SCCC Study Guide

Module F — Upper Tactical Tier - Internet (UTI)

18 lessons · 269 key terms. Flashcards and practice questions for this module and every other are on the study pages.

Chapters18 lessons

Module F Primer - Upper Tactical Tier Internet 113-SCCCF01

Learning objective and standard

Learning objectiveIdentify the Upper Tactical Tier - Internet (UTI) module requirements, scope and schedule.

StandardIdentify the topics covered during the Upper Tactical Tier - Internet module and the planning exercises that assess it, in a clear and concise manner, without error.

The orientation lesson for Module F. Where Module E was the radio, Module F is the pipe: the satellite terminals, line-of-sight shots, troposcatter links and baseband shelters that carry a division's traffic between command posts and back to the enterprise. It runs ten days and finishes with two graded planning exercises - an ESB network and a division/brigade network - both built against the 73rd Infantry Division at NTC. One vocabulary point governs the whole module and is worth learning first: the Army no longer uses the doctrinal term WIN-T. The current term is Tactical Network Transport (TNT), split into at-the-halt and on-the-move. The equipment is largely the same, and you will still see WIN-T everywhere.

Doctrinal currencyThe 113-SCCCF01 module primer deck itself is rights-protected and cannot be opened. This page is reconstructed from the F23 LSA 1 introduction deck, which carries the module outline slide by slide, and from the two planning exercise documents.

What this course teaches — answer this on the exam
  • 113_SCCCF01_Upper_Tactical_Tier_Internet Module Primer (v1_0).pptx is rights-managed and unreadable
  • The 113-SCCCF23 LSA 1 Introduction deck, dated 7 August 2026, contains the module outline for all ten days and is readable
  • The module material is unusually current - deck dates run from 1 July 2026 to 1 September 2026
What that means
  • The day-by-day outline, the TNT-versus-WIN-T terminology point and the planning exercise structure are all recoverable and solid
  • What is not recoverable is whatever administrative detail the primer itself carried - grading weights, attendance requirements, deliverable deadlines. Check those against your class schedule

Doctrinal sets to know cold

The ten-day Upper TI outline
  1. Day 1 - Module outline and introduction; tactical network architecture and background; satellite fundamentals
  2. Day 2 - Tactical Communications Node (TCN) Heavy; Tactical Relay Tower and the STT-208 terminal
  3. Day 3 - TCN-Lite; Point of Presence; Soldier Network Extension; T2C2; TRILOS; Global Broadcast Service; Increment 2 transmission practical exercise
  4. Day 4 - SATCOM terminals ATH and ESB-E; line of sight; beyond line of sight; ESB transmission practical exercise
  5. Day 5 - Baseband terminals; baseband practical exercise; site walk-through; ESB transmission practical exercise
  6. Day 6 - Calculating bandwidth requirements; Network Operations and Security Center; network planning considerations, network designs and mission analysis group planning exercise
  7. Day 7 - ESB-E signal planning exercise
  8. Day 8 - Division and brigade signal planning exercise
  9. Days 9 and 10 - Small group leader signal planning exercise
The three main transportable network nodes
  1. Tactical Hub Node (THN) - supports division and above headquarters
  2. Joint Network Node (JNN) - supports brigade and above headquarters
  3. Command Post Node (CPN) - supports battalion-level headquarters and smaller units
Where Module F sits among the transport modules
  1. Module D - builds the network, its addressing and its services
  2. Module E - Lower Tactical Tier: the combat net radio that reaches the maneuver formation
  3. Module F - Upper Tactical Tier: satellite, high-capacity line-of-sight and baseband transport between command posts
  4. Module G - Mission Command Information Systems: the applications that ride on both tiers
SMEAC - the concept brief structure
  1. S - Situation
  2. M - Mission
  3. E - Execution
  4. A - Administration and Logistics
  5. C - Command and Signal

Key terms

Upper Tactical Tier - Internet (Upper TI, UTI)
The command post transport layer of the tactical network - the satellite, high-capacity line-of-sight and baseband systems that connect command posts to each other and to the DODIN-A. Module F's subject.
Tactical Network
The Army's tactical portion of the Department of Defense Information Network-Army (DODIN-A) - a mobile secure communications network modernization program that provides voice and data communications and battlefield applications for the warfighter anytime and anywhere.
Tactical Network Transport (TNT)
The current doctrinal name for what was called WIN-T. It splits into TNT-ATH (at the halt) and TNT-OTM (on the move). The equipment did not change with the name.
TNT-ATH
Tactical Network Transport - At The Halt. Enables global mission command and robust voice, video and data anywhere on the planet, leveraging a combination of high-capacity line-of-sight radio and beyond-line-of-sight satellite nodes for multipath diversity and resiliency in contested environments. Operates at the halt and at the quick halt.
TNT-OTM
Tactical Network Transport - On The Move. Configurations integrated on tactical vehicles that enable mobile mission command and voice, video and data from anywhere on the battlefield, with connectivity similar to that of a stationary command post.
WIN-T
Warfighter Information Network-Tactical. The former program name, no longer used doctrinally but still stamped on equipment, manuals and reference material throughout the module.
Tactical Hub Node (THN)
The transportable network node that supports division and above headquarters.
Joint Network Node (JNN)
The transportable network node that supports brigade and above headquarters. JNN is now referred to as WIN-T Increment 1.
Command Post Node (CPN)
The transportable network node that supports battalion-level headquarters and smaller units.
Expeditionary Signal Battalion (ESB)
The pooled theater signal formation that extends network services at the halt to supported units not equipped with their own transport. ESB-Enhanced (ESB-E) is a modular, scalable, more agile version.
SMEAC
The five-paragraph field order structure used for the concept brief in both Module F planning exercises: Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration and Logistics, Command and Signal.
Annex H
The signal annex to an operation order. Both Module F planning exercises produce diagrams that support an Annex H.

Testable points

  • Module F is the Upper Tactical Tier - Internet block and runs ten days.
  • The Army no longer uses the doctrinal term WIN-T; the current term is Tactical Network Transport. The speaker notes explicitly say the read-ahead still contains the most up-to-date information despite using the old term, and that you will still see WIN-T in many places.
  • The Tactical Network is the Army's tactical portion of the DODIN-A.
  • The Army's traditional TNT-ATH portfolio contains three main transportable network nodes: the Tactical Hub Node for division and above, the Joint Network Node for brigade and above, and the Command Post Node for battalion-level headquarters and smaller units.
  • TNT-OTM is integrated on MRAP platforms, Strykers, Humvees, and will be integrated onto Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, which will eventually replace the Army's Humvee fleet.
  • In fires battalions, TNT-OTM improves the speed and reliability of the fires network and extends range and survivability, letting Soldiers operate well beyond line-of-sight radio ranges using satellite-based retransmission - and letting retrans be located with maneuver forces rather than as isolated elements requiring combat power to protect.
  • The June 2007 restructure of the WIN-T program combined the Joint Network Node Network and WIN-T programs under Program Manager WIN-T; JNN then became WIN-T Increment 1.
  • The module's training resource is the Learning Warrior Network tactical network suite at lwn.army.mil/web/tacnet, a performance-based observable interactive navigable training suite.
  • Day 7's practical exercise is the ESB-E signal planning exercise; day 8's is the division and brigade signal planning exercise; days 9 and 10 are the small group leader signal planning exercise.
  • Both Module F planning exercises are set at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California, supporting a 73rd Infantry Division humanitarian mission, with the 43rd Expeditionary Signal Battalion providing signal support.
  • The concept brief in both exercises uses the five-paragraph field order structure remembered as SMEAC and must include PACE plans.
  • The ESB exercise brief is capped at 20 slides; the division and brigade exercise brief is capped at 25 slides, in both cases not counting cover and question slides.
  • Students are graded Go or No-Go on the planning exercises rather than on a point scale.

References

FM 6-02, Signal Support to Operations (12 Sep 2019)ATP 6-02.60, Tactical Networking Techniques for Corps and Below (Aug 2019)ATP 6-02.45, Techniques for Tactical Signal Support to Theater Operations (Nov 2019)ATP 6-02.54, Techniques for Satellite Communications (Nov 2020)

Tactical Network Architecture and the Tactical Internet Tiers 113-SCCCF24

Learning objective and standard

Learning objectiveDefine Tactical Network Transport for Signal planning.

StandardIdentify Tactical Network Architecture in a clear and concise manner without error, and identify governing factors of Tactical Network Transport in a clear and concise manner without error.

The framing lesson for the whole module. Two lists carry most of the testable weight and both are short: the five concepts the Tactical Network architecture was designed around, and the three tiers of the tactical internet. The five concepts are interoperability, reliability, network operations management, mobility and mobile throughput, and survivability - and the check on learning asks for them by name. The three tiers matter because Module E only taught you two: the upper tier and the lower tier are separated by a mid tier that provides the gateway between them, and Module E's own material never says so. Learn the increment breakdown too - Increment 1 is at the halt with three sub-increments, Increment 2 is on the move - because the equipment lessons that follow all reference it.

Doctrinal currencyThis lesson is where the WIN-T-to-TNT rename bites hardest, because the doctrinal passages quoted in the notes still use the old term throughout.

What this course teaches — answer this on the exam
  • The speaker note on the architecture build slide says to re-state that 'although we have doctrinally changed from WIN-T to TNT, much of the equipment is still the same and you will still see the term WIN-T in many places'
  • The three-tier passage quoted in the notes is FM 6-02 text that says 'WIN-T provides the upper tier tactical internet' and refers to WIN-T increment 2 and increment 1b resources
  • Several slides refer to the Global Information Grid (GIG), which has itself been superseded by the DODIN
How to answer
  • Use Tactical Network Transport, TNT-ATH and TNT-OTM as the current terms. If a question quotes a WIN-T passage directly, the substance is the same - it is a naming change, not a capability change
  • GIG is the older term for what is now the DODIN. Some slides in this deck have been updated to say DODIN-A and some have not, sometimes on the same slide
  • Tier count: answer TWO - upper and lower - as Module E teaches it. Settled on 2026-09-09. This lesson quotes FM 6-02, which describes a mid tier between them, and that passage is real: know what the mid tier is and what runs on it, because a question quoting the FM directly can still ask. But two is the answer.

Doctrinal sets to know cold

The five Tactical Network architecture concepts
  1. Interoperability - a configurable gateway that works with Army, joint, allied, coalition and commercial networks
  2. Reliability - a self-forming, self-healing ad hoc network
  3. Network Operations Management - integrated into most nodes, distributed division to company, with traffic prioritization and pre-emption, and defense-in-depth information assurance
  4. Mobility and Mobile Throughput - reach to company and reach back to division while on the move, with bandwidth on demand and quality of service
  5. Survivability - communications in depth across wired, wireless, LOS and satellite, with automatic bandwidth and path management, frequency diversity and self-steering antennas
The tiers as FM 6-02 describes them - three; the course answer is two, upper and lower
  1. Upper tier - connects the mid and lower tiers to the DODIN-A; Increment 2 at division and BCT, Increment 1b at corps and support brigades
  2. Mid tier - organic battalion and company networking and transmission; the gateway between upper and lower; advanced networking wideband waveform
  3. Lower tier - company and below down to team leader; secret radio networks; Soldier radio waveform and SINCGARS
The increments
  1. Increment 1 - Networking At-The-Halt
  2. Increment 1a - Extended Networking (ATH): upgraded baseband, WGS/Ka transports
  3. Increment 1b - Enhanced Networking (ATH): network-centric waveform, colorless core
  4. Increment 1c - End of Life (ATH): virtualization complete
  5. Increment 2 - Initial Networking On-The-Move
On-the-move throughput rates
  1. SATCOM OTM from the TCN or PoP - 256 kbps
  2. SATCOM OTM from the SNE - 64 to 128 kbps
  3. IP line-of-sight - 30 Mbps shared

Key terms

Tactical internet
The deployed communications network. It is functionally similar to the commercial internet because the infrastructure uses the same technologies, and it extends home-station-quality classified and unclassified DISN services and mission command applications to deployed units.
Upper tier
The tier that provides the upper tier tactical internet and connects the mid and lower tiers to the DODIN-A. At division and BCT it consists of Increment 2 resources providing networking on the move and at the halt; corps headquarters and support brigades use Increment 1b at the halt only.
Mid tier
The organic networking and transmission resources that support battalions and companies, giving those commanders a terrestrial network for voice and data. It is the gateway between the upper and lower tiers and the interoperability point for higher echelons, joint and aviation integration. The primary mid tier waveform is the advanced networking wideband waveform.
Lower tier
The tier supporting company and below formations down to the team leader, consisting primarily of secret radio networks at platoons and companies. The primary lower tier waveforms are the Soldier radio waveform and SINCGARS.
Interoperability
The first of the five architecture concepts. The design includes a configurable gateway that positions the TNT gateway to interoperate with existing Army, joint, allied, coalition and commercial networks.
Reliability
The second architecture concept. The Increment 2 network is a self-forming, self-healing ad hoc network.
Network Operations Management
The third architecture concept. Network management is integrated into most nodes and distributed from division to company, reducing stove-piped management. Information can be defined by type and routing and prioritized for timely delivery, and lower-priority traffic can be pre-empted. Information assurance is designed into every level to comply with defense-in-depth modeling.
Mobility and Mobile Throughput
The fourth architecture concept. Technologies provide reach to company level and reach back to division while on the move, including bandwidth on demand and quality of service.
Survivability
The fifth architecture concept. The network provides communications in depth - wired and wireless links, terrestrial line of sight and satellite, a mesh of highband networking radio connections, automatic management of bandwidth and transmission paths to bypass outages and congestion, and frequency diversity with self-steering antennas.
Colorless core
The technology that encrypts both classified and unclassified user information in the network and minimizes the number of users on the core, so commanders can use the tactical network without fear of interception. It was a technical insertion into the Increment 1b network that enabled information sharing between Increment 1b and Increment 2.
Increment 1
Networking at the halt. Divided into 1a extended networking at the halt (upgraded baseband, WGS/Ka transports), 1b enhanced networking at the halt (network-centric waveform, colorless core) and 1c end of life at the halt (virtualization complete).
Increment 2
Initial networking on the move. Retains Increment 1 capabilities and adds greater throughput and automated network management for planning, initialization, monitoring and troubleshooting. It employs SATCOM on the move to extend the network in maneuver BCTs to company level, and it is self-forming and self-healing.
Highband Networking Radio (HNR)
The radio carrying the Highband Networking Waveform, which with high-performance antennas gives the Increment 2 line-of-sight network an adaptive 30 Mbps aggregate throughput to key leaders in their command post or vehicle.
Global Agile Integrated Transport (GAIT)
The flexible network design that connects the regional hub nodes into a global architecture, allowing division headquarters to deploy nodes to different regions without extensive firewall and IP modification. It uses Multi-Protocol Label Switching and Virtual Routing Forwarding instances to enable seamless traffic flow.
Army Unified Network Plan
The plan to establish a multi-domain-operations-capable force by 2028. Line of Effort 1 establishes the Unified Network, integrating and aligning the ITN and the IEN and converging disparate organizational networks, establishing the Army's contribution to the DODIN and its Mission Partner Environment.
Common Services Infrastructure (CSI)
Globally accessible common hardware and software designed to secure, store and compute data, enabling data analytics, AI and machine learning to support data-driven decision making and allowing the convergence of organizational networks. It maximizes commercial cloud and hybrid cloud capabilities.
Mission Partner Environment (MPE)
The persistent capability, inclusive of hardware, software, infrastructure and people from the enterprise to the tactical edge, that lets the Army interoperate with allies and coalition partners. It is to be employed at all combat training centers and mission training complexes.
Product Manager Mission Network
The organization that delivers the at-the-halt and on-the-move Tactical Network Transport equipment and networking capabilities supporting the Army's upper tier tactical network.

Testable points

  • The tactical internet has TWO tiers - upper and lower. That is the answer, and it is how Module E teaches it. This lesson quotes FM 6-02 describing a third, mid tier between them; learn what it does, but answer two.
  • The Tactical Network architecture was designed around five major concepts: interoperability, reliability, network operations management, mobility and mobile throughput, and survivability.
  • From a management standpoint the tactical internet divides into three logical segments or tiers - upper, mid and lower.
  • The mid tier provides the gateway capability between the upper and lower tiers and is the interoperability point for higher echelons, joint and aviation integration, and joint, interorganizational and multinational elements.
  • The primary mid tier waveform is the advanced networking wideband waveform; the primary lower tier waveforms are the Soldier radio waveform and SINCGARS.
  • At division and BCT the upper tier consists of Increment 2 resources providing networking on the move and at the halt; corps headquarters and support brigades use Increment 1b at the halt only.
  • Pooled theater Increment 1b resources in the expeditionary signal battalions extend network services at the halt for supported units not equipped with their own transport.
  • DODIN operations personnel at brigade and above perform DODIN operations for the upper tier tactical internet; battalions perform DODIN operations for the lower tier.
  • The combat net radio gateway provides a bridge to connect combat net radio voice networks to the mid and upper tiers.
  • SATCOM on-the-move throughput rates are 256 kbps from the TCN or PoP and 64 to 128 kbps from the SNE; IP line-of-sight rates of 30 Mbps shared are also expected.
  • The Increment 2 line-of-sight network offers an adaptive 30 Mbps aggregate throughput using the Highband Networking Radio and high-performance antennas.
  • Increment 1 has three sub-increments: 1a extended networking at the halt, 1b enhanced networking at the halt, and 1c end of life at the halt.
  • Increment 1a delivered upgraded baseband and WGS/Ka transports; 1b delivered the network-centric waveform and colorless core; 1c completed virtualization.
  • Increment 2 is self-forming, meaning it automatically creates transmission paths based on terrain and environmental conditions, and self-healing, meaning paths automatically re-route traffic even if nodes break down or lose connectivity.
  • Increment 2 extended the network in maneuver brigade combat teams to company level for the first time.
  • Colorless core was a technical insertion in the Increment 1b network that enables information sharing between Increment 1b and Increment 2.
  • GAIT uses Multi-Protocol Label Switching and Virtual Routing Forwarding instances, and lets division headquarters deploy nodes to different regions without extensive firewall and IP modification.
  • The Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-6 is the principal military advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Army and the CIO for planning, strategy, network architecture and implementation of command, control, communications, cyber operations and networks for worldwide Army operations.
  • The Army Unified Network Plan is aimed at establishing a multi-domain-operations-capable force by 2028.
  • ESB-Enhanced is a modular, scalable, more agile version of the expeditionary signal battalion.
  • Tactical Network Transport delivers an automated network management capability to plan, configure and control fielded and planned communications networks and their users' devices together as a system of systems, in order to meet dynamic commander's critical information requirements and stay inside adversary decision cycles.

References

FM 6-02, Signal Support to Operations (12 Sep 2019)ATP 6-02.60, Tactical Networking Techniques for Corps and Below (Aug 2019)ATP 6-02.53, Techniques for Tactical Radio Operations (31 Jan 2020)Army Unified Network Plan

Fundamentals of Satellite Communications 113-SCCCF23

Learning objective and standard

Learning objectiveDefine fundamentals of satellite communications for Signal planning.

StandardIdentify types of satellite communications, satellite communications components, satellite orbits, speed and rotation, the SATCOM control segment, and Satellite Access Request requirements, without error.

The physics and architecture half of the SATCOM block. It covers what a satellite communications link is made of, which orbits do what, how a footprint is shaped, and which constellations the military actually uses. Learn four things cold: the transmit and receive earth terminal chains in order, the four orbit types with their altitude boundaries, the three footprint coverage patterns, and the three multiple-access schemes. The orbit altitudes are the cleanest exam material in the module - LEO below 2,000 km, MEO between 2,000 and 35,786 km, GEO above 35,786 km - and the perigee/apogee pair with its speed relationship follows straight from them.

Doctrinal currencyOne speaker note in this lesson gives a narrower band mapping than the slide it annotates, and the DSCS material describes a constellation that has been relegated to backup.

What this course teaches — answer this on the exam
  • The slide says military satellites operate in UHF, SHF (X band) or EHF/AEHF (K-Ka band); the note beneath it says EHF is 'also known as Ka band', dropping K
  • The DSCS material is presented in the present tense even though the same slide says DSCS is limited to backup and residual roles because of WGS
How to read it
  • Answer UHF, SHF/X and EHF/K-Ka for military SATCOM bands - the slide is the fuller and safer version
  • DSCS still supports Soldiers and DSCS III augments WGS for some strategic missions, but WGS is the primary wideband system. If a question asks what provides DoD wideband SATCOM services, the answer is WGS

Doctrinal sets to know cold

The transmit earth terminal chain, in order
  1. Baseband - several user signals combined into one
  2. Modem - imposes the baseband onto an intermediate frequency
  3. Up converter - converts the modulated IF to radio frequency
  4. High Power Amplifier - provides most of the power needed to cross the distance
  5. Antenna - focuses the energy into a beam and forms the uplink
The receive earth terminal chain, in order
  1. Antenna - captures and focuses the RF to the feed horn
  2. Low Noise Amplifier - amplifies the received signal into a recognizable RF signal
  3. Down converter - converts RF to an intermediate frequency the modem can process
  4. Modem - demodulates the IF back to a baseband signal
  5. Signal processing - returns the baseband to its original formats, voice, data and so on
Satellite orbits
  1. LEO - Low Earth Orbit, below 2,000 km; ~90 minute orbit; low latency, small footprint, short lifespan, complex tracking
  2. pLEO - Proliferated LEO, large constellations of small satellites at 2,000 km or less in a resilient mesh; Starlink
  3. MEO - Medium Earth Orbit, 2,000 to 35,786 km; predominantly GPS
  4. GEO - Geostationary Earth Orbit, above 35,786 km; appears stationary, continuous coverage, high latency
  5. HEO - Highly Elliptical Orbit
The three footprint coverage patterns
  1. Earth Coverage - EC horn antenna covering most of the earth visible from the satellite, normally equal to the footprint
  2. Area Coverage - steerable dish or multi-beam antenna covering concentrations of small, mobile or transportable terminals
  3. Narrow Coverage - spot beam antenna covering a confined area or a small area generating large traffic volumes
The three multiple access schemes
  1. FDMA - each user is assigned a dedicated frequency
  2. TDMA - users share a frequency and are assigned different timeslots; 'a token ring in the sky'
  3. MF-TDMA - users share multiple frequencies and are assigned timeslots on one or more frequencies as needed
What is in the space segment
  1. UHF Follow-On (UFO)
  2. Mobile User Objective System (MUOS)
  3. Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS)
  4. Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS)
  5. Global Broadcast Service (GBS)
  6. Milstar
  7. Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF)
  8. Enhanced Polar System
  9. Commercially leased transponders and payloads such as Iridium and INMARSAT

Key terms

Transponder
The equipment on a satellite consisting of a transceiver and an antenna tuned to a certain part of the allocated spectrum. It amplifies the incoming signal and rebroadcasts it on a different frequency.
Bandwidth
The width of a range of a frequency band, measured in hertz, used to transport data. In most cases as bandwidth increases throughput rates also increase, but the amount of throughput obtained from a given bandwidth depends on the efficiency of the SATCOM equipment used.
Satellite payload
A module attached to a commercial satellite with communications circuitry that operates independently of the main spacecraft but shares the satellite's power supply and transponders. Also called piggybacking or hitchhiking.
High Power Amplifier (HPA)
The transmit-side amplifier that provides most of the power needed for the RF signal to overcome the distance to the satellite, immediately before the antenna focuses it into the uplink beam.
Low Noise Amplifier (LNA)
The receive-side amplifier that boosts the received signal, based on the selected bandwidth, into a recognizable RF signal before down-conversion.
Up converter
The transmit-side stage that converts the modulated intermediate frequency to a radio frequency suitable for space communications.
Down converter
The receive-side stage that converts the received RF to an intermediate frequency suitable for the modem to process.
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
The region of space below 2,000 km. Satellites orbit relatively quickly - about 90 minutes for a complete orbit - with a smaller footprint, so more satellites are needed for global coverage.
Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (pLEO)
Large constellations of small satellites at 2,000 km or less operating in a resilient mesh network able to dynamically recover from counter-space, cyber-security and environmental threats. Utilized by Starlink.
Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)
The region of space between 2,000 and 35,786 km, used predominantly for GPS constellations. Wider coverage and longer lifespan than LEO, but higher latency and higher power requirements.
Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO)
The region of space above 35,786 km. GEO satellites orbit at the same rate the earth rotates and so appear stationary from the ground, giving continuous coverage of a large area with simple tracking - at the cost of high latency, high power requirements, and weak signal at high latitudes.
Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO)
The fourth orbit type taught in the lesson, alongside LEO, MEO and GEO.
Perigee
The point of an orbit closest to Earth. A satellite travels fastest at perigee and appears to traverse the sky rapidly. Perigee is always 180 degrees from apogee.
Apogee
The point of an orbit farthest from Earth. A satellite travels slowest at apogee and traverses the sky at a slower pace.
Satellite footprint
The area of the earth's surface covered by the satellite antenna's beam pattern within the field of view of the satellite's transmitters or sensors. Satellite transmissions can cover about one third of the earth's surface.
Earth Coverage (EC)
A footprint pattern using an EC horn antenna to cover most of the earth's surface visible from the satellite, normally equal to the footprint.
Area Coverage
A footprint pattern using a steerable dish or multi-beam antenna to cover areas of concentrated users deploying small, mobile or transportable earth terminals such as ships, aircraft and ground tactical terminals.
Narrow Coverage
A footprint pattern using a spot beam antenna to cover a confined area containing small earth terminals, or small areas generating large volumes of military traffic.
FDMA
Frequency-Division Multiple Access. Each user is assigned a dedicated frequency.
TDMA
Time-Division Multiple Access. Users share a frequency but are assigned different timeslots. Described in the course as a token ring in the sky.
MF-TDMA
Multi-Frequency TDMA. Users share multiple frequencies and are assigned timeslots on one or more frequencies as needed.
Space segment
The military and leased commercial satellites and SATCOM payloads in orbit.
Control segment
The operational management planning hardware and software at a Regional Satellite Support Center and the satellite command and control centers used to perform satellite, payload and transmission control. Satellite control maintains the health and welfare of the satellite; payload and transmission control covers monitoring, operating, allocation of payload, signal power, antenna orientation and link monitoring.
Earth station
The ground element of a satellite link, ranging from simple receive-only stations to elaborate two-way commercial stations. It includes microwave radio-relay equipment, terminating multiplex equipment and a satellite communications controller.
WGS
Wideband Global SATCOM, formerly the Wideband Gap-Filler Satellite system. It replaces the DSCS III and Service Life Enhancement Program constellation, was contracted for 10 geosynchronous satellites, uses X and Ka band, and is capable of providing Global Broadcast Service.
DSCS
Defense Satellite Communications System. X-band satellites operating with a 500 MHz uplink (7.9 to 8.4 GHz) and a 500 MHz downlink (7.25 to 7.75 GHz). Once the backbone of US MILSATCOM, the constellation is now limited to backup and residual wideband roles because of WGS's extended capabilities.
Spin-stabilized satellite
A satellite whose solar cells mount outside the unit so that one third of the cells always face the sun. The alternative is a three-axis-stabilized satellite, whose cells are on solar panels extending like wings from the body.

