level of clearance is required in
order to carry out specific duties. Security
Clearances (Confidential, Secret, Top Secret)
depending on the level requires a back ground check
that is conducted by the NSA. The security
clearance must be equal to or higher in order to
access.
Access List – A list of personnel authorized by the CO
for access to classified material.
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