Testable points

  • SATCOM allows service over the polar regions, the oceans and the remote areas of the world; provides global connectivity to widely dispersed small and mobile forces; and acts as a network extension providing long-haul communications where terrestrial architecture is insufficient or line-of-sight equipment is inadequate.
  • Military satellites typically operate in the UHF, SHF (also known as X band) or EHF/AEHF (also known as K/Ka band) frequency bands.
  • Signal latency is a major concern in satellite communications, so geographic and meteorological factors play an important role in choosing teleports.
  • The course gives comparative latencies of SATCOM 5.15 milliseconds, TROPO 3.15 milliseconds and LOS 2.4 milliseconds.
  • Satellite transmissions can cover about one third of the earth's surface.
  • Satellites are powered by solar batteries, and power is conserved by turning off unused equipment with signals from the earth.
  • The transmit earth terminal chain runs baseband, modem, intermediate frequency, up converter, low-level RF, high power amplifier, high-level RF, uplink.
  • The receive earth terminal chain runs downlink, low noise amplifier, RF, down converter, intermediate frequency, modem, baseband, signal processing.
  • Several user signals are combined into one baseband signal before modulation, which allows greater amounts of information to be transmitted using one transmitter.
  • LEO satellites complete an orbit in about 90 minutes, have low latency and lower power requirements, allow higher resolution imagery, but cover a smaller area, have a shorter lifespan because of atmospheric drag, and are more complex to track.
  • MEO spans 2,000 to 35,786 km and is used predominantly for GPS constellations.
  • GEO satellites above 35,786 km orbit at the same rate the earth rotates, so they appear stationary; a single GEO satellite gives continuous coverage of a large portion of the earth and needs no tracking, but has significant latency and weak coverage at high latitudes.
  • MILSTAR utilizes GEO satellites and has traditionally been used for strategic communications, broadcasting and wide-area surveillance.
  • Perigee is always 180 degrees from apogee. At perigee the satellite is closest and fastest; at apogee it is farthest and slowest.
  • In communications, perigee is the least desirable time to access a satellite - the path is short, but the satellite is moving so rapidly that it is accessible only briefly.
  • The space segment contains UFO, MUOS, DSCS, WGS, GBS, Milstar, AEHF, the Enhanced Polar System, and commercially leased payloads such as Iridium and INMARSAT.
  • A single WGS spacecraft has as much bandwidth as the entire existing DSCS constellation, and each WGS supplies more than ten times the capacity of a DSCS III.
  • WGS offers 4.875 GHz of instantaneous switchable bandwidth, and each satellite provides capacity ranging from 1.2 Gbps to more than 3.6 Gbps to tactical users, depending on the mix of ground terminals, data rates and modulation schemes.
  • WGS provides X/Ka band service and X/Ka cross-banding, which means any DSCS X-band terminal can communicate with newer Ka-band terminals without upgrades.
  • Through spatial frequency reuse WGS provides more than four times the X-band bandwidth of a single DSCS III, and with Ka band added more than ten times the total bandwidth capacity.
  • WGS's higher power output supports greater numbers of disadvantaged and tactical users, and supports greater use of smaller tactical satellite terminals at higher data rates than DSCS III allowed.
  • The Regional Satellite Support Center plans DSCS III missions and the Wideband Satellite Operations Center executes payload and transmission control.
  • Because major US military activity occurs in foreign territory, the US government subcontracts satellite services to foreign carriers headquartered in areas with favorable climate.
  • Army strategic locations use SATCOM as the transport medium of choice to extend DISN services to all theaters of operation.
  • The three multiple-access schemes taught are FDMA, TDMA and MF-TDMA.

References

ATP 6-02.54, Techniques for Satellite Communications (Nov 2020)ATP 6-02.45, Techniques for Tactical Signal Support to Theater Operations (Nov 2019)FM 6-02, Signal Support to Operations (12 Sep 2019)

Regional Hub Nodes, STEP and Satellite Access Requests 113-SCCCF23

Learning objective and standard

Learning objectiveIdentify the SATCOM control segment and Satellite Access Request requirements.

StandardIdentify the fixed regional hub node and standardized tactical entry point architecture, and the Satellite Access Request and Gateway Access Request processes, in a clear and concise manner without error.

How a deployed unit actually reaches the enterprise, and how it gets permission to. Two halves. The first is the fixed infrastructure - five regional hub nodes, the STEP and Teleport sites they sit alongside, and GAIT tying them together. Learn the five RHNs by location and the areas they support, because that is a clean list a question can be built from. The second is the request chain: a SAR goes up for satellite access and an SAA comes back; a GAR goes up for DISN services and DISA approves it; both go to the supporting RSSC 30 days before mission access. Note that 30-day figure - it is the wideband process, and it is not the same as the 90-day figure Module E gives for a UHF TACSAT satellite access request.

Doctrinal currencyTwo things on this page have moved since the slides were written, and one number conflicts with what Module E teaches.

What this course teaches — answer this on the exam
  • One slide lists RHN #3 as Fort Bragg, NC, and a later slide in the same deck shows the same node captioned 'Fort Liberty Regional Hub Node'
  • The RHN definition slide says the hub nodes link combatant commanders at Tier 0, Tier 1 and Tier 2, while the speaker note beneath it says Tier 1 and Tier 2
  • The submission deadline for SAR, GAR and GMR is given as 30 days before mission access; the Module E UHF/TACSAT lesson gives 90 days prior for a satellite access request
How to answer
  • The installation is Fort Bragg. It was renamed Fort Liberty in 2023 and renamed back to Fort Bragg in 2025, and the deck carries both. Either name identifies the same RHN
  • The check-on-learning question for this lesson quotes the Tier 0, Tier 1 and Tier 2 version verbatim, so answer that
  • The two deadlines are for different processes and both are as taught. 30 days is the wideband SAR/GAR/GMR submission to the supporting RSSC under USSTRATCOM SI 714-04. 90 days is the figure the Module E UHF TACSAT lesson gives, with a letter of lateness signed by an O-6 if missed. Read the question for which process it means

Doctrinal sets to know cold

The five Regional Hub Nodes
  1. RHN #1 - Camp Arifjan, Kuwait; supports SWA, EUCOM and AFRICOM
  2. RHN #2 - Landstuhl, Germany; supports SWA, EUCOM and AFRICOM
  3. RHN #3 - Fort Bragg, North Carolina (CONUS East); supports CONUS East and West, SOUTHCOM, and some EUCOM forces
  4. RHN #4 - Camp Roberts, California (CONUS West); supports CONUS East and West, SOUTHCOM, and selected PACOM forces
  5. RHN #5 - Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Guam; supports PACOM and CONUS West
What a SAR contains
  1. The mission's name and purpose
  2. Mission start and stop times
  3. Mission priority
  4. Terminal call sign
  5. Terminal type
  6. Antenna size and nomenclature
  7. Terminal latitude and longitude
  8. Composite data rate
  9. Distant end terminals
  10. Service on and off
The satellite access chain
  1. The unit validates a SATCOM requirement
  2. The division G-6 or operations cell submits a SAR through corps headquarters to the theater army for verification
  3. The RSSC reviews the approved SAR and, if resources are available, prepares an SAA
  4. If resources are not available the SAR is denied or partially denied, and the combatant command may request arbitration
  5. An approved SAA permits operational access
The gateway access chain
  1. The unit submits a GAR when DISN services are needed
  2. It routes through the chain of command to the component command headquarters
  3. If approved, it goes to the respective RSSC and DISA offices
  4. The RSSC sends the request to DISA
  5. DISA approves and the request is assigned an SDB number and a priority
STEP and Teleport design rules
  1. Equipment plus six DISN services equals a STEP
  2. 16 operational DSCS sites were upgraded under the programme
  3. Minimum four single STEPs per satellite footprint
  4. Minimum two Teleports per satellite footprint
  5. STEP: X and Ka band. Teleport adds L, EHF, Ka, UHF, Ku and C band

Key terms

Regional Hub Node (RHN)
The premier Army regional satellite facilities that link all geographic combatant commanders at the Tier 0, Tier 1 and Tier 2 level during all phases of combat operations and contingencies. They are Army-owned fixed-facility satellite and baseband nodes providing long-haul transport of voice, video, mission command and C4ISR data, plus tactical satellite network controller and network management functions - circuit termination, distribution and routing, and quality of service.
Master Reference Terminal (MRT)
The terminal inside each RHN that allows the node to control bandwidth allocation on the MF-TDMA, TDMA and FDMA satellite networks.
Top Level Architecture (TLA)
NETCOM's Tier 1 stack of routing equipment, through which the RHNs are connected to DISN sites.
Network Service Center-Training (NSC-T)
The hub at Fort Gordon, Georgia, which supports institutional training and experimentation to develop signal doctrine and tactics, techniques and procedures. It is not one of the five operational RHNs.
Standardized Tactical Entry Point (STEP)
An upgraded DSCS site providing seamless communications support from the sustaining base to the warfighter. The programme was based on lessons learned from Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm and upgraded 16 operational DSCS sites. Equipment plus six DISN services equals a STEP.
Teleport
The DoD programme that expanded the STEP sites and provided more DODIN capacity and satellite connectivity across X, C, Ku, Ka, EHF, UHF and L-band satellites. Teleports support high-throughput, multiband, multimedia telecommunications services for deployed forces of all services in all operational scenarios.
Global Agile Integrated Transport (GAIT)
The design that connects RHNs into a global architecture, letting division headquarters deploy nodes to different regions without extensive firewall and IP modification. It uses MPLS and VRF instances to enable seamless traffic flow, and is described as a cornerstone of the Army's two-year incremental network modernization capability set design.
Satellite Access Request (SAR)
The request a communications planner at the division G-6 or another operations cell submits through corps headquarters to the theater army for verification when a unit has a validated SATCOM requirement and needs access.
Satellite Access Authorization (SAA)
The authorization the Regional Satellite Support Center prepares after reviewing an approved SAR, if sufficient satellite resources are available. An approved SAA permits operational access.
Gateway Access Request (GAR)
The request planners submit when there is a need for DISN services. Submission is similar to the SAR, but DISA is the controlling organization for all approvals and access authorizations.
Regional Satellite Support Center (RSSC)
The organization that reviews approved SARs and prepares SAAs, and that receives and routes GARs to DISA. It also plans DSCS III missions.
SDB number
The number and priority assigned to an approved Gateway Access Request once the RSSC sends the request to DISA.
Large SATCOM Gateway (LSG)
Large SATCOM facilities that provide native access to DODIN services, transport DODIN services, or allow pass-through of communities of interest to defined destinations. They have a larger complement of RF terminals, multi-band SATCOM capability, and higher, more resilient, diverse connections to the JIE wide area network, and host multiple baseband service enclaves for tactical user access.
Small SATCOM Gateway (SSG)
The smaller counterpart to the LSG in the joint SATCOM gateway construct, supporting a narrower set of communication capabilities.
Defense Red Switch Network (DRSN)
One of the enterprise services an RHN provides, alongside NIPRNET, SIPRNET and the Defense Switched Network.
USSTRATCOM SI 714-04
The strategic instruction that sets the 30-day submission requirement for SAR, GAR and GMR access for other combatant commands.

Testable points

  • There are five regionally fielded RHNs dedicated to supporting warfighter satellite communications requirements for specific theaters or areas of responsibility.
  • RHN #1 is at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, and RHN #2 at Landstuhl, Germany; both support units in the Southwest Asia, European Command and Africa Command areas of responsibility.
  • RHN #3 (CONUS East) is at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and supports CONUS-based forces in CONUS East and West, Southern Command, and some European Command forces.
  • RHN #4 (CONUS West) is at Camp Roberts, California, and supports CONUS-based forces in CONUS East and West, Southern Command, and selected Pacific Command forces.
  • RHN #5 is at the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Guam, and supports units in Pacific Command and CONUS West.
  • Both CONUS-based RHNs support Northern Command and Army North homeland defense missions within the continental United States.
  • The Network Service Center-Training hub at Fort Gordon, Georgia, supports institutional training and experimentation to develop signal doctrine and TTPs.
  • An RHN can support up to three equipped divisions and at least three separate BCTs or brigades simultaneously.
  • RHNs use TDMA, MF-TDMA and FDMA Ku/Ka-band satellite connectivity and baseband networking stacks with virtualization capabilities.
  • Each RHN contains a Master Reference Terminal that allows the node to control bandwidth allocation on the MF-TDMA, TDMA and FDMA satellite networks.
  • RHNs are co-located with DISA STEP and Teleport sites, which provide DODIN connectivity and enable near-worldwide satellite coverage.
  • RHNs are connected to DISN sites through NETCOM's Top Level Architecture Tier 1 stack of routing equipment.
  • RHN enterprise services include NIPRNET, SIPRNET, the Defense Switched Network and the Defense Red Switch Network.
  • RHNs give deployed commanders sufficient bandwidth to rapidly transmit the largest video and data products to the battlefield, including UAV streaming video, digital imagery intelligence, and mapping and weather products.
  • The STEP programme upgraded 16 operational DSCS sites, based on lessons learned from Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
  • The STEP design calls for a minimum of four single STEPs per satellite footprint and a minimum of two Teleports per satellite footprint.
  • The formula the lesson gives is: equipment plus six DISN services equals a STEP.
  • STEP operates in X and Ka band; Teleport adds L, EHF, Ka, UHF, Ku and C band.
  • CONUS STEP site locations include Fort Bragg (also an RHN), Camp Roberts (RHN and Teleport), Fort Belvoir, MacDill AFB, Fort Meade, Northwest Virginia (Teleport), Fort Detrick, and Fort Gordon (NSC-T and battle lab).
  • OCONUS STEP and Teleport locations include Ramstein/Landstuhl (RHN and Teleport), Wahiawa Hawaii (Teleport), Fort Buckner (Teleport), Croughton AFB UK, Bahrain (Teleport), Guam (RHN), Camp Arifjan Kuwait (RHN), and Lago di Patria Italy (Teleport).
  • A SAR is submitted by the communications planner at the division G-6 or other operations cell, through corps headquarters, to the theater army for verification.
  • If sufficient satellite resources are available, the RSSC prepares an SAA after reviewing the approved SAR. If resources are not available the SAR is denied or partially denied, and a denied request may be arbitrated at the combatant command's request.
  • A GAR starts at the unit, routes through the chain of command to the component command headquarters, and if approved is routed to the respective RSSC and DISA offices. The RSSC sends the request to DISA, and the approved request is assigned an SDB number and priority.
  • DISA is the controlling organization for all approvals and access authorizations of a GAR.
  • All SAR, GAR and GMR access requests for other combatant commands must be submitted to the supporting RSSC 30 days before mission access, in accordance with USSTRATCOM SI 714-04.
  • GAIT enables commands with dispersed units around the globe to maintain integrated mission command and network operations from home station or a forward-deployed headquarters, and lets units configure networks and mission command systems before deployment.

References

ATP 6-02.54, Techniques for Satellite Communications (Nov 2020)ATP 6-02.45, Techniques for Tactical Signal Support to Theater Operations (Nov 2019)USSTRATCOM SI 714-04FM 6-02, Signal Support to Operations (12 Sep 2019)

SATCOM Terminals 113-SCCCF23

Learning objective and standard

Learning objectiveDefine Satellite Communication (SATCOM) principles for Signal planning.

StandardIdentify Tactical Network SATCOM system capabilities and define Tactical Network SATCOM system planning considerations in a clear and concise manner without error.

The terminal catalog - what actually points at the satellite. Learn it by what each terminal is for rather than by nomenclature: the Unit Hub Satellite Truck is the division's own hub, the STT is the workhorse tactical terminal, SMART-T is the protected anti-jam terminal on EHF, Phoenix is the big multi-band pipe, and Hawkeye and Scout are the small expeditionary terminals. Three number sets are worth memorizing: SMART-T's 8.192 Mbps aggregate on AEHF against 2.24 Mbps on Milstar, Phoenix E's 52 Mbps across four bands, and the THN's 142 total users split 71 NIPR and 71 SIPR. The single most quotable fact in the lesson is that the Tactical Hub Node supports zero customers - it exists to extend the network, not to serve users.

Doctrinal currencyThe Phoenix throughput figure is given three different ways in the same lesson, and the difference is not a rounding error.

What this course teaches — answer this on the exam
  • One Phoenix slide says the terminal operates in military X and Ka and commercial C and Ku bands 'with a total aggregate data rate of 20 Mbps'
  • The next slide says Phoenix terminals 'provide high capacity communications links to support voice and data up to 52 Mbps via two carriers'
  • The ETSSP slide says the ETSSP 'can actually have an output of 20 Mbps; however the Modem can only support 8448 Kbps'
  • The Phoenix E slide gives a maximum of 52 Mbps
How to reconcile it
  • 52 Mbps is the terminal's maximum across two carriers, and it is the figure the Phoenix E description leads with. 20 Mbps is the aggregate figure quoted for the D-model in the same deck, and 8448 kbps is a modem limit, not a terminal limit
  • If a question asks for the Phoenix E maximum throughput, answer 52 Mbps. If it quotes the D-model aggregate, answer 20 Mbps
  • Confirm which figure the exam uses - this is the least consistent number in Module F

Doctrinal sets to know cold

SATCOM terminals by role
  1. AN/TSC-187 Unit Hub Satellite Truck - the division's own hub, part of the Tactical Hub Node, 6.3 m antenna
  2. AN/TSC-167F and AN/TSC-185 Satellite Transportable Terminal - the workhorse tactical terminal working with the JNN
  3. AN/TSC-208 STT-High Power - Ku/Ka FDMA and MF-TDMA, employed with the TCN
  4. AN/TSC-154A SMART-T - protected anti-jam EHF terminal on Milstar and AEHF
  5. AN/TSC-156D/E Phoenix - transportable wideband multi-band terminal, the ESB's largest ground satellite capability
  6. L3 Hawkeye III and Hawkeye III Lite - switchable-band VSAT, 1.2 to 2.4 m
  7. SCOUT - manpack terminals for the dismounted troop, air-droppable, one-person setup
  8. TAMPA - Thales satellite terminal
Why satellite
  1. Allows beyond-line-of-sight extension
  2. Accessible from virtually anywhere on the battlefield
  3. No need for extensive link planning to install ground systems at a new location
  4. Scales well for maneuver units
  5. Current ground equipment is readily transportable
AEHF compared with Milstar
  1. Terminal data rate - AEHF 8.192 Mbps, Milstar 2.24 Mbps
  2. Per satellite - AEHF 430 Mbps, Milstar 40 Mbps
  3. Channels - AEHF 275 XDR communication channels; Milstar 2 downlink carriers, LDR and MDR
  4. System throughput - AEHF 100 Mbps
Phoenix E band plan (transmit / receive)
  1. C-band - 5.85 to 6.425 GHz / 3.625 to 4.2 GHz
  2. X-band - 7.9 to 8.4 GHz / 7.25 to 7.75 GHz
  3. Ku-band - 13.75 to 14.5 GHz / 10.95 to 12.75 GHz
  4. Ka-band - 30.0 to 31.0 GHz / 20.2 to 21.2 GHz
Tactical Hub Node facts worth remembering
  1. Three assemblages - one baseband shelter, two TDMA/FDMA SATCOM shelters
  2. S-788 shelters on 5-ton M1085A FMTVs
  3. 6.3 meter Ku, Ka or X band antenna per truck
  4. 8 FDMA hub links; 8 MF-TDMA/NCW and/or 8 TDMA, not exceeding eight in any combination
  5. Supports zero customers - it extends the network rather than serving users
  6. 71 NIPR users plus 71 SIPR users on the access cases, 142 total
Hawkeye Ku-band LNB local oscillator frequencies
  1. European - 10.00 GHz
  2. CONUS - 10.75 GHz
  3. Intelsat (Asia) - 11.30 GHz

Key terms

Unit Hub Satellite Truck (UHST) AN/TSC-187
The satellite element of the Tactical Hub Node. Each truck carries a mounted 6.3 meter Ku, Ka or X band antenna, and each satellite equipment shelter houses a master reference terminal for all the TDMA subnets - one subnet per BCT, brigade and division.
Tactical Hub Node (THN)
The node that uses the AN/TSC-187 UHST to support the organic systems of one division. It merges the TDMA and FDMA satellite network architectures and provides end-to-end network transport extending DISN services to the deployed tactical network. It consists of three major subsystems - one baseband shelter and two TDMA and FDMA capable SATCOM shelters.
Satellite Transportable Terminal (STT)
A highly transportable and mobile trailer-mounted satellite terminal system that operates in conjunction with the JNN at the ESB and division level, supporting the brigade and battalion force structure. Nomenclatures include the AN/TSC-167F and the AN/TSC-185(v)1 and (v)2.
STT-High Power (AN/TSC-208)
A Ku/Ka-band satellite terminal system that provides FDMA and/or MF-TDMA voice and data connectivity. It is employed with the TCN.
SMART-T (AN/TSC-154A)
Secure, Mobile, Anti-Jam, Reliable, Tactical Terminal. A transportable, multichannel protected anti-jam SATCOM terminal operating in the EHF range, providing protected range extension for tactical command posts at corps, division, BCT, fires and combat aviation brigades, and expeditionary signal battalions.
Milstar
The protected satellite system whose design emphasized robustness even under jamming or nuclear attack, with the flexibility to provide worldwide unscheduled connectivity to a wide range of terminal and platform combinations under changing or uncertain link conditions.
AEHF
Advanced Extremely High Frequency, the successor to Milstar. Terminal data rate 8.192 Mbps, 430 Mbps per satellite, 275 XDR communication channels, 100 Mbps system throughput.
LDR, MDR and XDR
Low, medium and extended data rate services. SMART-T processes up to 8.192 Mbps in XDR mode over AEHF, and can also provide LDR up to 2.4 kbps and MDR up to 1544 kbps simultaneously on Milstar or over AEHF in Milstar backwards-compatible mode.
Phoenix (AN/TSC-156D)
A transportable wideband TACSAT terminal operating in the C, X, Ku and Ka bands, providing flexible, mobile, high-capacity range extension through military and commercial satellites. It replaced all AN/TSC-85 terminals in designated signal units, and upgrades added TDMA and IP interfaces to make it interoperable with the tactical network.
Phoenix E (AN/TSC-156E)
A mobile, quad-band, multi-carrier (military X/Ka and commercial C/Ku) high-throughput satellite terminal with a maximum of 52 Mbps. It is transit-case based, allowing scalability with or without the vehicle, is Ethernet IP capable, uses MF-TDMA modems, and replaces the AN/TSC-93E legacy terminals used in ESBs.
ARSTRAT Reference Unit (ARU)
The Phoenix E component providing a rubidium 10 MHz timing source.
Hawkeye III
The latest generation L3 Hawkeye VSAT, which lets the user switch between bands and apertures without buying an additional system. Terminals range in antenna size from 1.2 m to 2.4 m and use an enhanced outdoor unit to eliminate reconfiguration and allow commonality of control.
Hawkeye III Lite
The SNN VSAT variant - tri-band across Ka, Ku and X, capable of speeds up to 4 to 6 Mbps, with TRANSEC via modem-level encryption, fielded as a 50 percent mix of iDirect and CBM-400 modems.
Sky Scan
The Hawkeye procedure used when viable reference satellites are unknown to the operator. It takes 25 to 55 minutes and deletes the previous data satellites and reference satellites.
Reference satellite
The satellite the terminal uses to establish its pointing reference. Its orbital longitude must be at least 30 degrees away from the site longitude, so that the greater elevation difference reduces the chance of peaking on an incorrect reference satellite.
SCOUT
The line of manpack satellite terminals designed for the dismounted troop, built to be air-dropped, jumped or carried. Supports X, Ku and Ka bands with auto-assist pointing, throughputs up to 4 Mbps small and 6 Mbps medium, deployable and operable by one person within a battalion.
TAMPA
A Thales satellite terminal in the Module F reference set, covered in the SATCOM terminals agenda alongside Hawkeye and Scout.
Solid State Power Amplifier (SSPA)
The amplifier type used in the Phoenix E terminal, in place of the older travelling wave tube amplifiers.
Low Noise Block converter (LNB)
The receive-side converter in a satellite terminal. Hawkeye Ku operation uses one of three LNBs labelled by location and local oscillator frequency - European at 10.00 GHz, CONUS at 10.75 GHz, and Intelsat Asia at 11.30 GHz.

Testable points

  • Satellite communications allow beyond-line-of-sight extension, are accessible from virtually anywhere on the battlefield, need no extensive link planning for installation at a new location, scale well for maneuver units, and use readily transportable ground equipment.
  • The Tactical Hub Node consists of three assemblages housed in S-788 lightweight multi-purpose shelters mounted on 5-ton M1085A family of medium tactical vehicles.
  • The THN has one baseband truck and two TDMA and FDMA capable SATCOM shelters; the SATCOM shelters provide master network timing for TDMA networks.
  • Each UHST truck has a mounted 6.3 meter Ku, Ka or X band antenna.
  • Each UHST has its own independent Master Reference Terminal, which enables it to control bandwidth allocation on the division's TDMA mesh networks.
  • A UHST supports 8 FDMA (Radyne) SATCOM hub links operating on Ku and Ka frequencies.
  • A UHST can support 8 MF-TDMA/NCW and/or 8 TDMA (Linkway S2) links, not to exceed any combination of eight.
  • The Tactical Hub Node supports zero customers - it is not designed to support customers, it helps extend the network.
  • The THN baseband access cases support a maximum of 71 users on the NIPR access case and 71 on the SIPR access case, for a total of 142 users.
  • The THN's role, similar to the RHN's, is to let division commanders share and exchange critical information with higher and lower commanders.
  • THN manning includes 25S at grades 10 through 40 and 255N.
  • The STT operates in conjunction with the JNN at ESB and division level and is part of the tactical network alongside JNNs, brigade transit cases and battalion transit cases.
  • The AN/TSC-208 STT-High Power is a Ku/Ka-band terminal providing FDMA and/or MF-TDMA voice and data connectivity.
  • SMART-T operates in the EHF range and provides protected range extension that cannot be jammed, detected or intercepted.
  • SMART-T can support up to four digital transmission paths for use as protected inter-nodal links, and can support other voice and data network and point-to-point services simultaneously, as long as data rates do not exceed the aggregate AEHF threshold of 8.192 Mbps.
  • SMART-T provides LDR up to 2.4 kbps and MDR up to 1544 kbps simultaneously on Milstar, or over AEHF in Milstar backwards-compatible mode when AEHF resources are unavailable.
  • SMART-T is fully interoperable with all joint EHF (Milstar) and AEHF TACSAT terminals, which lets it draw services from a Teleport site using a Navy EHF terminal when required.
  • AEHF gives a terminal data rate of 8.192 Mbps, 430 Mbps per satellite, 275 XDR communication channels and 100 Mbps system throughput; Milstar gives 2.24 Mbps terminal data rate, 40 Mbps per satellite and two downlink carriers, LDR and MDR.
  • Phoenix operates in military X and Ka and commercial C and Ku bands.
  • Phoenix terminals are backward compatible with legacy GMF satellite terminals in X band only, to the second level multiplexer, and support up to four full-duplex links in hub-spoke, hybrid mesh, or point-to-point configurations.
  • Phoenix E is a 2.2 meter auto-acquire and tracking antenna system with solid state power amplifiers, an ARSTRAT Reference Unit with a rubidium 10 MHz timing source, low noise block converters, TDMA and FDMA satellite modems, uninterruptible power supplies, and 50-foot IFL cables.
  • Phoenix E operating frequencies are C-band 5.85 to 6.425 GHz transmit and 3.625 to 4.2 GHz receive; X-band 7.9 to 8.4 transmit and 7.25 to 7.75 receive; Ku-band 13.75 to 14.5 transmit and 10.95 to 12.75 receive; Ka-band 30.0 to 31.0 transmit and 20.2 to 21.2 receive.
  • Phoenix E is designed to support an optional second satellite antenna for dual-head operation, capable of operating multi-carrier over two bands on two satellites.
  • Phoenix E terminal control and baseband equipment can be remotely located via fiber optic equipment, which the lesson notes helps with electromagnetic radiation reduction.
  • Phoenix E was selected in 2018 from Envistacom to address the legacy terminal's antenna performance limitations, enhance interoperability, reduce size, weight and power, and increase operational flexibility and mobility.
  • The 50th Expeditionary Signal Battalion-Enhanced was the pilot unit fielded with the first transit-case-based Phoenix E prototypes.
  • Hawkeye III terminals range from 1.2 m to 2.4 m in antenna size.
  • Hawkeye frequency ranges are L-band 950 to 2050 MHz, X-band 7 to 9 GHz, Ku-band 10 to 15 GHz and Ka-band 20 to 31 GHz.
  • A Hawkeye reference satellite's orbital longitude must be at least 30 degrees away from the site longitude.
  • A Hawkeye Sky Scan takes 25 to 55 minutes and deletes previous data satellites and reference satellites.
  • SCOUT terminals support X, Ku and Ka bands with auto-assist pointing, throughputs up to 4 Mbps small and 6 Mbps medium, and can be set up in about 10 minutes with zero tools by one person.
  • Narrowband SATCOM operates across UHF in the 300 MHz to 3 GHz range and includes military UHF and commercial L and S bands; using small portable terminals for long-haul communications reduces the probability of detection in a contested satellite environment.

References

ATP 6-02.54, Techniques for Satellite Communications (Nov 2020)TC 6-02.21, SMART-T HandbookATP 6-02.45, Techniques for Tactical Signal Support to Theater Operations (Nov 2019)FM 6-02, Signal Support to Operations (12 Sep 2019)

Tactical Communications Node and TCN-Lite 113-SCCCF24

Learning objective and standard

Learning objectiveDefine the capabilities of the Tactical Communication Node (TCN) AN/MSC-82 and the TCN-Lite AN/MSC-85.

StandardIdentify the capabilities of the TCN AN/MSC-82 and TCN-L AN/MSC-85, and define their planning considerations, in a clear and concise manner, without error.

The TCN is the piece of equipment the rest of Module F revolves around. It is the main entry and exit point from the tactical network to DODIN-A services, and it incorporates access, distribution and core layer functionality into one hardened mobile platform. Learn the fact sheet - the two nomenclatures, the two platforms, the bandwidth and range figures for each waveform, and where they are distributed - and learn the five virtual systems that run inside a TCN, PoP or SNE, because those five acronyms turn up again in every network diagram in the module. The one distinction that matters most in planning: the heavy TCN rides an FMTV with a 15 kW onboard generator and a 30 kW towed generator for at-the-halt, while the Lite rides an M1152 with a 10 kW towed unit.

Doctrinal currencyThe TCN distribution numbers do not add up the same way on every slide, and the discrepancy is on consecutive slides of the same lesson.

What this course teaches — answer this on the exam
  • The fact sheet says 2 at BCT plus 1 per battalion, total 8 in the BCT
  • One slide says nine TCNs support the BCT main CP, BCT TAC CP and battalion CPs - one for the brigade main, one for the brigade TAC, and seven distributed to the associated battalions
  • The very next slide gives a second version on the same page - two TCNs for the brigade main, one for the brigade TAC and eight distributed to battalions - while also repeating the first version underneath it
How to answer
  • The fact sheet total of 8 in the BCT is the figure to lead with, because it is the version presented as the planning cut sheet and it matches the TCN-Lite fact sheet exactly
  • If a question asks how many TCNs support the division, the answer is eleven - that figure appears only once and is not contradicted
  • The nine-versus-eight brigade split is worth confirming before the planning exercise, because asset counts drive the whole ESB and division network design

Doctrinal sets to know cold

TCN AN/MSC-82 fact sheet
  1. Tier - Upper Tier
  2. Distribution - 2 at BCT (C/BSTB), 1 per battalion; total 8 in the BCT
  3. Platform - FMTV (armor) with onboard 15 kW generator
  4. Like system - JNN/SSS; capability set CS-14
  5. Bandwidth and waveforms - NCW 256 kbps, HNW 5 to 25 Mbps, LAW 5 Mbps ATH / 1 Mbps OTM
  6. Link content - SIPR and NIPR VoIP and data
  7. Range - NCW beyond line of sight, HNW 25 km LOS, LAW 5 km ATH / 1 km OTM
  8. Operator - 25H
TCN-Lite AN/MSC-85 fact sheet
  1. Tier - Upper Tier
  2. Distribution - 2 at BCT (C/BSTB), 1 per battalion; total 8 in the BCT
  3. Platform - M1152 (armor) with towed 10 kW generator
  4. Like system - JNN/SSS; capability set CS-21
  5. Bandwidth and waveforms - NCW 256 kbps, HNW 5 to 25 Mbps
  6. Link content - SIPR and NIPR VoIP and data
  7. Range - NCW beyond line of sight, HNW 25 km LOS
  8. Operator - 25H
The five Increment 2 virtual systems on the TCN, PoP and SNE
  1. NRM - Node Resource Manager (SNMP); colorless, SIPR, NIPR
  2. QED - Quality Edge Device (QoS); SIPR, NIPR
  3. OEM - Operating Environment Management, the web interface for NRM; colorless, SIPR, NIPR
  4. PEP - Performance Enhancing Proxy; SIPR, NIPR; TCP traffic only
  5. DSC - Domain Server Controller; colorless, SIPR, NIPR
TCN power
  1. On the move - 15 kW onboard generator mounted toward the middle of the truck bed
  2. At the halt - trailer-towed 30 kW AC generator, or commercial power if available
  3. TCN-Lite - towed 10 kW power unit
TCN transmission antennas
  1. CNR antenna - combat net radio
  2. SWLAN antenna - secure wireless LAN
  3. HRFU antenna - highband radio frequency unit
  4. RTEK antenna - range throughput extension kit
  5. GPS antenna
  6. M20 antenna - SATCOM on the move
  7. LAW antenna - local area waveform
What the TCN is employed with
  1. Tactical Relay-Tower AN/TRC-219
  2. STT+ / STT-High Power AN/TSC-208
  3. Network Operations and Security Center AN/TSC-188(V1)

Key terms

Tactical Communications Node (TCN) AN/MSC-82
The main entry and exit point from the tactical network to DODIN-A services. It incorporates access, distribution and core layer functionality into a tactical, hardened, mobile platform, and is deployed at battalion, brigade and division headquarters in support of an Army, joint or coalition force.
TCN-Lite AN/MSC-85(V)1
The principal mobile Increment 2 component. It provides at-the-halt and on-the-move high-capacity C-band ground-to-ground communications plus swappable Ka/Ku SATCOM, connects Ethernet switches supporting user equipment ports, and is deployed at division, brigade and battalion level. LIN C05094.
Highband Networking Waveform (HNW)
The ground-to-ground waveform the TCN uses for high-capacity line-of-sight links, running 5 to 25 Mbps with a 25 km line-of-sight range on the TCN.
Network Centric Waveform (NCW)
The beyond-line-of-sight satellite waveform used by the TCN, PoP and SNE, running at 256 kbps.
Local Area Waveform (LAW)
The short-range waveform on the TCN, running 5 Mbps at the halt over 5 km and 1 Mbps on the move over 1 km.
Node Resource Manager (NRM)
The SNMP-based virtual system on the TCN, PoP and SNE that manages node resources. It runs in the colorless, SIPR and NIPR domains.
Quality Edge Device (QED)
The virtual system providing quality of service on the TCN, PoP and SNE, in the SIPR and NIPR domains. LAN switches and routers classify packets, mark them according to QoS configuration, and every QoS-configured device then handles each packet according to its classification - per hop behavior.
Operating Environment Management (OEM)
The web interface for the Node Resource Manager, running in the colorless, SIPR and NIPR domains on the TCN, PoP and SNE.
Performance Enhancing Proxy (PEP)
The virtual system that improves end-to-end performance of TCP traffic only, in the SIPR and NIPR domains. A PEP can split a connection - pretending to be the opposite endpoint in each direction - or snoop into it.
Domain Server Controller (DSC)
The virtual system that responds to security authentication requests within the network domain, running in the colorless, SIPR and NIPR domains.
Per Hop Behavior (PHB)
The principle that once a packet is marked, every QoS-configured device in the network handles it according to its classification.
Tactical Alternate Command Post (TAC)
The command post closer to the battle, which sees network status with a perspective given by proximity. The TAC uses a TCN for management support and technical subscribers; the TOC uses two TCNs, one dedicated to the NOSC and one for technical users and customers.
User Access Case (UAC)
The transit case that extends user ports into command post tents and buildings. At division and brigade level each UAC provides a 48-port switch and a UPS.
TFOCA-II
The tactical fiber optic cable assembly used to connect the NOSC, TOC and TAC elements - 300 m and 100 m runs appear in the division and brigade NetOps architecture diagrams.
SNDM, NNDM and XNDM
The secret, NIPR and colorless network data modules that appear in the TCN wired connectivity diagrams alongside the secure and non-secure wireless network management appliances.
Crossbanding
The TCN and multiband radio capability to bridge traffic between different radio bands and networks, listed on the TCN-Lite and AN/PRC-158/162 fact sheets as radio and network crossbanding.
Gas Particulate Filter Unit (GPFU)
A component of the TCN-Lite HMMWV configuration, alongside the HRFUe2 mounting bracket, GPS antenna, TALIN and environmental control unit.

Testable points

  • The TCN is the main entry and exit point from the tactical network to DODIN-A services.
  • The TCN incorporates access, distribution and core layer functionality into a tactical, hardened, mobile platform.
  • TCNs are deployed at battalion, brigade and division headquarters in support of an existing Army, joint or coalition force, where they provide an interface into the tactical network.
  • The TCN AN/MSC-82 rides an FMTV with armor and an onboard 15 kW generator; the TCN-Lite AN/MSC-85 rides an M1152 with armor and a towed 10 kW generator.
  • TCN on-the-move power comes from the 15 kW onboard generator mounted toward the middle of the truck bed; at-the-halt power comes from a trailer-towed 30 kW AC generator or commercial power if available.
  • TCN bandwidth and waveforms are NCW at 256 kbps, HNW at 5 to 25 Mbps, and LAW at 5 Mbps at the halt and 1 Mbps on the move.
  • TCN ranges are NCW beyond line of sight, HNW 25 km line of sight, LAW 1 km on the move and 5 km at the halt.
  • The TCN and TCN-Lite are both distributed 2 per BCT in the brigade support and troops battalion plus 1 per battalion, for a total of 8 in the BCT, and both are operated by 25H.
  • The TCN is a CS-14 system; the TCN-Lite is a CS-21 system.
  • TCN link content is SIPR and NIPR VoIP and data.
  • Eleven TCNs are employed to support the division network with voice, video and data at the halt or on the move.
  • Nine TCNs support the BCT main CP, BCT TAC CP and battalion CPs.
  • The TCN is employed in conjunction with a Tactical Relay-Tower, an STT+/HP and a Network Operations and Security Center.
  • TCN transmission antennas include the combat net radio antenna, secure wireless LAN antenna, HRFU antenna, RTEK antenna, GPS antenna, M20 antenna and LAW antenna.
  • The TCN-Lite provides at-the-halt and on-the-move high-capacity C-band ground-to-ground communications plus swappable Ka/Ku SATCOM.
  • The TCN-Lite is GIG information assurance compliant with colorless core, provides an at-the-halt interface to CENTRIX, joint and current force SATCOM and HCLOS v1/v3, and provides node management for colorless, secret and SIPR domains plus LAN management and a key management client.
  • The TCN-Lite provides wired user access, an IP gateway for analog phones, enclave boundary protection, QoS with congestion control, HAIPE products for user data COMSEC, and NSA-accepted TRANSEC.
  • Eight TCN-Lites are deployed per BCT.
  • The same components are used for the TCN-Lite and the TCN heavy.
  • The five new Increment 2 virtual systems present on the TCN, PoP and SNE are NRM, QED, OEM, PEP and DSC.
  • NRM, OEM and DSC run in the colorless, SIPR and NIPR domains; QED and PEP run in SIPR and NIPR only, and PEP handles TCP traffic only.
  • At division level the TAC uses one TCN and the TOC uses two - one dedicated to the NOSC and one for technical users and customers.
  • Each User Access Case at division and brigade level provides a 48-port switch and a UPS.
  • LAN management for an Increment 2 battalion TOC is accomplished via the TCN-provided node manager laptop.
  • The AN/TSC-208 STT-High Power that works with the TCN is a Ku/Ka-band terminal providing FDMA and/or MF-TDMA voice and data connectivity.

References

ATP 6-02.60, Tactical Networking Techniques for Corps and Below (Aug 2019)FM 6-02, Signal Support to Operations (12 Sep 2019)ATP 6-02.45, Techniques for Tactical Signal Support to Theater Operations (Nov 2019)

Tactical Relay-Tower AN/TRC-219 113-SCCCF23

Learning objective and standard

Learning objectiveDefine the principles of the Tactical Relay-Tower (TR-T) AN/TRC-219 for Signal planning.

StandardIdentify the capabilities of the TR-T AN/TRC-219 and define its planning and deployment considerations, without error.

A short lesson about one trailer, and a good one to bank points on because the numbers are few and the check on learning asks for two of them directly. The TR-T is a 30-meter mast on a tow-behind trailer whose only job is to extend Highband Networking Radio range for ground-to-ground links. It is strictly at-the-halt, it provides no networking capability and no user services on any enclave, and it supports no phones. Learn the 30 km range, the 60 mph operating and 80 mph survival wind limits, the 178-degree RTEK azimuth, and the fact that TR-Ts sit at division and brigade only. Then learn the airfield coordination requirement, because it is the one planning consideration in Module F that will get somebody hurt if you skip it.

Doctrinal currencyThe TR-T range figure appears twice in the same deck with two different numbers.

What this course teaches — answer this on the exam
  • The fact sheet slide lists the range as 'HNW: 40k LOS'
  • The introduction slide, the capabilities slide and the check on learning all give 30 kilometers
Which one to answer
  • Answer 30 kilometers. It appears three times, including in the lesson's own check on learning, which asks 'The TR-T operates at a range of ____ kilometers' and answers 30
  • The 40 km figure on the fact sheet is the same number the HCLOS lesson gives as its planning range, which is the likely source of the error

Doctrinal sets to know cold

TR-T AN/TRC-219 fact sheet
  1. Tier - Upper Tier
  2. Nomenclature - AN/TRC-219
  3. Distribution - 1 per C/BSTB
  4. Support equipment - M1152 with onboard 3 kW generator set
  5. Like system - new capability; capability set CS-14
  6. Bandwidth and waveform - HNW 30 Mbps
  7. Link content - SIPR and NIPR data and voice retransmission
  8. Operator - 25H
What the TR-T does not do
  1. It does not operate on the move - it is strictly at the halt
  2. It provides no networking capabilities
  3. It provides no user breakout services for the secret, SIPR or colorless enclaves
  4. It supports no analog or IP phones
  5. It provides no user services for SIPRNET or NIPRNET
TR-T siting considerations
  1. A line-of-sight path to the far end of the intended link is required
  2. Consider terrain, foliage and building obstructions when developing site scenarios
  3. Site the trailer so the RTEK, which moves only 178 degrees in azimuth, points at the neighbor node
  4. Set up away from aircraft runways and heliports
  5. Coordinate with the installation airfield or airspace officer, or the senior airfield authority in a combat zone
  6. Install and operate the aircraft warning beacons if the mission permits; switch them to infrared at night for light discipline
  7. Wind limits are 60 mph operating and 80 mph non-operational

Key terms

Tactical Relay-Tower (TR-T) AN/TRC-219
The at-the-halt trailer-mounted 30-meter mast system that extends the range of the Highband Networking Radio for ground-to-ground links. It operates either as a standalone unit or in conjunction with a colocated TCN, and sends and receives highband networking waveform over the colorless enclave.
Highband Radio Frequency Unit (HRFU) C-band antenna
One of the two antennas the TR-T uses to establish links between neighbor nodes.
Range Throughput Extension Kit (RTEK)
The directional panel antenna the TR-T uses alongside the HRFU. It can be oriented 178 degrees in azimuth, so the TR-T must be situated with the RTEK pointing toward the neighbor node.
Time division duplex / time division multiple access
The networking method the Highband Networking Radio uses to provide bandwidth on demand as part of a mobile ad hoc network.
Inertial navigation unit
The unit at the top of the TR-T antenna mast which, with the trailer-mounted GPS input/output block, provides position and timing information used by the antennas and the network management system for distance calculation and antenna direction adjustment.
Aircraft warning beacon
The light on the TR-T antenna mast. It should be installed, operational and used if the mission permits, and can be switched to infrared during night operations to allow safe flight operations while maintaining light discipline.
Colorless enclave
The encrypted core over which the TR-T sends and receives the highband networking waveform. The TR-T provides no user breakout services for the secret, SIPR or colorless enclaves.
Neighbor node
The distant end of a TR-T link, reached by HRFU-to-HRFU or RTEK-to-RTEK connection. The TR-T requires a line-of-sight path to the other end of the intended link.

Testable points

  • The TR-T is fielded to division and brigade headquarters to extend the range of the Highband Networking Radio.
  • The TR-T operates either as a standalone unit or in conjunction with a colocated TCN.
  • The TR-T extends Highband Networking Radio range to as much as 30 kilometers - about 18.6 miles - with unobstructed line of sight.
  • The TR-T operates at the halt only.
  • The TR-T sends and receives the highband networking waveform over the colorless enclave.
  • The TR-T provides no networking capabilities and no user services for either SIPRNET or NIPRNET, and no breakout services for the secret, SIPR or colorless enclaves.
  • The TR-T does not support any analog or IP phones.
  • The TR-T consists of a tow-behind trailer with the mast, an onboard diesel generator, and an environmentally controlled equipment transit case.
  • The TR-T mast is 30 meters.
  • The TR-T can operate in winds up to 60 mph in any direction and withstand winds up to 80 mph non-operational without permanent deformation.
  • The RTEK can be oriented 178 degrees in azimuth, so the TR-T must be sited with the RTEK pointing toward the neighbor node.
  • The TR-T transmission subsystem is a Highband Networking Radio for high-throughput ground-to-ground communications with other HNRs, operating as part of a mobile ad hoc network and using time division duplex / time division multiple access to provide bandwidth on demand.
  • The TR-T uses two antennas - the Highband Radio Frequency Unit C-band antenna and the directional Range Throughput Extension Kit panel antenna.
  • A trailer-mounted GPS input/output block and an inertial navigation unit at the top of the mast provide position and timing used for distance calculation and antenna direction adjustment.
  • TR-T links are made HRFU to HRFU or RTEK to RTEK between the division, BCT and SBCT.
  • The TR-T requires a line-of-sight path to the other end of the intended link; pre-planned mission scenarios used with maps, reports and other information assist site selection.
  • Planners should consider obstructions such as terrain, foliage and buildings when developing TR-T site scenarios.
  • Planners and operators should set up the TR-T away from aircraft runways and heliports, and must coordinate with the installation airfield or airspace officer, or in a combat zone the senior airfield authority.
  • The TR-T fact sheet is a new capability with no like system, is a CS-14 item, is distributed one per company or brigade special troops battalion, rides an M1152 with an onboard 3 kW generator set, and is operated by a 25H.
  • TR-T link content is SIPR and NIPR data and voice retransmission.
  • The division and brigade NOSCs perform DODIN operations for the upper tier tactical internet; battalions perform DODIN operations for the lower tier.

References

ATP 6-02.60, Tactical Networking Techniques for Corps and Below (Aug 2019)FM 6-02, Signal Support to Operations (12 Sep 2019)

Point of Presence and Soldier Network Extension 113-SCCCF24

Learning objective and standard

Learning objectiveDefine the capabilities of Tactical Network On The Move (OTM) assets for a mission.

StandardDefine the capabilities of the Point of Presence (PoP) AN/MRC-150 and the Soldier Network Extension (SNE) AN/MRC-149, in a clear and concise manner, without error.

The two on-the-move vehicle kits, and the pair most easily confused. The mnemonic the course gives is physical and it works: a PoP has two humps and an SNE has one - two M20 antennas against one. The functional split matters more. The PoP is the commander's and operations' mobile network node with both satellite and Highband Networking Radio, so at the halt within HNR range it can carry a small TOC. The SNE has satellite only, no line-of-sight radio, and lives further down at company commanders and platoon leaders. Both are SIPR only - no NIPR - and both are operated by a general purpose user with no assigned MOS. The SNE's optional combat net radio gateway is the piece that connects Module E to Module F: it lets up to four SINCGARS voice networks reach the upper tier through the satellite link.

Doctrinal currencyThe SNE material carries the old programme name throughout, and one passage on the SNE slides is actually about the PoP.

What this course teaches — answer this on the exam
  • The SNE description repeatedly calls it 'a component of the Warfighter Information Network - Tactical (WIN-T) system' and refers to WIN-T VoIP phones and the WIN-T network
  • The SNE reachback slide's notes end with a sentence about one-hop satellite access that names the PoP, not the SNE
How to read it
  • Read WIN-T as Tactical Network Transport throughout. The capability description is unchanged; only the programme name is stale
  • The one-hop reachback sentence is correct but belongs to the PoP. Both benefit from battalion, brigade and division sharing a satellite net, but the sentence as written names the PoP

Doctrinal sets to know cold

PoP AN/MRC-150 fact sheet
  1. Tier - Upper Tier
  2. Distribution - 2 at BCT (S3 and commander), 1 per battalion commander except BSTB; total 7
  3. Platform - vehicular
  4. Like system - new capability; capability set CS-14
  5. Bandwidth and waveforms - NCW 256 kbps, HNW 3000 kbps
  6. Link content - SIPR VoIP and data
  7. Range - NCW beyond line of sight, HNW 15 km LOS
  8. Operator - general purpose user, no assigned MOS
SNE AN/MRC-149 fact sheet
  1. Tier - Upper Tier
  2. Distribution - BN S3 (4), CO/TRP/FSC/ENG commanders (16), retrans (9), FDC (4); total 33 in 3 BCT
  3. Platform - HMMWV
  4. Like system - new capability; capability set CS-14
  5. Bandwidth and waveform - NCW 128 kbps
  6. Link content - SIPR VoIP and data
  7. Range - NCW beyond line of sight
  8. Operator - general purpose user
PoP versus SNE at a glance
  1. Antennas - PoP has two M20 humps, SNE has one
  2. Transport - PoP has SATCOM plus Highband Networking Radio; SNE has satellite links only
  3. Bandwidth - PoP NCW 256 kbps and HNW 3000 kbps; SNE NCW 128 kbps
  4. Echelon - PoP from battalion up to division commanders and operations; SNE at company commanders and platoon leaders in maneuver battalions
  5. Extra capability - SNE carries the optional CNR gateway for up to four SINCGARS nets
  6. Both are SIPR only, both are operated by a general purpose user, both are CS-14 new capabilities
What the SNE does not support
  1. NIPR - it supports SIPR and colorless only
  2. Analog Secure Terminal Equipment phones
  3. Line-of-sight ground-to-ground links - it is satellite only

Key terms

Point of Presence (PoP) AN/MRC-150
A set of communications equipment integrated into a host platform with a vehicular A-kit, providing bi-directional integrated voice and data service and connectivity with other Tactical Network Transport nodes. It provides at-the-halt and on-the-move high-capacity line-of-sight ground-to-ground communications plus Ka/Ku SATCOM using a small on-the-move antenna.
Soldier Network Extension (SNE) AN/MRC-149
A B-Kit of colorless wide area network and secret local area network communications equipment designed to be integrated into a host combat vehicle. It provides data and voice access to the tactical network from the command and control vehicle it is mounted in, using satellite links only.
M20 antenna
The L-3 Datron model FSS-4180-LC SATCOM antenna with an 18-inch circular aperture, operable at the halt or on the move. It uses a gimbal design to point precisely at the selected satellite in azimuth and elevation even when moving at high speed over rough terrain, uses GPS for pointing and tracking, and is monitored and controlled by node management software.
Combat Net Radio (CNR) gateway
The optional SNE component that allows up to four SINCGARS voice networks to access the tactical network through the SATCOM links, and lets CNR net users contact users in geographically separate CNR networks through the network.
B-Kit
The set of communications equipment installed into a host vehicle, as distinct from the A-kit, which is the vehicle-side installation kit.
Multi-Purpose Modem (MPM)
The modem running the Network Centric Waveform in the SNE and PoP, using spread spectrum, multi-channel modulation and demodulation, advanced turbo coding, and AES encryption and decryption. The PoP diagrams show the MPM-1000.
Colorless (CO) wide area network
One of the SNE's two security domains. The colorless network provides data transport between tactical network components and makes the routing decisions that determine the path through the network.
Secret (SE) local area network
The SNE's other security domain - the secret LAN serving the users onboard the vehicle.
CUCM
Cisco Unified Communications Manager. The PoP and SNE each carry one per shelter, in the SIPR domain only, loaded on the Distributed Computing Environment.
User Display
The SNE operator position's interface to the server and Ethernet switch, through which the Soldier can access communication status, data services and voice services.
One-hop satellite access
The property that because battalion, brigade and division all operate in the same satellite net, a PoP can reach any of those levels in a single satellite hop, giving reachback to battalion and brigade users.

Testable points

  • A PoP has two humps - two M20 antennas. An SNE has one.
  • The PoP provides at-the-halt and on-the-move high-capacity line-of-sight ground-to-ground communications as well as Ka/Ku SATCOM using a small on-the-move antenna.
  • The PoP is used primarily by commanders and operations at almost all levels of the combat division, from battalion up to division.
  • The PoP provides SIPR voice and SIPR data only - there is no NIPR on a PoP.
  • The PoP has satellite communications plus the Highband Networking Radio whenever it is within line-of-sight range of another HNR radio such as a TCN or TR-T.
  • At the halt and within range of another HNR radio, the PoP has sufficient bandwidth to provide communications for a small TOC.
  • PoP bandwidth is NCW at 256 kbps and HNW at 3000 kbps, with NCW beyond line of sight and HNW to 15 km line of sight.
  • The PoP is distributed 2 per BCT to the S3 and commander, and 1 per battalion commander except the BSTB, for a total of 7.
  • Any Soldier can operate the PoP - the fact sheet lists the operator as a general purpose user with no assigned MOS.
  • The SNE provides data and voice access to the tactical network from its host command and control vehicle using satellite links only.
  • The SNE is comprised of two security domains - a colorless wide area network and a secret local area network.
  • The SNE supports SIPR and colorless; it does not support analog Secure Terminal Equipment phones.
  • SNE bandwidth is NCW at 128 kbps, beyond line of sight, with link content of SIPR VoIP and data.
  • The SNE is distributed to the battalion S3 (4), company, troop, forward support company and engineer commanders (16), retransmission (9) and fire direction center (4), for a total of 33 in a 3-BCT division.
  • The SNE rides an HMMWV, is a CS-14 new capability, and is operated by a general purpose user.
  • The SNE is meant to be installed in vehicles used by company commanders and platoon leaders in maneuver battalions.
  • The SNE's optional CNR gateway allows up to four SINCGARS voice networks to access the tactical network via the SATCOM links.
  • SNE components are configured prior to deployment, and subsequent configurations can be dynamically updated via the network management system.
  • The SNE SATCOM antenna has swappable Ka/Ku feeds and can support either Ka or Ku band at one time.
  • The M20 antenna has an 18-inch circular aperture and uses a gimbal design to point precisely in azimuth and elevation even at high speed over rough terrain.
  • Because battalion, brigade and division all operate in the same satellite net, the PoP has one-hop satellite access to any of those levels, providing reachback for battalion and brigade users.
  • The PoP and SNE each carry one Cisco Unified Communications Manager per shelter, SIPR domain only, loaded on the Distributed Computing Environment.
  • The PoP and SNE both run the five Increment 2 virtual systems - NRM, QED, OEM, PEP and DSC - the same set the TCN carries.

References

ATP 6-02.60, Tactical Networking Techniques for Corps and Below (Aug 2019)FM 6-02, Signal Support to Operations (12 Sep 2019)ATP 6-02.53, Techniques for Tactical Radio Operations (31 Jan 2020)

HCLOS, TRILOS and Troposcatter 113-SCCCF23

Learning objective and standard

Learning objectiveIdentify the planning considerations of Multichannel Line-of-Sight (LOS) and Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) systems.

StandardIdentify planning considerations of the HCLOS system and of the TROPO system in a clear and concise manner without error.

The terrestrial half of upper tier transport - the systems that carry a division's traffic without a satellite. Three systems, three very different range and bandwidth profiles, and the comparison is the lesson. HCLOS is the 40 km workhorse; TRILOS is the 200 Mbps full-duplex high-capacity shot; troposcatter reaches 100 miles by bouncing off the atmosphere at up to 16 Mbps. The check on learning asks for the TRILOS data rate and for the benefits of the radio set, and the benefits list is the argument for terrestrial transport generally: no outside agency, no bandwidth cost, no airtime cost, dedicated bandwidth, faster from planning to operation, and less weather sensitivity. Learn the RFU placement rule too - it is the one piece of real installation planning in the lesson.

Doctrinal currencyOne HCLOS data rate is given twice with two different numbers on the same slide, and the difference is a factor of two.

What this course teaches — answer this on the exam
  • The AN/TRC-190 C/D capabilities slide gives 'Data Rate: 256 Kbps to 8.192 Mbps'
  • The speaker note on the same slide gives 'Data Rate: 256 Kbps to 16.384 Mbps'
  • The note also flags that 'one of the key aspects is the difference in Data Rate' between the C and D models, without saying which is which
How to handle it
  • The two figures are almost certainly the C model and the D model - the slide compares AN/TRC-190C and AN/TRC-190D side by side and the note says the data rate is the key difference. But the deck never states which model gets which rate
  • The AN/GRC-245B/E/F figure of 34 Mbps full duplex is separate and unambiguous, and so is TRILOS at 200 Mbps
  • Worth confirming which model carries 8.192 Mbps and which carries 16.384 Mbps before the transmission planning exercise

Doctrinal sets to know cold

The three terrestrial systems compared
  1. HCLOS AN/TRC-190 - 40 km planning range, 225-400 and 1350-2690 MHz, up to 34 Mbps full duplex on the AN/GRC-245B/E/F
  2. TRILOS AN/TRC-238 - 200 Mbps full duplex
  3. TROPO AN/TRC-170A(V)3 - 35 miles in LOS mode, 100 miles in troposcatter mode, up to 16 Mbps
The RFU placement rule
  1. Less than 20 km - Band I and Band III+ both inside the shelter
  2. 20 to 30 km - Band I inside the shelter, Band III+ at the base of the mast
  3. 30 km and greater - Band I and Band III+ both at the base of the mast
The three BITE types
  1. P-BIT - power on
  2. C-BIT - continuous
  3. I-BIT - operator-initiated test modes
Benefits of the AN/GRC-245B radio set
  1. Less susceptible to adverse weather conditions
  2. Does not require access to an outside agency's equipment
  3. Less time from planning to full operations
  4. No cost for bandwidth or airtime
  5. Greater bandwidth
  6. Dedicated bandwidth
The two forms of diversity reception
  1. Dual space diversity - a second antenna and receiver separated by at least 100 wavelengths (20.8 feet); the only form available on the AN/TRC-170A(V)3
  2. Dual frequency diversity - a second transmitter and antenna on a frequency at least 100 MHz away
TROPO antenna radiation hazard distances
  1. LOS mode at 0.4 W - about 20 feet
  2. Low power at close range - 43 feet
  3. Low power TROPO at 500 W - 418 feet
  4. High power TROPO at 1 kW - 590 feet
  5. Never shoot across your own site; always face outward
HCLOS major components
  1. AN/GRC-245A radio set - BBU and RFU
  2. FLEXMUX TD-1475(P)/U
  3. KYB-703 buffer
  4. CTM-100/C IP encryptor
  5. KY-57 communications security
  6. IP switch
  7. 15 m mast AB-1339A/G and 30 m mast AB-1404/TRC-190

Key terms

HCLOS
High-Capacity Line of Sight. A transportable radio communications system using ultra-high frequency radio sets to maintain a redundant communications link between multiple battlefield locations. With a JNN it delivers data and voice services to remote locations.
AN/TRC-190
The HCLOS radio shelter. The (v)1 contains one radio set and supports one radio shot from a different out site; the (v)3 contains three radio sets and supports three shots. Models run C, D, E and F.
AN/GRC-245
The radio set inside the HCLOS shelter. The first version was the AN/GRC-226, replaced by the AN/GRC-245, with the current version called the Enhanced HCLOS radio. All AN/GRC-245 radios are over-the-air compatible with the AN/GRC-226 at a maximum data rate of 2.048 Mbps.
Baseband Unit (BBU)
The brains of the HCLOS radio set. It provides +48 VDC to power the radio frequency unit, processes non-return to zero to intermediate frequency and back, and is managed through the human machine interface. It weighs 37.65 lbs and is a two-person lift.
Radio Frequency Unit (RFU)
The HCLOS assembly containing an independent transmitter and receiver allowing full duplex operation, a power supply, a controller, Band I and Band III+ power amplifiers, a diplexer, a receiver down-converter and a transmit up-converter. It weighs 76.39 lbs and is a two-person lift. For base-of-mast operation the RFU must not be grounded - grounding is provided through the inter-unit cable.
Band I
The HCLOS lower band, 225 to 400 MHz, used with the RT-1814/GRC-245(V)1 and the AS-3875/GRC-226(V)1 antenna.
Band III+
The HCLOS upper band, 1350 to 2690 MHz, used with the RT-1815/GRC-245(V)2 and the AS-4515/GRC-245(V)2 antenna, which has a feedhorn and reflector dish.
FLEXMUX (TD-1475(P)/U)
A multi-channel synchronous time-division digital multiplexer combined with a DS3 fiber optic modem, used for multiple data transmission groups across a single cable to and from the TCN or SSS. It handles aggregate data rates up to 44.736 Mbps, provides up to six independent multiplexer functions and four modems in one 3.5-inch enclosure, and gives a 16 kbps digital voice orderwire channel and a 64 kbps data service channel per transmission group.
Built In Test Equipment (BITE)
The HCLOS radio's self-test capability. It has three types: P-BIT power on, C-BIT continuous, and I-BIT operator-initiated test modes.
Radio Loop test
An operator-initiated HCLOS test, run only in standby mode with the antenna disconnected, that replaces transmit traffic data with an internally generated pseudo-random test pattern and compares it with the receive data after loopback in the RF unit. It tests the radio's ability to process data at the current frequency and link rate and helps identify intermittent faults.
VSWR test
Voltage Standing Wave Ratio. An operator-initiated HCLOS test run in standby mode that measures reflected power in the antenna system to identify faulty or loose cables and antenna feed horns. Results run 0 to 100 percent, with 100 percent meaning full reflection. The target is 12 percent or less, and it is described as the most important test to run when setting up the antenna.
TRILOS (AN/TRC-238)
The Terrestrial Transmission Line of Sight system, with a data transfer rate of 200 Mbps full duplex. Versions are the AN/TRC-238(V1) and (V2).
Troposcatter (TROPO)
Beyond-line-of-sight communications produced by the spreading of radio waves in the troposphere, caused by small changes in humidity, temperature and pressure that scatter electromagnetic waves. It gives high-capacity BLOS capability without using expensive and limited satellite resources.
AN/TRC-170A(V)3
The troposcatter microwave radio terminal - an S-250 shelter mounted on a heavy HMMWV with a quick reaction antenna system operating in dual space diversity. It provides secure digital connectivity between two major nodes in a point-to-point configuration.
Quick Reaction Antenna (QRA) OE-354
The AN/TRC-170A(V)3 antenna - two 6-foot diameter linearly dual-polarized antennas on a single boom, each rated at 36.5 dB gain, fed by flexible waveguide and mounted on a crank-up support integral to an M116A2 trailer chassis. For operation the assembly is elevated to 12 feet.
Dual space diversity
Diversity reception accomplished by adding a second antenna and receiver, separated by at least 100 wavelengths (20.8 feet), so the two received signals fade independently and can be combined into a single stable signal. This is the only form of diversity reception available on the AN/TRC-170A(V)3.
Dual frequency diversity
Diversity reception accomplished by adding a second transmitter and antenna, with the second transmitter on a separate frequency at least 100 MHz away, so rapid fading does not affect both frequencies at the same time.
CS6716 Digital Troposcatter Modem
The upgraded TROPO modem providing throughput up to 16.384 Mbps for voice, video and data, accommodating a combination of up to four interfaces - CDI from 72 to 4608 kbps or TFOCA-I from 96 to 16384 kbps.
Over The Air Compatibility (OTAC)
The property that all AN/GRC-245 radios can interoperate with the legacy AN/GRC-226 MSE radio at a maximum data rate of 2.048 Mbps.

Testable points

  • The HCLOS is a transportable radio communications system using ultra-high frequency radio sets to maintain a redundant communications link between multiple battlefield locations.
  • The AN/TRC-190(v)1 contains one radio set and supports one radio shot; the (v)3 contains three radio sets and supports three shots from different out sites.
  • HCLOS capabilities include data links between the JNN, battalion CPN, SSS or TCN and distant LOS assemblages; secure and non-secure IP routing; video teleconferencing to remote locations with the help of a JNN; and low-latency, high-bandwidth performance.
  • The AN/TRC-190 C/D planning range is 40 km.
  • HCLOS frequencies are 225 to 400 MHz (Band I) and 1350 to 2690 MHz (Band III+).
  • The AN/GRC-245B/E(v1)/F(v2) radio set is dual-band across Band I and Band III+, carries up to 34 Mbps full duplex traffic, and accepts up to two digital trunk groups and one 10/100Base-T Ethernet interface in any combination.
  • The HCLOS radio evolution ran AN/GRC-226, then AN/GRC-245, then the current Enhanced HCLOS radio.
  • All AN/GRC-245 radios are over-the-air compatible with the AN/GRC-226 MSE legacy radio at a maximum data rate of 2.048 Mbps.
  • The HCLOS BBU weighs 37.65 lbs and the RFU weighs 76.39 lbs; both are two-person lifts.
  • For base-of-mast operation the HCLOS RFU must not be grounded - grounding is provided through the inter-unit cable, which also carries IF, control signals and +48 VDC power.
  • The RFU placement rule is: under 20 km both bands inside the shelter; between 20 and 30 km Band I inside and Band III+ at the base of the mast; 30 km and greater both bands at the base of the mast.
  • Deploying the RFU to the base of the mast reduces signal loss in the RFU cables between shelter and antenna, and is used when planning has determined the full compliance link margin cannot be achieved otherwise.
  • The RFU carrying harness must be installed for base-of-mast operation, to protect against accidental drops up to 2 feet and improve airflow for cooling.
  • The FLEXMUX handles aggregate data rates up to 44.736 Mbps (DS3), combines up to five synchronous high-speed data groups of up to 8192 kbps each per multiplexer function, and provides a 1300 nm optical output suitable for 16 km of tactical fiber optic cable.
  • HCLOS masts are the 15-meter AB-1339A/G, a telescopic aluminum hexagonal structure with three sets of guy ropes, and a 30-meter AB-1404/TRC-190. One 15 m mast is carried on the power trailer and two more on the nodal support vehicle.
  • The VSWR target is 12 percent reflection or less, and the test should be run before erecting an antenna.
  • A VSWR result of 100 percent means full reflection - for example, no antenna connected to the RFU port - and no signal reaches the distant end.
  • The TRILOS AN/TRC-238 has a data transfer rate of 200 Mbps full duplex.
  • The AN/TRC-170A(V)3 is an S-250 shelter on a heavy HMMWV with a quick reaction antenna operating in dual space diversity.
  • The AN/TRC-170A(V)3 transmits and receives digital data over distances up to 100 miles, in two bandwidths (3.5 MHz or 7 MHz) within the 4.4 to 5.0 GHz range.
  • The AN/TRC-170A(V)3 provides up to 16 Mbps of secure digital trunking between major nodes and supports 32 local subscribers, with a setup and teardown time of one hour.
  • The AN/TRC-170A(V)3's modes of transmission are line of sight with a range of 35 miles, or troposcatter with a range of 100 miles.
  • The upgraded TROPO modem supports a total aggregate rate of 16.384 Mbps, but the KG-194 trunk encryption device limits it to 13 Mbps.
  • Dual space diversity antennas are separated by at least 100 wavelengths, which is 20.8 feet, so the two received signals fade independently.
  • Dual frequency diversity uses a second transmitter on a frequency at least 100 MHz away so rapid fading does not affect both frequencies at once.
  • Each QRA antenna is rated at 36.5 dB gain, and the assembly is elevated to 12 feet for operation.
  • TROPO antenna radiation hazard zones are about 20 feet for LOS mode at 0.4 watts, 43 feet at low power, 418 feet at 500 watts low power TROPO, and 590 feet at 1 kW high power TROPO. The lesson's note is to never shoot across your own site - always face outward.
  • TROPO terminals are deployed to interconnect tactical expeditionary forces and unit commanders and to provide extended links over hostile territory between deployed echelons without accessing an orbiting satellite.
  • The benefits of the AN/GRC-245B radio set are that it is less susceptible to adverse weather, does not require access to an outside agency's equipment, takes less time from planning to full operations, has no cost for bandwidth or airtime, and provides greater and dedicated bandwidth.

References

ATP 6-02.60, Tactical Networking Techniques for Corps and Below (Aug 2019)ATP 6-02.45, Techniques for Tactical Signal Support to Theater Operations (Nov 2019)TM 11-5820-1406-13, AN/TRC-190E&F(V) 1&3 HCLOSTM 11-5820-1505-13&P, AN/TRC-238(v) 1&2 TRILOSTM 11-5820-934-13-2-1, AN/TRC-170(v)3 TROPO

T2C2, TRILOS and Global Broadcast Service 113-SCCCF23

Learning objective and standard

Learning objectiveIdentify the capabilities and planning considerations of the T2C2, TRILOS and Global Broadcast Service systems.

StandardIdentify the capabilities of the T2C2 Lite and Heavy, the AN/TRC-238 TRILOS, and the Global Broadcast Service, and their planning considerations, in a clear and concise manner, without error.

Three systems taught together on days 2 and 3 that share nothing except being the answers to three different problems. T2C2 is the transit-case satellite terminal that pushes the network out to a company command post or a team, in a Lite and a Heavy version whose numbers are worth learning side by side. TRILOS is the high-capacity terrestrial replacement for a satellite shot - 200 Mbps full duplex over line of sight, and a non-line-of-sight waveform family for foliage and obstructed paths. GBS is the odd one out: it is receive-only, one-way, and carries broadcast video, imagery and high-speed data to a receive suite rather than carrying a unit's own traffic. Learn the Lite-versus-Heavy table, the TRILOS 200 Mbps figure, and the fact that GBS is one-way.

Doctrinal currencyThis lesson exists in the course as 113-SCCCF23 LSA 8, taught on days 2 and 3, but its deck could not be opened. This page is built from the reference smart books and technical manuals that ship with the module.

What this course teaches — answer this on the exam
  • 113-SCCCF23 Tactical Network Capabilities (ATH)(LSA 8 T2C2_TRILOS_GBS).pptx is rights-protected, and both copies in the drop - the Day 2 and the Day 3 file - are locked
  • There is no lesson plan, advance sheet or instructor guide for LSA 8 in the module drop
  • The T2C2 smart books are dated 15 January 2020, the TRILOS technical manual 30 September 2018, and the GBS technical manual 15 May 2018
How to use this page
  • The equipment facts here come from the systems' own smart books and technical manuals, which are the same sources the locked deck would have drawn on - but the deck's own emphasis, its check-on-learning questions and any planning guidance it carried are not recoverable
  • The one figure this page and the readable decks agree on is TRILOS at 200 Mbps full duplex, which the LOS/BLOS lesson's check on learning asks for directly
  • The T2C2 basis of issue is described in the smart books as not funded through ARSTRUC 20-24, so the allocation numbers may not match what your unit actually holds

Doctrinal sets to know cold

T2C2 Lite against T2C2 Heavy
  1. Nomenclature - Lite AN/TSC-232A(V)1, Heavy AN/TSC-233A(V)1
  2. Transit cases - Lite five, Heavy seven
  3. Setup - Lite 25 minutes, Heavy 35 minutes
  4. Antenna - Lite 1.2 m ISA, Heavy 2.4 m ISA; both Ka, Ku and X
  5. Modem - Lite iDirect, Heavy MPM-2000 NCW
  6. Throughput - Lite up to 3 Mbps transmit / 4 Mbps receive; Heavy up to 8 Mbps transmit / 8 Mbps receive
  7. User access ports per enclave - Lite three, Heavy 17
  8. Enclaves - Lite three (1 colorless, 2 secure), Heavy four (1 colorless, 3 secure)
  9. Encryption - Lite KG-250XS, Heavy KG-175D
  10. Manning - Lite 2 GPU plus 1 25U/25B maintainer; Heavy 2 signal users (25S/25Q/25B/25N)
Why T2C2 exists
  1. Extends the tactical network to company command posts and team-sized elements
  2. Covers early entry, the tactical edge, and late phases of operations
  3. Sends and receives time-sensitive SA, intelligence and mission command information at the halt
  4. Integrates users into the higher-capacity tactical network
  5. Replaces the SNAP and GRRIP bridging capability
  6. Removes the need for units to buy commercial non-program-of-record VSAT systems
TRILOS waveform families
  1. LOS Backhaul (LBH) - point to point for good link conditions, 2x2 Mbps QPSK up to 2x200 Mbps 128QAM
  2. LBH HCLOS - HCLOS-compatible waveforms, 2x2.048 up to 2x34.368 Mbps at 32TCM, interoperable with the AN/GRC-245A/B
  3. NLOS Backhaul (NBH) - point to multipoint with up to five spokes per hub, or point to point with one spoke, for foliage and other challenging conditions, 3.5 to 20 MHz channels at QPSK to 64QAM
The GBS Transportable Ground Receive Suite
  1. Next Generation Receive Terminal (NGRT) - receive-only tracking antenna with swappable Ku and Ka feeds, dish, tripod, LNB down converter, satellite tracking receiver controller and pointing software; two transit cases
  2. Receive Broadcast Manager Type I - classified enclave, uses a KG-250 to decrypt incoming data
  3. Receive Broadcast Manager Type II - unclassified enclave; its laptop also initializes the NGRT and configures the RBM equipment
  4. Splitters - a two-way splitter as standard, or an optional four-way splitter to feed up to four Type II RBMs from one NGRT
What makes GBS different from every other system in Module F
  1. It is receive-only at the tactical end - the NGRT is a receive terminal, not a transceiver
  2. It is one-way - broadcast video, imagery and high-speed data outward, with nothing going back up the same path
  3. It carries information products rather than a unit's own traffic
  4. It is allocated to headquarters-level units, not to every command post

Key terms

T2C2
Transportable Tactical Command Communications. A transit-case satellite terminal developed to extend the tactical network to the company command post and team-sized elements during early entry, at the tactical edge, or during late phases of operations. It integrates users into the higher capacity tactical network and extends that network to the tactical edge.
T2C2 Lite AN/TSC-232A(V)1
The five-case T2C2 variant. 25-minute setup, 1.2 m inflatable satellite antenna in Ka, Ku or X, iDirect modem, up to 3 Mbps transmit and 4 Mbps receive, three user access ports per enclave, three enclaves - one colorless and two secure - encrypted with the KG-250XS. LIN T05071, NSN 5895-01-678-7671.
T2C2 Heavy AN/TSC-233A(V)1
The seven-case T2C2 variant. 35-minute setup, 2.4 m inflatable satellite antenna in Ka, Ku or X, MPM-2000 NCW modem, up to 8 Mbps transmit and 8 Mbps receive, 17 user access ports per enclave, four enclaves - one colorless and three secure - encrypted with the KG-175D. LIN T05073, NSN 5895-01-679-1787.
Inflatable Satellite Antenna (ISA)
The antenna type used on both T2C2 variants - 1.2 m on the Lite and 2.4 m on the Heavy, with Ka, Ku and X band feed assemblies rated 12 W Ka, 12 W Ku and 25 W X.
SNAP / GRRIP
The Secret Internet Protocol Router / Non-secure Internet Protocol Router Access Point and the Global Rapid Response Information Package - the bridging capability used until T2C2 is fielded.
Program of Record (POR)
The formal acquisition status. T2C2 alleviates the requirement for units to seek commercial non-POR VSAT systems.
TRILOS AN/TRC-238
Terrestrial Transmission Line of Sight. The high-capacity terrestrial system with a data transfer rate of 200 Mbps full duplex, built around the AN/GRC-262(V)1 radio with a high-gain parabolic antenna and field-swappable Band 3+ and Band 4 feed elements.
AN/GRC-262(V)1
The TRILOS radio. It has two radio ports per channel to allow dual polarization and/or space diversity antenna connections, and supports both line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight backhaul waveform families.
LOS Backhaul (LBH)
The TRILOS waveform family used in point-to-point topology for good link conditions, running from 2x2 Mbps QPSK up to 2x200 Mbps at 128QAM, plus HCLOS-compatible waveforms interoperable with the AN/GRC-245A/B.
NLOS Backhaul (NBH)
The TRILOS waveform family supporting up to five spokes per hub, used in point-to-multipoint topology, or point-to-point with a single spoke, for challenging link conditions such as foliage.
Network Interface Unit N1000-LX
The TRILOS unit providing external data and power interfaces to the radio over a single cable. It takes 110 VAC input, has a four-port gigabit VLAN-aware managed Ethernet switch with power over Ethernet on all ports, an optional TFOCA-II fiber port supporting 1000Base-LX, status and alignment LEDs, and integrated surge protection.
Global Broadcast Service (GBS)
The system providing worldwide broadcast of high-speed data and the one-way transmission of video, imagery and other information to support forces in garrison and in theater.
Transportable Ground Receive Suite (TGRS) AN/TSR-11
The GBS receive suite. It includes a receive-only Next Generation Receive Terminal and communications equipment in the Receive Broadcast Manager to receive, process and distribute broadcast information.
Next Generation Receive Terminal (NGRT)
The GBS tracking antenna with swappable Ku- and Ka-band feeds, including an antenna dish, tripod, low noise block down converter, satellite tracking receiver controller and the software required to point the antenna and track geostationary and geosynchronous satellites. It ships in two transit cases, one for the reflector and one for the controller.
Receive Broadcast Manager (RBM)
The GBS component housed in two transit cases - Type I as the classified enclave, using a KG-250 to decrypt incoming data, and Type II as the unclassified enclave. Each is mounted in a 3U operational transit case.
GBSOC
The Global Broadcast Service Operations Center.

Testable points

  • T2C2 was developed to extend the tactical network to the company command post and team-sized elements during early entry, at the tactical edge, or during late phases of operations.
  • T2C2 sends and receives time-sensitive situational awareness, intelligence and mission command information while at the halt, in support of all joint operational phases.
  • SNAP and GRRIP were the bridging capability until T2C2 was fielded, and T2C2 alleviates the requirement for units to seek commercial non-program-of-record VSAT systems.
  • The T2C2 Lite is a five hard transit case solution with a 25-minute setup; the Heavy is seven cases with a 35-minute setup.
  • The T2C2 Lite's target manning is two general purpose users as operators and one 25U or 25B as maintainer; the Heavy's is two signal users as operator and maintainer, from 25S, 25Q, 25B or 25N.
  • The T2C2 Lite uses a 1.2 m inflatable satellite antenna and the Heavy a 2.4 m, both available in Ka, Ku and X band.
  • Both T2C2 variants use feed assemblies rated at 12 W Ka, 12 W Ku and 25 W X.
  • The T2C2 Lite uses an iDirect modem; the Heavy uses an MPM-2000 NCW modem.
  • T2C2 Lite throughput is up to 3 Mbps transmit and 4 Mbps receive; Heavy is up to 8 Mbps transmit and 8 Mbps receive. Transmit depends on power, frequency space, modulation and symbol rate.
  • The T2C2 Lite provides three user access ports per enclave across three enclaves - one colorless and two secure. The Heavy provides 17 user access ports per enclave across four enclaves - one colorless and three secure.
  • Both T2C2 variants' secure enclaves support NIPR and SIPR classification domains.
  • The T2C2 Lite is encrypted with the KG-250XS and the Heavy with the KG-175D, both fielded with the systems.
  • The T2C2 Lite is AN/TSC-232A(V)1, LIN T05071, NSN 5895-01-678-7671; the Heavy is AN/TSC-233A(V)1, LIN T05073, NSN 5895-01-679-1787.
  • The T2C2 basis of issue at division is 10 Lite and 8 Heavy; at corps 3 Lite; at BCT 31 Lite and 26 Heavy; at ESB 11 Lite, 8 Heavy and 5 spares.
  • The T2C2 smart books note that the basis of issue was not funded through ARSTRUC 20-24.
  • TRILOS is the AN/TRC-238(V1) and (V2), with a data transfer rate of 200 Mbps full duplex.
  • The TRILOS AN/GRC-262(V)1 radio has two radio ports per channel to allow dual polarization and/or space diversity antenna connections.
  • TRILOS channel 1 operates on 4400-4600 and 4700-4940 MHz (Band 4); channel 2 antenna A on 1350-1525 and 2025-2310 MHz (Band 3+) and antenna B on 1350-1525 and 1710-1850 MHz (Band 3).
  • TRILOS LOS backhaul waveforms run from 2x2 Mbps at QPSK up to 2x200 Mbps at 128QAM, and include HCLOS-compatible waveforms interoperable with the AN/GRC-245A/B radio.
  • TRILOS NLOS backhaul waveforms support up to five spokes per hub and are used in point-to-multipoint topology, or point-to-point with a single spoke, for challenging conditions such as foliage.
  • The TRILOS parabolic antenna is single-polarized, with polarization set to horizontal or vertical by turning the feed element in the reflector, and connects to the radio by a single cable.
  • The TRILOS Band 3+ antenna feed horn covers 1350 to 2690 MHz and the Band 4 feed horn covers 4400 to 5000 MHz.
  • The TRILOS antenna mounting adapter has two notches, one for each mast type - 15 m and 30 m.
  • GBS provides worldwide broadcast of high-speed data and the one-way transmission of video, imagery and other information to forces in garrison and in theater.
  • The GBS Transportable Ground Receive Suite is the AN/TSR-11 and includes a receive-only Next Generation Receive Terminal plus communications equipment in the Receive Broadcast Manager.
  • The GBS NGRT is a tracking antenna with swappable Ku- and Ka-band feeds that points and tracks geostationary and geosynchronous satellites.
  • The GBS RBM Type I transit case is the classified enclave, using a KG-250 to decrypt incoming data; the Type II is the unclassified enclave.
  • The GBS RBM Type II laptop is used to initialize the NGRT antenna and configure RBM equipment, in addition to processing unclassified broadcast products.
  • A GBS NGRT can be connected to up to four different Type II RBMs using an optional four-way splitter, instead of the standard two-way splitter.
  • All AN/TSR-11 TGRS transit cases require a two-person lift.
  • In the Module F ESB planning exercise, GBS is allocated to the same four units that rate a T1 and a VTC pair - the JTF HQ, 3rd MP Brigade TOC, 25th Fires Brigade TOC and 42nd MI Battalion.

References

TM 11-5895-2036-13&P, T2C2 Lite (1 Aug 2019)TM 11-5895-2062-13&P, T2C2 Heavy (1 Sep 2020)TM 11-5820-1505-13&P, AN/TRC-238(v) 1&2 TRILOS (30 Sep 2018)TM 11-5895-1961-13&P, Global Broadcast Service (15 May 2018)ATP 6-02.54, Techniques for Satellite Communications (Nov 2020)

Baseband Nodes - THN, JNN, CPN and SSS 113-SCCCF23

Learning objective and standard

Learning objectiveDefine Baseband principles for Signal planning.

StandardIdentify baseband capabilities in a clear and concise manner without error, and define baseband planning considerations in a clear and concise manner without error.

The four at-the-halt baseband nodes, and the user counts that drive an ESB or division network design. Learn them as a ladder: THN at division with 142 users and zero customers, JNN at brigade and in the ESB, CPN at battalion with 40 users per enclave, and the SSS as the ESB's primary node with 15 user access cases and the only one of the four that carries troposcatter. The two serial link interface options - the router interface link and the SA-trunk serial interface link - are the other thing worth learning, because the JNN v5 has both and the v6 has only one, and that difference decides how you draw the diagram in the planning exercise. Two modernization programs sit at the end of the lesson: NITE refreshes end-of-life at-the-halt equipment, and the MCN-T replaces the CPN.

Doctrinal currencyThe JNN fact sheets list two different operator MOSs for the same equipment at two different echelons, which is worth noticing rather than assuming is a typo.

What this course teaches — answer this on the exam
  • The AN/TTC-59B(v)6 fact sheet lists the operator as 25H; the AN/TTC-59B(v)5 fact sheet lists 25N
  • Both JNN fact sheets otherwise carry the same platform, user access case count and increment
How to read it
  • The v6 sits in a brigade and the v5 sits in an ESB, so different manning is plausible rather than an obvious error - the brigade's node is run by a 25H nodal network systems operator and the ESB's by a 25N nodal network systems operator-maintainer
  • The lesson's own manning slides note that manning levels may or may not be consistent - what you should or could have, against what reality provides

Doctrinal sets to know cold

The four baseband nodes
  1. AN/TTC-61B - Tactical Hub Node baseband truck; division; 142 users total (71 NIPR, 71 SIPR); zero customers
  2. AN/TTC-59B(v)5 and (v)6 - Joint Network Node; brigade (1-2) and ESB (4); four user access cases
  3. AN/TTC-64B - Command Post Node; battalion; 40 data and IP telephony users per enclave; no black voice
  4. AN/TTC-56B(V)4 - Single Shelter Switch; ESB (2); 15 user access cases; LOS, TROPO and SATCOM
JNN fact sheets compared
  1. AN/TTC-59B(v)6 - distribution BDE (1/2), HMMWV, 4 user access cases, Increment 1b/1c, operator 25H, transports LOS and SATCOM, one serial link option only
  2. AN/TTC-59B(v)5 - distribution ESB 4 each, HMMWV, 4 user access cases, Increment 1b/1c, operator 25N, transports LOS and SATCOM, both serial link options, same capabilities as a THN
The two serial link interface options
  1. Option 1 - Serial Router Interface Link: black VoIP, NIPR data, TACLANE-encrypted SIPR data and red VoIP through modems and KIVs to tier 1 and tier 2 routers
  2. Option 2 - SA-Trunk Serial Interface Link: black voice TDM, serial NIPR data and KIV-encrypted serial SIPR data aggregated through NX-1000 platforms to the STEP, RHN or entry point
Baseband switching modules
  1. A4 - colorless module, holds two TACLANEs for NIPR and SIPR; also the XT2R colorless router
  2. A5 - SIPR
  3. A8 - CTM-100C
  4. A9 - KIV-7M
  5. A12 - transmission module, allows access to baseband systems
  6. A13 - STEP module, used for non-tactical-network services
  7. A14 - NIPR
MCN-B user access case port counts, per enclave
  1. 24 Voice over IP ports
  2. 24 data terminal ports
  3. 24 additional ports for two-wire analog telephone access
Modernization programs at the end of the lesson
  1. NITE - refreshes end-of-life at-the-halt equipment in the THN, JNN, CPN and RHN
  2. U2E - consolidates unclassified enclaves onto one multi-purpose platform
  3. MCN-T - replaces the CPN, three computing stacks down to two
  4. LCN-T - a smaller JNN integrable onto a JLTV
  5. MCN-AE - JWICS and NSANet access at the tactical edge, 24 end devices, one per top secret network
  6. DIRECT - National Guard commercial phone, internet, Wi-Fi and 4G LTE for first responders in domestic emergencies
Building a NIPR core tunnel
  1. Carrier established
  2. Build the NIPR core tunnels - establish OSPFv2 neighbours between the NT2Rs (AES 256-bit on the NIPR tunnel)
  3. Establish the security association path between the SIPR TACLANEs
  4. Establish OSPFv2 neighbours on the SIPR tunnel between the ST2Rs
Building a colorless core tunnel
  1. Carrier established
  2. Build the colorless core - establish OSPFv3 neighbours between the nodes' XT2Rs (AES 256-bit over satellite, Fortress AES 256-bit over HCLOS)
  3. Establish security association paths between the NIPR colorless TACLANEs and between the SIPR colorless TACLANEs
  4. Establish OSPFv2 neighbours on the NIPR tunnel between the NT2Rs and on the SIPR tunnel between the ST2Rs
What the capabilities version chart tells you
  1. Only B versions of a node contain a colorless module
  2. A B version passes NIPR and SIPR through a colorless core tunnel; an A version passes SIPR through a NIPR tunnel
  3. All SSS and JNN (V)5 nodes get a STEP module - they can bypass the hub node and reach the STEP or GAIT directly
  4. JNN (V)6 nodes get no STEP module - their traffic must transit a hub node

Key terms

Baseband
The line code - the signal before it is imposed on a carrier. In this module, the baseband shelters are the nodes that provide user services, switching and routing behind the transmission systems.
Tactical Hub Node baseband truck AN/TTC-61B
The one baseband truck in each THN, providing users voice, video and data services including DODIN-A and DISN connectivity. It serves as a DISN point of presence and interface to STEP, Teleport and RHN to access DSN, SIPR, NIPR, JWICS, CENTRIX, VTC, PBX and other enterprise services, and provides enclave boundary protection.
Joint Network Node AN/TTC-59B
The brigade-level baseband node. The (v)6 is distributed one or two per brigade on a HMMWV with four user access cases; the (v)5 is distributed four per ESB on a HMMWV with four user access cases. Both are Increment 1b/1c and transport over LOS and SATCOM.
Command Post Node AN/TTC-64B
The battalion node - a group of communications processing equipment for voice and data housed in modular access cases, separate from JNN shelters. Deployed at corps/ESB, division and BCT level, it is the primary means of meeting battalion command requirements.
Single Shelter Switch AN/TTC-56B(V)4
The primary communications node for the Expeditionary Signal Battalion network. Distributed two per ESB on a HMMWV with 15 user access cases, Increment 1b/1c, operated by 25H, and transporting over LOS, TROPO and SATCOM.
Colorless router (XT2R)
The router that supports the backbone of the tactical network in the baseband switching module stack.
Baseband switching modules
The lettered modules in a baseband shelter. A4 is the colorless module holding two TACLANEs for NIPR and SIPR; A5 is SIPR; A12 is the transmission module giving access to baseband systems; A13 is the STEP module used for non-tactical-network services; A14 is NIPR.
Serial Router Interface Link (Option 1)
The first of the two baseband serial link interface options, running black voice over IP, NIPR data, TACLANE-encrypted SIPR data and TACLANE-encrypted red VoIP through modems and KIVs to tier 1 and tier 2 routers.
SA-Trunk Serial Interface Link (Option 2)
The second baseband serial link interface option, aggregating black voice TDM, serial NIPR data and KIV-encrypted serial SIPR data through NX-1000 platforms to the STEP, RHN or entry point.
Tier 0, Tier 1 and Tier 2 routers
The routing hierarchy in the baseband architecture. NT2R and ST2R are the NIPR and SIPR tier 2 routers; XT2R is the colorless tier 2 router.
Modular Communication Node - Basic (MCN-B)
The user distribution component used on the NIPR and SIPR security domains, comprising an Ethernet switch with power over Ethernet and an analog gateway, fielded in four lightweight deployable transit cases - two user access cases and two UPS cases.
User Access Case (UAC)
The MCN-B case containing the Ethernet switch, analog gateway and signal entry panel. At NIPR and at SIPR each MCN-B user access case provides 24 VoIP ports, 24 data terminal ports and 24 additional ports for two-wire analog telephone access.
Protected Distribution Area (PDA)
The area around a TCN within which the MCN-B distributes user ports into tents or buildings, connected by tactical fiber optic cable to the SI or SE signal entry panel off the LAN.
NITE
Network Integration Technology Enhancement. The programme that refreshes end-of-life at-the-halt Tactical Network Transport equipment in the Tactical Hub Node, Joint Network Node, Command Post Node and Regional Hub Node.
Unified Unclassified Enclave (U2E)
The consolidation of numerous unclassified hardware enclaves onto a single multi-purpose unclassified hardware platform, with appropriate security separation and NSA-compliant encryption standards. The NITE JNN supports it, and the MCN-T uses it to reduce computing stacks from three to two.
MCN-T
The Modular Communications Node-Transportable, which replaces the CPN. It is smaller and more capable and reduces the number of computing stacks from three to two through the Unified Unclassified Enclave.
LCN-T
A smaller version of the JNN with a new shelter that can be integrated onto a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.
MCN-AE
Modular Communications Node-Advanced Enclave. A lightweight, expeditionary, small form factor node that augments the intelligence network, providing connectivity to JWICS or NSANet for up to 24 end devices. One MCN-AE is required per top secret network accessed at the tactical level, and connectivity is provided to the Trojan network control centers through the colorless core architecture.
DIRECT
The Disaster Incident Response Emergency Communications Terminal tool suite, which enables National Guard signal units to provide commercial phone, internet access, and commercial Wi-Fi and 4G LTE to first responders during domestic natural disasters, emergencies and civil support operations.
NIPR core tunnel
The oldest of the tactical network tunnels. NT2Rs establish OSPFv2 neighbours across it and use AES 256-bit encryption on the NIPR tunnel - which for SIPR traffic is the second layer of encryption, the TACLANEs being the first.
Colorless core tunnel
The tunnel the network evolved to, to provide redundancy and decrease NIPR dependency. XT2Rs establish OSPFv3 neighbours between nodes, and the colorless core uses AES 256-bit encryption over satellite, or Fortress AES 256-bit over HCLOS.
Colorless core (security architecture)
Introduced in WIN-T Increment 2, using a Juniper router in the TCN rather than a Cisco. It meets DODIN-A information assurance security compliance requirements, and the router carries embedded firewalls and intrusion detection through the embedded firewall module.
Colorless module
The module whose presence or absence decides whether a node's traffic must transit a regional hub node. A node without one routes through the RHN to reach the gateway; a node with one can go direct.
Master reference terminal (MRT)
Each UHST has its own independent master reference terminals, which is what enables it to control bandwidth allocation on the division's TDMA mesh networks.

Testable points

  • The Tactical Hub Node is organic to the division headquarters element and in most cases deploys with the division main command post along with the rest of the division's communications assets.
  • Each THN has one baseband truck, the AN/TTC-61B, providing voice, video and data services including DODIN-A and DISN connectivity.
  • The THN supports zero customers - it is not designed to support customers; it helps extend the network.
  • The THN access cases carry a maximum of 71 users on NIPR and 71 on SIPR, for a total of 142.
  • The AN/TTC-61B serves as a DISN point of presence and interface to STEP, Teleport and RHN to access DSN, SIPR, NIPR, JWICS, CENTRIX, VTC, PBX and other enterprise services, and provides enclave boundary protection.
  • The JNN AN/TTC-59B(v)6 is distributed one or two per brigade, rides a HMMWV, carries four user access cases, is Increment 1b/1c, and is operated by 25H.
  • The JNN AN/TTC-59B(v)5 is distributed four per ESB, rides a HMMWV, carries four user access cases, is Increment 1b/1c, and is operated by 25N.
  • The difference between Increment 1b and 1c is virtualization.
  • The JNN v5 has the same capabilities as a THN and supports both serial link interface options; the JNN v6 supports only one.
  • The CPN is a group of communications processing equipment for voice and data housed in modular access cases, separate from JNN shelters.
  • The CPN provides an operational command post with NIPR and SIPR, video teleconferencing, and tactical and strategic voice - but it does not support black voice, meaning analog interface, in its standard configuration.
  • The CPN is deployed at corps/ESB, division and BCT level and is the primary means of meeting battalion command requirements.
  • The CPN provides SIPR and NIPR device access for up to 40 data and IP telephony users per enclave.
  • The CPN can interface directly to Ka/Ku satellite or line-of-sight radio transmission resources.
  • The CPN comprises a LOS case, a NIPR case, a SIPR case and a colorless case.
  • The SSS AN/TTC-56B(V)4 functions as the primary communications node for the Expeditionary Signal Battalion network.
  • The SSS is distributed two per ESB, rides a HMMWV, carries 15 user access cases, is Increment 1b/1c, is operated by 25H, and transports over LOS, TROPO and SATCOM.
  • The SSS is the only one of the four baseband nodes whose transport list includes troposcatter.
  • In the baseband switching module stack, A4 is the colorless module with two TACLANEs for NIPR and SIPR, A13 is the STEP module used for non-tactical-network services, and A12 is the transmission module that allows access to baseband systems.
  • The colorless router XT2R supports the backbone of the tactical network.
  • Each MCN-B user access case provides 24 VoIP ports, 24 data terminal ports and 24 additional ports for two-wire analog telephone access, at both NIPR and SIPR levels.
  • The MCN-B is fielded in four lightweight deployable transit cases - two user access cases and two UPS cases.
  • Each MCN-B suite supports both SIPR and NIPR domains by placing one user access case in each.
  • NITE refreshes end-of-life at-the-halt equipment in the THN, JNN, CPN and RHN.
  • The MCN-T replaces the CPN, reducing computing stacks from three to two through the Unified Unclassified Enclave.
  • The LCN-T is a smaller JNN with a new shelter that can be integrated onto a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.
  • One MCN-AE is required to support each top secret network accessed at the tactical level, such as JWICS and NSANet, and each supports up to 24 end devices.
  • The Mobile Broadband Kit 900 Fully Integrated supports 25 to 50 users or devices depending on signal strength, with an estimated 11 to 14 hour battery run time, and integrates with a TRIK Voyager 8.
  • A single Voyager 8 system supports up to four secure network enclaves and hundreds of users, can be stacked to form a company command post or higher echelon package, and provides 100 watts of power over Ethernet to power 16 SIPR and 16 NIPR VoIP phones.
  • The tactical network evolved from a NIPR core routing tunnel to a colorless core routing tunnel, to provide redundancy and decrease NIPR dependency.
  • Tunnels are part of the router configurations in tactical network nodes and exist to separate types of data traffic so the integrity of the data is maintained - the read-ahead's analogy is separate lanes on a highway carrying only the same type of cargo.
  • Building a NIPR core tunnel has four steps: establish the carrier; build the NIPR core tunnels and establish OSPFv2 neighbours between the NT2Rs; establish the security association path between the SIPR TACLANEs; and establish OSPFv2 neighbours on the SIPR tunnel between the ST2Rs.
  • SIPR traffic crossing a NIPR core tunnel is encrypted twice: the TACLANEs are the first type of encryption, and the NT2Rs' AES 256-bit encryption on the NIPR tunnel is the second.
  • Building a colorless core tunnel follows the same shape with an added layer: establish the carrier; build the colorless core and establish OSPFv3 neighbours between the nodes' XT2Rs; establish security association paths between the NIPR colorless TACLANEs and between the SIPR colorless TACLANEs; then establish OSPFv2 neighbours on the NIPR and SIPR tunnels between the NT2Rs and ST2Rs.
  • The colorless core uses AES 256-bit encryption over satellite, and Fortress AES 256-bit encryption over HCLOS.
  • The NIPR core tunnel runs on VLAN 175 and the colorless core tunnel on VLAN 176.
  • The colorless router is isolated from the NIPR and SIPR LANs by TACLANE, and is part of the perimeter protection element of information assurance.
  • The colorless core was introduced in WIN-T Increment 2 using a Juniper router in the TCN rather than a Cisco, and was later added to Increment 1 nodes as Increment 1b so that Increment 1 nodes could pass traffic to Increment 2 nodes.
  • Increment 1 nodes were fielded without a colorless module, so their traffic had to be routed through the RHN before reaching the gateway. Increment 2 nodes were fielded with colorless modules and could bypass the RHN and go directly to the gateway.
  • Increment 1b upgraded some but not all Increment 1 nodes with colorless modules, and the decision was made on the unit's mission. The quick test for whether a node's traffic must transit the RHN is simply whether it has a colorless module.
  • On the capabilities version chart, only B versions of a node contain a colorless module - so a B version passes NIPR and SIPR traffic through a colorless core tunnel, while an A version of the same node passes SIPR traffic through a NIPR tunnel.
  • All SSS and JNN (V)5 nodes get STEP modules, and JNN (V)6 nodes do not. An SSS or a JNN (V)5 can therefore bypass the hub node and pass traffic from a satellite directly to the STEP or GAIT; a JNN (V)6 must send its traffic through a hub node first.
  • Nodes contain equipment mounted into modules by function - a STEP module holds the equipment that connects a hub node to a STEP, a NIPR module passes NIPR traffic to and from end users - which lets the programme office tailor a node to a unit's mission by removing the modules it does not need.
  • The Joint Network Node came from an operational needs statement submitted by 3rd Infantry Division, to bridge the gap until the WIN-T on-the-move capability was developed. The Nunn-McCurdy restructure of 3 June 2007 integrated the JNN into WIN-T Increment 1, and Expeditionary Signal Battalions and organic signal units - including National Guard and Reserve signal units - were issued Increment 1 assets as a result.
  • The UHST or Tactical Hub Node is the mobile version of the regional hub node.
  • The UHST/THN carries a Comstream DMD-2050 satellite modem, also called the FDMA modem, supporting 8 FDMA (Raydne) SATCOM hub links on Ku and Ka frequencies at data rates of 2.4 to 10 Mbps.
  • A hub node can support 8 MF-TDMA/NCW modems and/or 8 TDMA (Linkway S2) modems, not to exceed any combination of eight in total.
  • The MF-TDMA/NCW modem data rate is 256 kbps; the TDMA (Linkway S2) modem data rate is 5 Mbps shared - shared meaning that if three battalion CPNs sit on a 2 Mbps TDMA network, all the users behind those three CPNs share that 2 Mbps, which limits the traffic they can pass at peak.
  • Both the TDMA and FDMA equipment shelters ride a 5-ton family of medium tactical vehicle, each with a mounted 6.3 metre Ku, Ka or X band antenna, which lets the hub pass traffic up to a satellite and down to a STEP or GAIT from anywhere in the world. The vehicles making up a hub node are connected to each other with TFOCA-II cables.
  • Each UHST has its own independent master reference terminals, which is what enables it to control bandwidth allocation on the division's TDMA mesh networks.

References

ATP 6-02.60, Tactical Networking Techniques for Corps and Below (Aug 2019)ATP 6-02.45, Techniques for Tactical Signal Support to Theater Operations (Nov 2019)FM 6-02, Signal Support to Operations (12 Sep 2019)

The Scalable Network Node and the ESB-E 113-SCCCF23

Learning objective and standard

Learning objectiveIdentify the capabilities of the Scalable Network Node (SNN) and the Expeditionary Signal Battalion - Enhanced.

StandardIdentify the SNN's components, capabilities and limitations, and the reasons for the ESB-E restructure, in a clear and concise manner, without error.

The modernization story of Module F, and the answer to a question the rest of the module keeps raising: if the at-the-halt equipment works, why change it? The answer is size, weight and power. A traditional ESB could not rapidly deploy scalable network support teams because the equipment was too big, so the Army built the ESB-E around a new node. The Scalable Network Node is four transit cases that fit as airline checkable luggage, sets up in 15 minutes to an hour, and supports 48 NIPR and SIPR users - against a JNN on a HMMWV with a generator trailer. Learn the four cases and their weights, the throughput, the 16-per-company and 48-per-ESB-E allocation, and the two modems and what controls each. Then learn the pros and cons list honestly, because the cons are real: limited phone power and low port density.

Doctrinal currencyThis lesson exists only inside the combined Module F presentation, not in the day-by-day class folders, and the SNN's own reference folder holds two overview decks rather than a technical manual.

What this course teaches — answer this on the exam
  • The SNN and ESB-E slides are dated 10 August 2026 and sit at slides 527 through 557 of the combined Module F deck
  • There is no standalone SNN lesson deck in the Mr. Jones UTI Classes day folders
  • The SNN reference folder carries two overview presentations - an SNN Overview dated 15 November 2021 and an SNN Basic Overview
What that means
  • The SNN content is current - the combined deck's SNN slides are among the most recently dated material in the whole drop
  • Because there is no separate lesson deck or lesson plan, the emphasis placed on this material is unknown. The recap slides give three clear takeaway blocks - components, characteristics, and pros and cons - and those are the safest things to learn
  • The generator naming is inconsistent across the module: the SNN recap says a Honda 2 kW MOGAS or 2 kW multifuel, while the specification slides name Novatio Ex-Power 1 kW and 2 kW units and the ITN material in Module E names an IntelliGEN 1000 and an Ex-Power 2000 Ranger

Doctrinal sets to know cold

The four SNN transit cases
  1. Pedestal case - about 80 pounds
  2. RF equipment case - about 80 pounds
  3. X-band feed case - about 40 pounds
  4. Ka-band feed case - about 40 pounds
SNN components
  1. Hawkeye L3 1.2 m SATCOM antenna
  2. Klas Voyager 8 Plus baseband
  3. CBM-400 or iDirect modem
  4. Honda 2 kW MOGAS or 2 kW multifuel generator
  5. Scalable additions - small form factor node, CCEv4, TRILOS, Cradlepoint
SNN characteristics
  1. Portable, tri-band across X, Ku and Ka
  2. Setup in 15 minutes to one hour
  3. 48 NIPR and SIPR users
  4. 4 Mbps transmit, 8 Mbps receive
  5. Team and equipment self-mobile in the default configuration
  6. 16 per company, 48 per ESB-E
  7. Can use MILSATCOM, commercial SATCOM, LTE, WiFi or hard-wired networks
The two SNN modems
  1. CBM-400 - RHN controlled, TDMA and FDMA capable (AN/TSC-252v4)
  2. iDirect - GAIT controlled, can land at DISA teleports for sites outside MILSATCOM footprints (AN/TSC-252v3, iDirect-900 TDMA)
SNN advantages and disadvantages
  1. Pro - faster setup than the STT or JNN
  2. Pro - reduced number of transit cases
  3. Pro - drastically reduces load-out plans
  4. Pro - transport diversity: military air, commercial air, rotary wing, vehicles
  5. Con - limited power for phones
  6. Con - lower port density for devices
  7. Con - not fielded with additional switches, PoE phones or other peripherals often used in a C2 node
What the ESB-E restructure bought
  1. 62.5 percent increase in command post teams
  2. 57.2 percent reduction in prime movers, from 201 to 86
  3. Over 60 percent reduction in transportation requirements
  4. More nodes supported with less manpower
  5. Signal path diversity in congested and contested environments
  6. Rapid command post setup and teardown
  7. Connectivity to commercial and coalition networks
The two iDirect TRANSEC keys
  1. ACC - Acquisition Cipher-text Channel key: encrypts the acquisition information the modem uses to negotiate with the hub and join the network; the only key the user touches, through its passphrase
  2. DCC - Data Cipher-text Channel key: encrypts all user traffic in the TRANSEC network; downloaded to the remote automatically by the iDirect hub

Key terms

Expeditionary Signal Battalion - Enhanced (ESB-E)
The modernized signal formation PM Tactical Network fielded to move away from traditional, less mobile, much larger at-the-halt network transport equipment while modernizing the network. Its line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight package provides signal path diversity in congested and contested environments.
Scalable Network Node (SNN)
The backbone of the ESB-E. A portable, tri-band at-the-halt SATCOM node in four transit cases, designed for transportation as airline checkable luggage, supporting 48 NIPR and SIPR users.
AN/TSC-252
The SNN VSAT nomenclature. The v3 uses the iDirect-900 TDMA modem and the v4 uses the CBM-400, giving 2 to 8 Mbps.
AN/TTC-71v3
The Scalable Network Node's Unified Unclassified Enclave baseband component.
Klas Voyager 8 Plus chassis
The SNN baseband chassis - a carbon fiber monocoque with eight Voyager network module slots, 20 to 35 VDC or 90 to 264 VAC input, providing 100 watts of power over Ethernet. A single Voyager 8 system supports up to four secure network enclaves and hundreds of users, and can be stacked to form a company command post or higher echelon package.
VoyagerSW26G
The SNN's 26-port gigabit Ethernet switch module, based on the Cisco ESS 3300, with 24 gigabit access ports - eight of them providing power over Ethernet at up to 30 watts - and two 10 Gb SFP+ uplink ports.
VoyagerVM
The SNN's server module. The fielded configuration uses an Intel Xeon D-1577 16-core processor with 96 GB RAM, two 2.5-inch SSD slots, an 8 TB solid state drive, NVMe-based VIK+ with 512 GB, two 10 Gb SFP+ ports and two 1 Gb ports.
CISTECH GV1-2010
The SNN's single-port radio voice gateway, providing one land mobile radio port to connect voice radios to IP networks, plus a handset port, two Ethernet switch ports (one PoE) and a serial console port.
Cubic Vocality RoIP gateway
The radio over IP gateway that extends radio network services over IP, connects push-to-talk radio users with fixed line and cellular telephone users, unifies different radio models and frequencies over IP, and integrates with radio dispatch systems such as Motorola WAVE. SIPR enclave only.
Cradlepoint IBR900B
The SNN's 4G LTE broadband router. It enables wired or wireless WAN connectivity using 4G LTE cellular or WiFi data and is used to heal the tactical network when other transmission carriers experience outages. 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, up to 64 connected devices, LTE at 150 Mbps down and 50 Mbps up.
Node Manager (NDM) laptops
The SNN's configuration, troubleshooting and monitoring laptops - XNDM colorless on a Dell Latitude 5430 Rugged, and SNDM and NNDM on a Dell Precision 3540. The colorless node manager is shared between the baseband and VSAT equipment.
Acquisition Cipher-text Channel (ACC) key
One of the two SHA-1 keys the iDirect system uses to encrypt data at the modem level. It encrypts the acquisition information the modem uses to negotiate with the hub and join the network, and is the only key the user interacts with, through its passphrase.
Data Cipher-text Channel (DCC) key
The second iDirect TRANSEC key. It encrypts all user traffic in the TRANSEC network and is automatically downloaded to the remote by the iDirect hub.
Virtual Server Stack (VSS)
The home-station server stack that NetOps personnel maintain connectivity to from any deployed node, via GAIT and the regional hub node. This is the SNN NetOps strategy.
Commercial Coalition Equipment (CCEv4)
One of the SNN's scalable components, alongside the small form factor node, TRILOS and the Cradlepoint.
Novatio Ex-Power generators
The SNN's power. The 1 kW gives 0 to 900 W continuous at sea level with a 1000 W peak, dropping to 750 W above 4,000 feet at 95 degrees; the 2 kW gives 0 to 1250 W continuous with a 1500 W peak, on JP-8, F-24, JP-5 or Jet A, and two can be paralleled to double output.

Testable points

  • Traditional ESBs lacked the ability to rapidly deploy scalable network support teams because of the size of the equipment.
  • The Army needed an equipment package that reduced size, weight and power to enable rapid deployment; the solution was the ESB-E, and its backbone is the Scalable Network Node.
  • The ESB-E Modification Table of Organization and Equipment provides the framework for a complete restructure of traditional personnel, equipment and operations.
  • The ESB-E is tailorable and scalable with medium and large satellite communications systems, enabling support from teams up to corps elements - a 62.5 percent increase in command post teams.
  • The ESB-E cut prime movers by 57.2 percent, from 201 to 86.
  • Reduced size and system complexity lets ESB-Es significantly increase network support to other units with more nodes and less manpower, reducing transportation requirements by over 60 percent.
  • The ESB-E package provides signal path diversity in congested and contested environments, rapid command post setup and teardown, and connectivity to commercial and coalition networks.
  • The SNN is designed for portability, allowing transportation via airline checkable luggage.
  • The SNN VSAT portion comprises four transit cases: the pedestal case and RF equipment case at about 80 pounds each, and the X-band and Ka-band feed cases at about 40 pounds each.
  • The SNN's four components are the Hawkeye L3 1.2 m SATCOM antenna, the Klas baseband, a CBM-400 or iDirect modem, and a Honda 2 kW MOGAS or 2 kW multifuel generator.
  • The SNN's scalable components are the small form factor node, CCEv4, TRILOS and the Cradlepoint.
  • The SNN is a portable tri-band alternative at-the-halt SATCOM capability across X, Ku and Ka, setting up in 15 minutes to one hour.
  • The SNN supports 48 NIPR and SIPR users, and the team and equipment are self-mobile in the default configuration.
  • SNN throughput is 4 Mbps transmit and 8 Mbps receive.
  • There are 16 SNNs per company and 48 per ESB-E.
  • The SNN can use MILSATCOM, commercial SATCOM, LTE, WiFi or hard-wired networks to access DoD services.
  • The CBM-400 modem is RHN controlled and is both TDMA and FDMA capable; the iDirect modem is GAIT controlled and can land at DISA teleports - commercial SATCOM landing sites - for sites outside MILSATCOM footprints.
  • The AN/TSC-252v3 uses the iDirect-900 TDMA modem and the v4 uses the CBM-400, giving 2 to 8 Mbps.
  • The SNN's advantages are faster setup than the STT or JNN, fewer transit cases, drastically reduced load-out plans, and transport diversity - military air, commercial air, rotary wing or vehicles.
  • The SNN's disadvantages are limited power for phones, lower port density for devices, and that it is not fielded with additional switches, PoE phones or other peripheral devices often used in a command and control node.
  • The SNN NetOps strategy is that headquarters NetOps personnel at home station maintain Virtual Server Stack connectivity to any deployed node via GAIT and the regional hub node.
  • The Klas Voyager 8 Plus chassis provides uninterruptible power for up to eight Voyager network modules, or up to four secure network enclaves, with wide-ranging AC and DC input, and provides 100 watts of power over Ethernet.
  • Voyager modules are severable, may be independently battery backed, and can be remotely powered from the Voyager 8 Plus chassis.
  • The VoyagerSW26G provides 24 gigabit Ethernet access ports, eight of them with PoE+ at up to 30 watts, and two 10 Gb SFP+ uplink ports.
  • The Viasat KG-250X inline network encryptor in the SNN encrypts SIPR and coalition enclaves at 100 Mbps.
  • The iDirect system uses two SHA-1 keys at the modem level - the ACC key, which the user interacts with through its passphrase, and the DCC key, which encrypts all user traffic and is downloaded automatically by the hub.
  • The Cradlepoint is used to heal the tactical network when other transmission carriers experience outages, and supports up to 64 connected devices.
  • The Cubic Vocality RoIP gateway is SIPR enclave only.
  • The colorless node manager laptop is shared between the baseband and the VSAT equipment.
  • The external Ex-Power generator can operate for about 3.5 hours before shutdown, and is intended for use while a team sets up before switching to a more permanent power source.
  • The Klas SNN's L3 Hawkeye III 1.2 m antenna is designed for harsh environments, is compact, and can be set up and operated by one person within 10 minutes.

References

ATP 6-02.45, Techniques for Tactical Signal Support to Theater Operations (Nov 2019)ATP 6-02.60, Tactical Networking Techniques for Corps and Below (Aug 2019)FM 6-02, Signal Support to Operations (12 Sep 2019)

Network Operations and Security Center 113-SCCCF25

Learning objective and standard

Learning objectiveIdentify the capabilities and employment of the Network Operations and Security Center (NOSC) AN/TSC-188.

StandardIdentify the NOSC's versions, employment, connectivity and limitations in a clear and concise manner, without error.

The platform the G-6 and brigade S-6 actually run the network from. Three things carry the lesson. First, the NOSC has no on-the-move capability at all - it depends on a physical fiber connection to the local TCN to do its job, which makes it effectively an at-the-halt system, though most planning tasks can be done without network connectivity. Second, that limitation drives a tactic: the TAC command post assumes control of the network before the main command post moves, and hands it back when the main is set. Third, the NOSC is fielded and manned at corps, division and brigade main and TAC command posts by the staff section itself, not by an attached signal element - the G-6 or brigade S-6 owns establishing the information network and the NOSC is the platform for doing it.

Doctrinal currencyTwo details in this lesson contradict themselves between the slide and the note beneath it, and the version naming is unsettled.

What this course teaches — answer this on the exam
  • One slide says the NOSC was deployed in three versions - NOSC-B v1, NOSC-D v1, and 'NOSC-E [Virtualized] replace NOSC-B and NOSC-D'; the note on the same slide says 'NOSC-B v1, NOSC-D v1 and Light NOSC newest'
  • The wired connectivity slide says the NOSC 'is designed to connect to three LAN extension ports' - one colorless management port and two user ports for NIPR and SIPR - while the note on the same slide says the NOSC equipment 'is designed to connect to two LAN extension ports on a TCN shelter SEP; one for the NIPR and one for SIPR networks'
  • The Module F reference tree carries a folder named 'NOSC and NOSC-L' with a technical manual for the NOSC-L
How to answer
  • Three ports is the safer answer. The slide's three-port list is more specific and accounts for the colorless management path, which the NOSC needs to manage the colorless network the fact sheet says it manages. The note's two-port version counts only the user enclaves
  • For the virtualized version, the reference folder name and technical manual both say NOSC-L, which suggests Light rather than E. If a question offers both, NOSC-L is better supported by the reference material
  • Either way, the substantive point is unchanged: a virtualized version replaces both the brigade and division shelters

Doctrinal sets to know cold

NOSC AN/TSC-188(V1) fact sheet
  1. Tier - Upper Tier
  2. Distribution - corps, division, TAC and BCT S-6 NetOps
  3. Platform - FMTV M1085A1 with armor, onboard 15 kW generator
  4. Like system - dismounted NetOps suite; capability set CS-14
  5. Link content - SIPR and NIPR data and voice, plus colorless management
  6. Operator - 255N and 25H
NOSC versions
  1. NOSC-B v1 - basic configuration for brigade echelon, full brigade-level planning and network management
  2. NOSC-D v1 - support to division, full division-level planning and network management
  3. A virtualized version, described in the deck as NOSC-E and in the notes as the Light NOSC, which replaces NOSC-B and NOSC-D
Who is in the TAC CP
  1. G-2, G-3 and G-6 representatives
  2. Fire support
  3. Tactical air control party
  4. Air defense artillery
  5. Engineers
  6. Combat service support liaison (G-1, G-4) elements
Why the NOSC is at-the-halt only
  1. It has no inherent on-the-move capability
  2. It relies on a physical tactical fiber connection to the local TCN for WAN connectivity
  3. Without that connection it cannot view the components active in the network
  4. Most planning tasks can still be done without network connectivity
  5. The mitigation is command post handover - the TAC assumes network control before the main moves

Key terms

Network Operations and Security Center (NOSC) AN/TSC-188(V1)
The upper tier platform for performing the NetOps activities, functions and tasks required to create a dynamic and responsive network. It is fielded and employed at the corps, division and brigade main and TAC command posts and manned by Soldiers within those staff sections.
NOSC-D
The division version - provides NOSC support to division with full division-level planning and network management. Fielded at the corps and division main command post and manned by Soldiers within the G-6.
NOSC-B
The brigade version - the basic NOSC configuration for deployment at brigade echelon, providing full brigade-level planning and network management.
Network COP
The network common operational picture. The NOSC's view of all the components active in the network, made possible by the tactical fiber connection to the local TCN, forms a portion of the information that comprises it.
Modular Communication Node - Basic (MCN-B)
The component through which NOSC user access is provided from a colocated TCN, and through which voice service in the NOSC is delivered. It supports colorless core connectivity for enhanced network security and provides user-level interoperability for NIPR and SIPR access.
Tactical Alternate Command Post (TAC CP)
The forward command post consisting of representatives from G-2, G-3, G-6, fire support, tactical air control party, air defense artillery, engineers and combat service support liaison. It complements the main command post's command and control or serves as an independent organization, and requires the same NetOps functional capabilities as the main CP.
Access case
The case connected to the NOSC shelter by tactical fiber that extends operational workstations and phones into the tactical operations center.
Colorless LAN management extension port
One of the LAN extension ports the NOSC connects to - the management port, alongside two user extension ports for NIPR and SIPR access, all connected to the TCN shelter signal entry panel.

Testable points

  • The NOSC is fielded and employed at the corps, division and brigade main and TAC command posts, and is manned by Soldiers within those staff sections.
  • The G-6 or brigade S-6 has overall responsibility for establishing the information network, and the NOSC provides the platform for performing the NetOps activities, functions and tasks required to create a dynamic and responsive network.
  • All signal elements within the network architecture must coordinate and collaborate with the G-6 or brigade S-6 during the planning, engineering, installation, operation, maintenance and defense of the information network.
  • Using the NOSC's capabilities throughout those stages, the G-6 can quickly shift priorities to support the ground tactical plan by extending strategic capabilities into responsive, dynamic tactical formations.
  • The NOSC fact sheet is upper tier, AN/TSC-188(V1), distributed to corps, division, TAC and BCT S-6 NetOps, on an FMTV M1085A1 with armor and an onboard 15 kW generator, a CS-14 system with link content of SIPR and NIPR data and voice plus colorless management, operated by 255N and 25H.
  • The NOSC's like system is the dismounted NetOps suite.
  • All NOSC versions provide NetOps management on NIPR, SIPR and colorless networks, devices and services.
  • The NOSC has no inherent on-the-move capability, although there are ongoing discussions about how such a capability could be provided in the future.
  • In the at-the-halt configuration the NOSC shelter is parked in close proximity to the main TOC and extends operational workstations and phones into the TOC via an access case connected by tactical fiber.
  • An additional tactical fiber connection to the local TCN provides wide area network connectivity, enabling the NOSC to view all the components active in the network - a portion of the information comprising the network common operational picture.
  • Because the NOSC relies on a physical connection to the TCN to perform its intended function, it is effectively an at-the-halt system only - although most planning tasks can be performed without network connectivity.
  • Typically, before the main command post moves, the TAC command post is already in place and has assumed control of the network, holding it until the main has completed its move and is ready to reassume control.
  • The TAC CP requires the same NetOps functional capabilities as the main CP or NOSC in order to provide a complete and separate warfighting command post.
  • The TAC CP G-6 forward element is responsible for planning, monitoring, controlling, prioritizing and visually displaying the network if the main CP or NOSC-D is rendered combat ineffective, destroyed or relocating.
  • The TAC CP is deployed forward during an operational mission so the commander has a command post near subordinate commanders and can directly influence the operation.
  • The MCN-B is used on the NIPR and SIPR security domains and comprises an Ethernet switch with power over Ethernet and an analog gateway, fielded in four lightweight deployable transit cases - two user access cases and two UPS cases.
  • NOSC user access is provided via MCN-Bs from a colocated TCN, and voice service in the NOSC is delivered via the local TCN MCN-B.
  • Each MCN-B user access case provides 24 VoIP ports, 24 data terminal ports and 24 additional two-wire analog telephone ports at both NIPR and SIPR levels.
  • In the division-level NetOps architecture the NOSC uses three user access cases, the TOC two, and the TAC two, with 300 m and 100 m TFOCA-II fiber runs, and three PoPs at the division main.
  • Each division and brigade NetOps user access case provides a 48-port switch, a 24-port analog switch and a UPS.

References

ATP 6-02.60, Tactical Networking Techniques for Corps and Below (Aug 2019)ATP 6-02.71, Techniques for Department of Defense Information Network OperationsFM 6-02, Signal Support to Operations (12 Sep 2019)

The Network Management System 113-SCCCF25

Learning objective and standard

Learning objectiveIdentify the functions and tools of the Network Management System that the NOSC uses to plan, monitor and administer the tactical network.

StandardIdentify the NMS planning, monitoring and administrative functions, its three tool groups, and its enclave layout, in a clear and concise manner, without error.

The software half of the NOSC. The Network Management System is what the staff in the NOSC actually use, and its structure is simple enough to memorize: three tool groups - WAN Planning, WAN Monitoring and the Node Management Subsystem - all residing only on SIPRNet, plus the same application on all three enclaves' engineering laptops distinguished by background color. Green is colorless, blue is NIPR, red is SIPR. Two facts are worth banking: NMS plans up to a 350-node scenario, and it does not plan everything - the WAN Planner covers Increment 2 and only part of Increment 1, so DPEM and SPEED are still needed for the rest. That last point is the bridge back to Module E, where SPEED had a whole 16-hour lesson to itself.

Doctrinal currencyLike the Scalable Network Node material, this content exists only inside the combined Module F presentation and has no standalone lesson deck in the day folders.

What this course teaches — answer this on the exam
  • The NMS slides sit at slides 609 through 633 of the combined Module F deck, followed by the Tactical Key Management System and status reports
  • There is no NMS lesson deck in the Mr. Jones UTI Classes day folders, and no lesson plan for it in the drop
  • The NOSC lesson's own toolset slide is an image with no extractable text, so the specific tool names on it are not recoverable
How to use this page
  • The functions, tool groups and enclave layout are all recoverable and are what a written question can reasonably ask
  • The specific product names in the NOSC toolset are not recoverable from the drop. If you need them, ask for the NOSC toolset slide
  • The point that the WAN Planner does not plan everything is worth carrying into the planning exercise - SPEED and DPEM remain part of the planner's toolkit

Doctrinal sets to know cold

The three NMS tool groups
  1. WAN Planning - resource management, network planning and equipment planning
  2. WAN Monitoring - distribution of WAN planning and configuration data, plus status and performance monitoring
  3. Node Management Subsystem - network administration and monitoring software for configuring, controlling and monitoring local networks, services, devices and interfaces across colorless, SIPR and NIPR
What the NMS Planner builds
  1. Nodes
  2. Units
  3. Antennas
  4. SATCOM bandwidth segments
  5. Radios
NMS engineering laptop colors
  1. Light green - colorless (XENG)
  2. Light blue - NIPR (NENG)
  3. Light red - SIPR (SENG)
NMS capabilities worth remembering
  1. Plans up to a 350-node scenario
  2. Provides spectrum management, interfacing to the Spectrum Management Tool and Spectrum XXI
  3. Performs movement simulations while simultaneously showing network connectivity
  4. Performs multichannel frequency management, terrain analysis and LOS path profile management
  5. Loads, saves and baselines device configurations within the local TOC LAN
  6. Manages satellite and terrestrial portions of the network together, with no separate systems or operators
  7. Planning completes with spectrum assignment and configuration files for distribution to the nodes
What the WAN Planner does not cover
  1. It is designed for Increment 2 and covers only part of Increment 1
  2. It creates cutsheets for satellite transportable terminals and some Increment 1 equipment connecting to Increment 2
  3. Networks outside that scope need the Detailed Planning Engineering Module or SPEED

Key terms

Network Management System (NMS)
The software suite that enables staff at the Network Operations and Security Center to conduct network planning, resource management, detailed equipment planning, distribution monitoring, administration and reporting.
NMS Planner
The component that builds nodes, units, antennas, SATCOM bandwidth segments and radios, and lets the planner do force structure planning and change task organization for the plan.
WAN Planning
The first NMS tool group, covering broad functional areas - resource management, network planning and equipment planning.
WAN Monitoring
The second NMS tool group, providing the functions needed to manage the distribution of WAN planning and configuration data and to monitor status and performance.
Node Management Subsystem
The third NMS tool group, containing network administration and monitoring software for configuring, controlling and monitoring local networks, services, devices and interfaces in the three security domains - colorless, SIPR and NIPR.
Detailed Planning Engineering Module (DPEM)
One of the additional tools needed for networks the WAN Planner does not cover, alongside SPEED.
SPEED
Systems Planning, Engineering and Evaluation Device. Used with DPEM to plan the parts of the network the WAN Planner does not cover. It is the subject of its own 16-hour lesson in Module E.
Path Profile
The NMS function that supports line-of-sight path analysis, listed alongside multichannel frequency management and terrain analysis.
Spectrum Management Tool (SMT)
The tool the NMS interfaces to for spectrum management. Within the NMS laptop tools, the spectrum management tools reside only on the SIPRNet laptop.
Spectrum XXI
One of the external NetOps applications the NMS interfaces to.
Resource Set Task Organization
The NMS construct in which a task organization is a group of units assembled for an operation, displayed as a diagram showing its hierarchical structure.
Engineering laptops
The laptops the NMS resides on, one per security enclave - XENG colorless, NENG NIPR and SENG SIPR - distinguished in the interface by background color.
Tactical Key Management System (TKMS)
The key management system covered alongside the NMS status reports in the network management block.
Cutsheet
The link setup product the WAN Planner creates for satellite transportable terminals and some Increment 1 equipment connecting to Increment 2.

Testable points

  • The NMS enables NOSC staff to conduct network planning, resource management, detailed equipment planning, distribution monitoring, administration and reporting.
  • The NMS Planner builds nodes, units, antennas, SATCOM bandwidth segments and radios.
  • The NMS provides the capability to load, save and baseline network device configurations within the local TOC LAN.
  • The NMS performs multichannel frequency management, terrain analysis and line-of-sight path profile management, and interfaces to the Spectrum Management Tool for spectrum management.
  • Planning in the NMS completes with spectrum assignment and the creation of configuration files for distribution to the nodes.
  • Once nodes and units are defined, the planner can do force structure planning and change task organization for the plan.
  • The NMS operates standalone or plugs into the user access case router or switch for network connection.
  • NMS administrative activities include updating software versions of devices, updating virus definitions, and troubleshooting and mitigating network and device problems.
  • Network, spectrum, information assurance and battle command services are all managed by the NMS.
  • No separate management systems or operators are required for the satellite and terrestrial portions of the network - NCW, HNW and the rest are managed together.
  • NMS planning and monitoring have the same look, feel and user interface.
  • The NMS interfaces to other NetOps applications such as Spectrum XXI.
  • The NMS can plan up to a 350-node scenario.
  • The NMS can perform movement simulations while simultaneously showing network connectivity.
  • A task organization in the NMS is a group of units assembled for an operation, displayed as a diagram indicating its hierarchical structure.
  • The NMS resides on the engineering laptops of all three security enclaves, with the differences shown by background color - light green for colorless, light blue for NIPR, light red for SIPR.
  • The three NMS tool groups - WAN Planning, WAN Monitoring and the Node Management Subsystem - all reside only on SIPRNet.
  • Within the NMS laptop tools, the spectrum management tools reside only on the SIPRNet laptop.
  • The WAN Planner is designed for Increment 2 and can create cutsheets for the satellite transportable terminals and some Increment 1 equipment connecting to Increment 2.
  • The WAN Planner currently plans only part of Increment 1; other tools - the Detailed Planning Engineering Module and SPEED - must be used to plan networks the WAN Planner does not cover.
  • The colorless laptop grouping is XENG, the NIPR grouping NENG, and the SIPR grouping SENG.

References

ATP 6-02.71, Techniques for Department of Defense Information Network OperationsATP 6-02.60, Tactical Networking Techniques for Corps and Below (Aug 2019)ATP 6-02.70, Techniques for Spectrum Management Operations (15 Oct 2019)FM 6-02, Signal Support to Operations (12 Sep 2019)

Calculating Bandwidth Requirements 113-SCCCF25

Learning objective and standard

Learning objectiveCalculate bandwidth requirements for a mission.

StandardIdentify bandwidth requirements in a clear and concise manner without error, and calculate bandwidth requirements with 90 percent accuracy.

The only lesson in Module F with arithmetic you will be asked to do, and the formula is short enough to memorize. Take the user count, multiply by 64 kbps, divide by the 5-to-1 contention ratio, add 20 percent, round up to a whole number, then pick the next router building block at or above that figure. The building blocks double: 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16384. The lesson's worked example is 62 NIPRNET VoIP users, which comes out at 952.32 kbps and therefore needs the 1024 kbps block. Know the T1 numbers alongside it - 1.544 Mbps gross, 1536 kbps usable, 64 kbps per DS0 - because the trunk applications slides build on them.

Doctrinal currencyOne entry on the building blocks list is mistyped, and the error is easy to miss because it is the last item.

What this course teaches — answer this on the exam
  • The building blocks slide lists '64 kb/s, 128 kb/s, 256 kb/s, 512 kb/s, 1024 kb/s, 2048 kb/s, 4096 kb/s, 8192 kb/s, 16.384 kb/s'
  • The lesson's worked answer options for the 62-user problem are 512, 384, 832 and 1024 kbps
How to read it
  • The last building block is 16384 kb/s, not 16.384 kb/s. The sequence doubles, so 8192 is followed by 16384. The decimal point in the slide is a typographical slip - 16.384 Mbps is the same number expressed in megabits, which is how the TROPO lesson gives its aggregate rate
  • Note that 384 kbps appears as a distractor in the answer options but is not one of the doubling building blocks. If a question offers a value that is not a power-of-two multiple of 64, it is almost certainly the wrong answer

Doctrinal sets to know cold

The bandwidth formula, step by step
  1. Step 1 - multiply the number of users by 64 kb/s
  2. Step 2 - divide by 5, the contention ratio
  3. Step 3 - multiply by 1.2, adding 20 percent
  4. Step 4 - round up to a whole number
  5. Step 5 - select the next router building block at or above that figure
Router building blocks, in order
  1. 64 kb/s
  2. 128 kb/s
  3. 256 kb/s
  4. 512 kb/s
  5. 1024 kb/s
  6. 2048 kb/s
  7. 4096 kb/s
  8. 8192 kb/s
  9. 16384 kb/s
The worked example - 62 NIPRNET VoIP users
  1. 62 users times 64 kb/s = 3968
  2. 3968 divided by 5 = 793.6
  3. 793.6 times 1.2 = 952.32
  4. Round up = 953 kb/s minimum bandwidth required
  5. Next building block at or above 953 = 1024 kb/s
Trunk numbers to know
  1. T1 gateway link - 1.544 Mb/s gross
  2. T1 usable payload - 1536 kb/s
  3. One DS0 - 64 kb/s
  4. A voice T1 - 24 DS0 channels
  5. E1 - 2.048 Mbps
  6. VoIP packet trunk in the lesson's example - 8 kb/s per phone

Key terms

Bandwidth
The maximum data transfer rate of a network or connection - how much data can be sent over a specific connection in a given amount of time. 5 Mbps means up to 5 megabits of data per second.
Minimum Bandwidth Required (MBWR)
The output of the bandwidth calculation - the smallest bandwidth that will support the stated user population, before it is rounded up to a router building block.
5 to 1 ratio
The contention ratio the formula uses - the assumption that not all users transmit at once, so the raw per-user total is divided by five.
Router building block
The discrete bandwidth values a router serial interface can be configured to. They double: 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192 and 16384 kb/s. The MBWR is rounded up to the next available block.
DS0
The 64 kbps channel that is the basic building block of a T1. A voice T1 trunk carries 24 DS0s.
T1
The 1.544 Mb/s trunk, of which 1536 kb/s is usable payload across 24 DS0 channels at 64 kbps each.
E1
The European trunk rate of 2.048 Mbps, listed alongside the T1 on the bandwidth requirements chart.
Circuit switched network
The network type a PBX establishes a dedicated circuit across to transport continuous voice.
Packet switched network
The network type over which VoIP telephones transmit voice in fixed-size packets - the lesson uses an 8 kbit/s packet trunk in its example.
Aggregate
A set of separate units gathered into a mass or whole - the sum. In the lesson's practical exercises it is the total that must be carried across a serial router interface link.

Testable points

  • The bandwidth formula is: user count times 64, divided by 5, then multiplied by 1.2 - which is the same as adding 20 percent - giving the minimum bandwidth required.
  • Always round the result up to a whole number: the lesson's example is 12.4 becomes 13.
  • The router building blocks are 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192 and 16384 kb/s.
  • The worked example is 62 NIPRNET VoIP users: 62 times 64 is 3968, divided by 5 is 793.6, times 1.2 is 952.32, which rounds up to 953 and therefore requires the 1024 kb/s building block.
  • The 5-to-1 ratio is described in the exercise as the formal ratio to use when determining the bandwidth requirement for the NT2R supporting a network interface.
  • A T1 IP gateway link runs at 1.544 Mb/s, of which 1536 kb/s is usable, at 64 kbps per DS0.
  • In the lesson's VoIP example each telephone consumes 8 kb/s on the packet trunk.
  • PBX switches establish a dedicated circuit that transports continuous voice over a circuit switched network; VoIP telephones transmit voice in fixed-size packets over a packet switched network.
  • The bandwidth requirements chart tracks channel, channel rate, aggregate, number of PBX DS0s, E1, and aggregate speed for bandwidth.
  • The NX-1000 platform exercise gives a node with an NX-1000 aggregate, SIPR VoIP and VTC data, NIPR VoIP and VTC data, DSN T1 with 12 DS0s, and two long local STE circuits to the DRSN, totaling 4648 kb/s against a stated need of 6 Mbps to support users.
  • The lesson closes with the point that bandwidth is always a major factor in tactical networks.
  • The RHNs support up to three Tactical Network equipped divisions and at least three separate BCTs or brigades simultaneously, and each contains a Master Reference Terminal controlling bandwidth allocation on the MF-TDMA, TDMA and FDMA satellite networks.
  • The lesson's standard is to calculate bandwidth requirements with 90 percent accuracy, not without error - the only Module F objective stated as a percentage.

References

ATP 6-02.60, Tactical Networking Techniques for Corps and Below (Aug 2019)FM 6-02, Signal Support to Operations (12 Sep 2019)

The Signal Planning Process and Network Design 113-SCCCF25

Learning objective and standard

Learning objectiveDefine the Signal Planning Process for a mission.

StandardIdentify the steps of the Signal Planning Process and the phases of the Signal Planning Process in a clear and concise manner, without error.

The staff lesson of Module F, and the one that connects the equipment to the operations process. Three things to learn. The four steps of the signal planning process, which run from identifying subscriber requirements to publishing Annex H. The five phases, which run from mobilization to redeployment. And the Signal Running Estimate, which the lesson calls the most important document the S-6 maintains - important enough that the S-6 may keep two, one for planning and one for battle tracking. One nuance is worth flagging because it sits directly against what the Module E PACE lesson insists on: this lesson states that while every maneuver course of action must meet all five screening criteria, your communications plan need not, and may not need to be distinguishable.

Doctrinal currencySettled on 2026-09-09: the Module E PACE lesson is right. A communications plan IS a course of action and every line of it must be distinguishable. This lesson's slide says otherwise and that slide is wrong.

What this course teaches — answer this on the exam
  • The Module F planning lesson says: 'While each maneuver COA must meet all five criteria, your communications plan need not. It may not need to be distinguishable'
  • The Module E PACE lesson says a PACE plan is a course of action and each method of communication must be feasible, suitable, acceptable, distinguishable and complete - and builds a worked example around a PACE that fails specifically because its four lines are not distinguishable
The answer
  • A communications plan must meet all five screening criteria, distinguishable included. If two lines of a PACE plan are not genuinely different from each other, the plan gives no redundancy - which is the whole point of having one.
  • The Module E PACE lesson builds a worked example around a PACE that fails specifically because its four lines are not distinguishable. That example is the one to reason from.

Doctrinal sets to know cold

The four steps of the Signal Planning Process
  1. Step 1 - Identify subscriber and mission requirements, which generate service requirements
  2. Step 2 - Define network design requirements
  3. Step 3 - Set network design objectives
  4. Step 4 - Publish Annex H to support mission command
The five phases of the Signal Planning Process
  1. Phase 0 - Mobilization: deployed in garrison concept, BCT network operations security center
  2. Phase 1 - Deployment: coordinate with J-6/G-6 for communications requirements, establish enroute communications
  3. Phase 2 - Employment: establish the network, stand up the in-theater BCT and battalion NOSCs
  4. Phase 3 - Sustainment: signal maintenance, network sustainment
  5. Phase 4 - Redeployment
The five COA screening criteria as this lesson states them
  1. Complete - it must complete the task in the mission statement
  2. Feasible - the unit must have the capacity to accomplish the mission in terms of available time, space and resources
  3. Acceptable - the tactical or operational advantage gained must justify the cost in resources, especially casualties
  4. Distinguishable - each COA must differ significantly from the others
  5. Suitable - it must accomplish the mission and comply with the commander's guidance
What goes in a Signal Running Estimate
  1. Specified tasks, implied tasks and essential tasks
  2. Constraints - terrain and weather effects on the network
  3. Assets available - normally a pointer to the COMSTAT report
  4. Facts - what is known about friendly and enemy signal capability and past enemy jamming
  5. Assumptions - what is being assumed about TACSAT allocation, EW and CEMA employment, and enemy jamming
  6. Information requirements - what the S-6 still needs to know
Sample SRE tasks
  1. Specified - install, operate, maintain and protect transport assets to enable robust communications within the BCT; participate in a mission command rehearsal
  2. Implied - conduct a communications exercise by a stated date; publish the SOI; supervise and refine all PACE plans; provide a COMSEC plan covering issue, changeover and compromise
  3. Essential - establish primary and redundant communications; employ HCLOS linked to the BCT main to support video and voice; provide situational awareness and command and control through continuous, redundant communications infrastructure

Key terms

Signal Planning Process
The four-step process by which the S-6 turns subscriber and mission requirements into a network design and a published Annex H.
Telecommunications Service Order (TSO)
The mechanism through which the G-6 executes control of the network, carrying the same weight as an appropriate fragmentary order for network configuration. For current operations the G-6 executes network reconfigurations based on the TSO process and as specified by the commander in the OPORD - frequency modification, router configurations or equipment settings.
Signal Running Estimate (SRE)
The most important document the S-6 maintains. It enables an assessment of the situation including an evaluation of how factors within the S-6's scope of responsibility influence operations. The S-6 may maintain two working in concert - one for planning or as a mission analysis worksheet, and one for battle tracking and current operations.
Decisive point
The point in each course of action the commander's staff defines, on which the G-6 or S-6 should focus. The G-6 or S-6 must absolutely be able to provide robust, reliable and redundant communications support at that point.
Final planning guidance
What the commander may issue after selecting a course of action - refined commander's intent, commander's critical information requirements, and priorities including communications guidance, orders preparation, and rehearsal and preparation guidance.
Specified tasks
Tasks stated in the order. On the sample SRE these include installing, operating, maintaining and protecting transport assets to enable robust communications within the BCT, and participating in a mission command rehearsal.
Implied tasks
Tasks not stated but required. On the sample SRE these include conducting a communications exercise by a stated date, publishing the SOI, supervising and refining all PACE plans, and providing a COMSEC plan covering issue, changeover and compromise.
Essential tasks
The specified or implied tasks that must be executed for the mission to succeed. On the sample SRE these include establishing primary and redundant communications, employing HCLOS systems linked to the BCT main to support video and voice, and providing situational awareness and command and control through continuous, redundant communications infrastructure.
Annex H
The signal annex to the operation order, published to support mission command. It is the product the network design objectives feed.
Phase 0 - Mobilization
The first phase of the signal planning process, covering the deployed-in-garrison concept and the BCT network operations security center.
Phase 1 - Deployment
The phase in which the S-6 coordinates with the J-6 or G-6 for communications requirements and enroute communications are established.
Phase 2 - Employment
The phase in which the network is established and the BCT and battalion NOSCs stand up in theater.
Phase 3 - Sustainment
The phase covering signal maintenance and network sustainment.
Phase 4 - Redeployment
The final phase of the signal planning process.
CPOF
Command Post of the Future. The S-6 populates the Signal Running Estimate to the BCT portal or CPOF wherever possible, to facilitate collaboration and enable parallel planning across the BCT.
COMSTAT
The communications status report. The sample SRE's assets-available block simply points to it.

Testable points

  • The G-6, S-6 and S-3 are the principal staff officers for all matters concerning signal operations, automation and network management, and information security.
  • The four steps of the signal planning process are: identify subscriber and mission requirements, which generate service requirements; define network design requirements; set network design objectives; and publish Annex H to support mission command.
  • The G-3 executes control through the OPORD process and the G-6 executes control through the TSO process; the TSO carries the same weight as an appropriate FRAGO for the configuration of the network.
  • TSO-driven changes include frequency modification, router configurations and equipment settings.
  • The five phases of the signal planning process are Phase 0 mobilization, Phase 1 deployment, Phase 2 employment, Phase 3 sustainment, and Phase 4 redeployment.
  • Each course of action developed should be complete, feasible, acceptable, distinguishable and suitable.
  • This lesson's slide says the communications plan need not be distinguishable. That is wrong: a communications plan is a course of action and must meet all five screening criteria, distinguishable included.
  • The commander's staff should define the decisive point for each course of action, and the G-6 or S-6 should focus on it, because that is where robust, reliable and redundant communications support is essential.
  • The Signal Running Estimate is the most important document the S-6 maintains.
  • The S-6 may be required to maintain two Signal Running Estimates working in concert - one for planning or as a mission analysis worksheet, and one for battle tracking and current operations.
  • Wherever possible the S-6 populates the SRE to the BCT portal or CPOF to facilitate collaboration and enable parallel planning across the BCT.
  • The SRE separates content by BCT S-6 and battalion S-6 responsibility.
  • The sample SRE lists constraints as terrain - line of sight affected by mountainous terrain - and weather, with night operations limiting HF through a phase of the operation.
  • The sample SRE's facts include past successful enemy jamming of HF, VHF and SHF, the unavailability of brigade retransmission teams 1 and 2 until the conclusion of a phase, and the location of enemy signal, support, engineer and air defense artillery companies.
  • The sample SRE's assumptions include that TACSAT will be used with four DAMA channels, that electronic warfare and CEMA will be employed, that the enemy will attempt to jam at the objective, that dedicated TACSAT will go to the main effort, and that the enemy will not be able to jam east of the objective.
  • The sample SRE's information requirements include what jamming capabilities friendly and enemy forces have, the probability of EW or CEMA attacks, what equipment and capabilities partnered forces have, whether local infrastructure would be key terrain, what counter-cyber assets exist within the brigade, and the location of enemy jamming assets.
  • The lesson opens with the failure-to-plan theme, noting that failure to properly train, plan and collaborate command, control, communications and computers requirements for a course of action can lead to loss of life and equipment.
  • The lesson cites the invasion of Grenada as the case that highlighted communication and coordination problems between the services and contributed to the Goldwater-Nichols Act.
  • The learning objective's stated conditions include FM 5-0 Planning and Orders Production and FM 6-02 Signal Support to Operations.

References

FM 5-0, Planning and Orders Production (May 2022)FM 6-02, Signal Support to Operations (12 Sep 2019)FM 6-0, Commander and Staff Organization and Operations (May 2022)ATP 6-02.60, Tactical Networking Techniques for Corps and Below (Aug 2019)

The UTI Planning Exercises - ESB and Division 113-SCCCF26

Learning objective and standard

Learning objectivePlan and design an ESB network, and a division and brigade Increment 2 tactical network, to support the 73rd Infantry Division at the National Training Center.

StandardDevelop the required transmission, voice, data and network diagrams to support an Annex H, and brief the solution for a Go or No-Go.

The two exercises that close Module F. Day 7 is the ESB network - the 43rd Expeditionary Signal Battalion supporting the 73rd Infantry Division's humanitarian mission at NTC. Day 8 is the division and brigade Increment 2 network for the same scenario. Both are organized the same way: a battle captain and assistant battle captains produce a concept brief and WARNO in five-paragraph SMEAC format including PACE plans, with input from transmission, voice and data sub-planning cells, each of which develops and briefs its own diagrams. Read the condition paragraph carefully in both - it fixes the distances, the primary and secondary gateway hubs, and which links are required, and those constraints are what your diagram has to satisfy. The data cell has the hardest job: three enclave IP ranges to subnet with VLSM and 20 percent growth built in.

Doctrinal currencyThe exercise documents are current but the scenario data is spread across several files, and one of them could not be read.

What this course teaches — answer this on the exam
  • Both exercise PDFs carry the line 'THIS DOCUMENT SUPERSEDES ALL PREVIOUS VERSIONS'
  • The 43rd ESB is located at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, in both exercise documents
  • The Group 2 IP spreadsheet in the module drop is rights-protected and cannot be opened
  • A scanned PDF in the read-ahead folder, Document_250530_142554.pdf, yields eight bytes of text - it is an image with no text layer
What that means
  • Fort Liberty was renamed back to Fort Bragg in 2025. The exercise documents were written under the Liberty name; both names refer to the same installation, and the SATCOM lesson's own slides carry both
  • The Group 1 IP spreadsheet is readable and the Group 2 one is not, so if you are working the Group 2 problem you will need the file from the class rather than from the drop
  • The scanned read-ahead document could not be recovered. If it turns out to carry scenario data, it is a gap

Doctrinal sets to know cold

The three sub-planning cells and their products
  1. Transmission - transmission diagrams by transport type, all assemblages labeled with nomenclature, cables and links showing bandwidth rates, adjacent connectivity between major baseband systems
  2. Voice - VoIP/PBX diagram with call manager locations, switch codes, area codes, trunk route plan and a telephone numbering scheme
  3. Data - data network diagrams with Tier 0, 1, 2 and VPN router locations, bandwidth between routers, routing protocols, firewall locations, an IA plan, and VLSM IP assignment with 20 percent growth
ESB exercise conditions
  1. Primary DODIN-A enterprise services access through RHN CONUS East
  2. All CP sites within 40 km of each other; 150 km between brigades, including the JTF location
  3. All nodes establish serial router links where applicable
  4. CPs establish secondary connectivity between their brigades; brigades between adjacent brigades
  5. JTF and brigades establish secondary enterprise services through RHN CONUS West
  6. JTF establishes a lateral redundancy link to 3rd MP Brigade, 20 km away
Division exercise conditions
  1. Given an Increment 2 MTOE with users and network requirements
  2. Install, operate and maintain primary router serial link connectivity on the move and at the halt throughout the division area of responsibility
  3. DODIN-A gateway access through RHN East
  4. Division HQ, division TAC and brigade TOC establish secondary connectivity into RHN CONUS West when at the halt
  5. All signal nodes and TOC locations within 20 km of each other
  6. Provide mobile communications connectivity for division, brigade, battalion and company commanders
  7. TCNs establish an FDMA SATCOM link when at the halt
The ESB exercise enclave network IDs
  1. NIPR enclave - 168.30.8.0/26
  2. SIPR enclave - 176.30.90.0/22
  3. Colorless enclave - 10.1.1.0/21
  4. Allow 20 percent growth using variable length subnet masking
How the exercises are structured and graded
  1. A battle captain and assistant battle captains lead each group
  2. Transmission, voice and data sub-planning cells feed the concept brief
  3. The brief uses the five-paragraph field order structure, SMEAC, and includes PACE plans
  4. 20 slides for the ESB exercise, 25 for the division exercise, excluding cover and question slides
  5. Each sub-planning cell briefs its solution from its assigned whiteboard
  6. Grading is Go or No-Go

Key terms

Battle Captain (BC) and Assistant Battle Captains (ABC)
The students who prepare the PowerPoint presentation and Word document for the concept brief and warning order for their group, with input from the transmission, voice and data sub-planning cells.
Sub-Planning Cell (SPC)
The functional cell - transmission, voice or data - that develops and briefs its own required diagrams within the group's plan.
43rd Expeditionary Signal Battalion (ESB-E)
The supporting signal battalion in both exercises, based at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, with HHC as S3/BATCON and A, B and C Companies.
73rd Infantry Division
The supported division in both exercises, conducting a humanitarian mission exercise at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California.
Variable Length Subnet Masking (VLSM)
The subnetting technique the data sub-planning cell must use to assign IP ranges based on user and network requirements while allowing 20 percent growth.
Annex H
The signal annex the exercise diagrams are built to support.
Commo card and dial number scheme
The voice cell's products - switch codes, area codes, trunk route plan and a telephone numbering scheme, alongside call manager locations.
Go or No-Go
The grading standard for both exercises. Groups and sub-planning cells brief their solutions and receive a Go or No-Go rather than a numeric score.

Testable points

  • The ESB exercise task is to plan and design an ESB network to support the 73rd Infantry Division's humanitarian mission exercise at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California.
  • The division exercise task is to plan and design a division and brigade level Increment 2 tactical network for the same mission.
  • In the ESB exercise the primary access to DODIN-A enterprise services is through RHN CONUS East.
  • In the ESB exercise all command post sites are within 40 km of each other for planning purposes, except between brigades, where the distance is 150 km, including the joint task force location.
  • In the ESB exercise the JTF and brigades establish a secondary enterprise services connection through RHN CONUS West, and the JTF establishes a lateral redundancy link to 3rd MP Brigade, 20 km away.
  • In the ESB exercise all nodes establish serial router links for connectivity throughout the network where applicable; CPs establish secondary connectivity between their brigades, and brigades establish secondary connectivity between adjacent brigades.
  • In the division exercise DODIN-A gateway access is through the RHN East, with the division HQ, division TAC and brigade TOC establishing secondary connectivity into RHN CONUS West when at the halt.
  • In the division exercise all signal nodes and TOC locations are within 20 km of each other, and mobile communications connectivity must be provided for division, brigade, battalion and company commanders.
  • In the division exercise TCNs establish an FDMA SATCOM link when at the halt.
  • The battle captain and assistant battle captains prepare a PowerPoint presentation and a Word document for the concept brief and warning order, using the five-paragraph field order style, which must include PACE plans.
  • The ESB exercise brief is capped at 20 slides and the division exercise brief at 25 slides, in both cases excluding cover and question slides.
  • The transmission diagrams must display all transmission assemblages, use separate diagrams for LOS/BLOS, Ku/Ka and X band transport systems, label all equipment with proper nomenclatures including transmission cables and links reflecting proper bandwidth rates, establish adjacent connectivity between all major baseband systems, and use approved symbology.
  • The division transmission diagrams must additionally display node numbers and show assigned SATCOM modems and links.
  • The VoIP/PBX diagram must display all call manager locations, show switch codes, area codes and the trunk route plan including network connectivity for baseband systems, develop a telephone numbering scheme, and use approved symbology.
  • The data network diagrams must display all router locations - Tier 0, Tier 1, Tier 2 and VPN - and determine bandwidth requirements between routers.
  • The data network diagrams must show routing protocols for all routers, display firewall locations, and develop an information assurance plan to support the mission.
  • The data cell must assign IP ranges based on user and network requirements for both voice and data, and show subnet information for network and user requirements.
  • The ESB exercise network IDs are NIPR enclave 168.30.8.0/26, SIPR enclave 176.30.90.0/22, and colorless enclave 10.1.1.0/21.
  • The data cell must allow 20 percent growth for IP network assignment using variable length subnet masking.
  • The exercise recommends using an online VLSM or IP calculator, and the IP solution is emailed to the instructor.
  • The ESB exercise user requirements table covers SIPR VoIP, NIPR VoIP, VTC on NIPR and SIPR, NIPR and SIPR data, GBS, CLAN, and ISDN for each supported unit.
  • The largest single user requirement in the ESB exercise is the JTF headquarters at 75 SIPR VoIP, 30 NIPR VoIP, one VTC each on NIPR and SIPR, 30 NIPR and 75 SIPR data users, one GBS and a T1.
  • Units in the ESB exercise that rate a T1 are the JTF HQ, 3rd MP Brigade TOC, 25th Fires Brigade TOC and 42nd MI Battalion - the same four that rate a GBS and a VTC pair.
  • The 73rd Infantry Division task organization includes the division main CP and TAC CP, 1st BCT with two infantry regiments, 2nd SBCT with an infantry regiment and a cavalry regiment, and the 73rd Sustainment Brigade with a transportation and a maintenance battalion.
  • Both exercise documents state that they supersede all previous versions.

References

FM 6-02, Signal Support to Operations (12 Sep 2019)ATP 6-02.60, Tactical Networking Techniques for Corps and Below (Aug 2019)FM 5-0, Planning and Orders Production (May 2022)FM 6-0, Commander and Staff Organization and Operations (May 2022)

Reference Publications and Equipment Documentation Module F

Learning objective and standard

Learning objectiveIdentify the doctrinal publications distributed with Module F and the equipment reference set that supports the planning exercises.

StandardIdentify the seven doctrinal publications in the Module F reference tree and the systems covered by the equipment reference folders, with their correct titles and dates.

Module F is the best-documented module in the course. Unlike Module E, which buries its reference material in a vendor tree with no doctrine at all, Module F ships a Doctrine folder with seven publications and an equipment folder per system. Learn the seven publications by what each one is for - that alone tells you which one to open when the planning exercise stalls. ATP 6-02.60 is the corps-and-below networking techniques manual and is the closest thing Module F has to a textbook; ATP 6-02.54 covers satellite communications; ATP 6-02.45 covers theater signal support; ATP 6-02.75 covers communications security. The equipment folders map one-to-one onto the lessons, so the reference for anything you cannot remember about a system is one folder away.

Doctrinal currencyModule F's doctrine folder is the most complete in the course, but three of its seven publications predate the current FM 3-0 and none of them has been reissued since the WIN-T-to-TNT terminology change.

What this course teaches — answer this on the exam
  • ATP 6-02.60 (Aug 2019), FM 6-02 (Sep 2019), ATP 6-02.45 (Nov 2019) and TC 6-02.1 (Jul 2019) are all 2019 publications
  • Every one of them uses WIN-T rather than Tactical Network Transport
  • The lesson decks are dated 2026 and use TNT, but quote 2019 doctrine verbatim in their speaker notes
How to use them
  • The doctrine is still the doctrine - none of these publications has been superseded, and the technical content is what the module teaches from
  • Where a publication says WIN-T, read Tactical Network Transport. The guidance is that the terminology changed but the equipment and the capability descriptions did not
  • FM 3-0 was republished 21 March 2025 and is not in this folder. Where a Module F lesson touches the operations process, cross-check against the current FM 3-0 rather than against the 2019 references here

Doctrinal sets to know cold

The seven doctrinal publications in the Module F reference tree
  1. ATP 6-02.45, Techniques for Tactical Signal Support to Theater Operations (Nov 2019)
  2. ATP 6-02.60, Tactical Networking Techniques for Corps and Below (Aug 2019)
  3. ATP 6-02.54, Techniques for Satellite Communications (Nov 2020)
  4. ATP 6-02.75, Techniques for Communications Security (May 2020)
  5. FM 6-02, Signal Support to Operations (Sep 2019)
  6. TC 6-02.1, The United States Army Signal Corps 2019 Training Strategy (Jul 2019)
  7. JP 6-0, Joint Communications System
Which publication to open for which problem
  1. Tactical network design at corps and below - ATP 6-02.60
  2. Satellite architecture, terminals and access - ATP 6-02.54
  3. Regional hub nodes, ESBs and theater signal structure - ATP 6-02.45
  4. COMSEC, key management and encryption devices - ATP 6-02.75
  5. Signal support fundamentals and the three-tier tactical internet - FM 6-02
  6. Joint communications planning - JP 6-0
Equipment reference folders
  1. Transmission - HCLOS, TRILOS, TROPO, TRT
  2. Satellite terminals - Hawkeye, Phoenix and Phoenix-E, SCOUT, SMART-T, SNAP, STT, T2C2 Lite and Heavy, TAMPA, UHST
  3. Nodes - NOSC and NOSC-L, TCN-H, TCN-Lite, PoP and SNE
  4. Services and kits - ECK, GBS, Mobile Broadband Kit, SNN
  5. Process - SAR and SAA
The module's non-lesson products
  1. Example UTI PLANNEX Products - colorless network, data and voice network, and SATCOM/LOS diagrams
  2. Photos of Equipment - seven images of Upper TI systems
  3. Group 1 and Group 2 practical exercise folders - warning orders, IP spreadsheets, VoIP call plans and student briefs
  4. The Mr. Jones UTI read-ahead folder - the nodal systems capabilities read ahead, transmission systems handout, ESB-E chart master and the UTI battle captain brief

Key terms

ATP 6-02.60
Tactical Networking Techniques for Corps and Below, August 2019. The closest thing Module F has to a single textbook - it covers the tactical network at the echelons the module teaches.
ATP 6-02.54
Techniques for Satellite Communications, November 2020. The reference behind the satellite fundamentals, hub node and SATCOM terminals lessons.
ATP 6-02.45
Techniques for Tactical Signal Support to Theater Operations, November 2019. Covers the theater-level structures - regional hub nodes, expeditionary signal battalions and theater signal formations.
ATP 6-02.75
Techniques for Communications Security, May 2020. The COMSEC reference behind the key management, TACLANE and KIV material in the baseband lessons.
FM 6-02
Signal Support to Operations, September 2019. The Signal Corps capstone field manual and the source of the three-tier tactical internet passage quoted in the architecture lesson.
JP 6-0
Joint Communications System - carried in the Module F reference tree as the joint force communications planning guide.
Executive Comms Kit (ECK)
One of the equipment reference folders, holding the ECK smart book and the Klas Voyager ECK smart book.
Global Broadcast Service (GBS)
The one-way high-capacity broadcast service taught on day 3 alongside T2C2 and TRILOS. Its reference folder holds TM 11-5895-1961-13&P.
Smart book
The condensed operator reference for a system. The Module F reference tree carries smart books for the ECK, Klas Voyager, T2C2 Heavy and Lite, TAMPA, TCN-Lite hand receipt, SMART-T, and the T2C2 Scout Small.
Hand receipt smart book
The variant that also lists the components a system is signed for - the TCN-L folder carries one, updated 31 May 2019.

Testable points

  • The Module F reference tree contains a Doctrine folder with seven publications.
  • The seven doctrinal publications are ATP 6-02.45 (Nov 2019), ATP 6-02.60 (Aug 2019), ATP 6-02.54 (Nov 2020), ATP 6-02.75 (May 2020), FM 6-02 (Sep 2019), TC 6-02.1 (Jul 2019) and JP 6-0.
  • The equipment reference folders cover ECK, GBS, HCLOS, Hawkeye, the Mobile Broadband Kit, NOSC and NOSC-L, PoP and SNE, Phoenix and Phoenix-E, SAR and SAA, SCOUT, SMART-T, SNAP, SNN, STT, T2C2 Lite and Heavy, TAMPA, TCN-H, TCN-Lite, TRILOS, TROPO, TRT and UHST.
  • The HCLOS folder carries four technical manuals covering the AN/TRC-190 C, D, E and F variants.
  • The STT folder carries TM 11-5895-1868-13&P for the Satellite Transportable Terminal and TM11-5895-1869-13&P-2 for the STT subsystems.
  • The T2C2 folder carries smart books for the Heavy and Lite variants plus technical manuals TM 11-5895-2036-13&P for T2C2 Lite and TM 11-5895-2062-13&P for T2C2 Heavy.
  • The SMART-T folder carries TC 6-02.21, the SMART-T Handbook, alongside two technical manuals for the AN/TSC-154A.
  • The SNN folder carries two overview decks rather than a technical manual.
  • The SAR and SAA folder carries a single presentation on satellite access authorization.
  • The module also ships an Example UTI PLANNEX Products folder with three images - a colorless network diagram, a data and voice network diagram, and a SATCOM and LOS diagram.
  • A Photos of Equipment folder holds seven images of Upper TI equipment.
  • The module's largest single file is a 473 MB combined Module F presentation.
  • The lesson decks carry dates from 1 July 2026 through 1 September 2026, making Module F the most recently revised module in the drop.
  • The Module F drop contains 116 files - substantially fewer than Module E's 172, but with far more of them being teaching material rather than vendor documentation.

References

ATP 6-02.60, Tactical Networking Techniques for Corps and Below (Aug 2019)ATP 6-02.54, Techniques for Satellite Communications (Nov 2020)ATP 6-02.45, Techniques for Tactical Signal Support to Theater Operations (Nov 2019)ATP 6-02.75, Techniques for Communications Security (May 2020)FM 6-02, Signal Support to Operations (12 Sep 2019)JP 6-0, Joint Communications System