VHF Com

Very High Frequency Communications

Com 1-Com 2?
Communications move information in and out of an airplane for air
traffic control, airline company op­erations and passenger services. The
earliest "com" ra­dios sent and received Morse code, then advanced to
voice as technology became available. Today, voice messages are also
headed for extinction, as digital in­ formation travels more efficiently on
"datalink," a tech­nology spreading through aviation.
 VHF-Com. Radios for communication may be labeled "Com, Comm,
VHF-Com" or simply "VHF." They receive and transmit in the VHF com
band from 118.00 to 136.975 MHz When a radio is a navcom. both
communications and navigation are combined in a single case or
housing. Because the com half trans­mits and receives, it is a
"transceiver."
 
The VHF band (30–300 MHz 10 m – 1 m) is under great pressure
because of the growing number of aircraft. Frequencies are as­signed
by international agreement and difficult to ob­tain because many non-
aviation services compete for limited space in the radio spectrum.
These include public-safety (police, fire, emergency medical and
other government activity). VHF is also in demand by "land mobile"
services such as taxi, and delivery vehicles. As a result, avionics
engineers have developed new techniques for expanding
communications inside the existing VHF aviation band
 VHF
WAVES
VHF radio wave propagation
Electromagnetic waves travel in straight lines, but the transmission process is
modified by interaction with the Earth's surface and by reflection, refraction and
diffraction occurring within the atmosphere. The major source of modification of
the paths of radio waves is the radiation-related layers within the ionosphere.
The process by which the signal (the fixed carrier frequency plus the information)
is conveyed between the transmitter and the receiver is propagation. Radio
signal energy loss (attenuation) increases with distance travelled through the
atmosphere

Propagation in the VHF band (30 MHz to 300 MHz), when using low power and
small antennas, is chiefly in the form of a direct path. It is relatively unaffected by
reflection, refraction and diffraction within the atmosphere; but is heavily
attenuated by the Earth's surface and readily blocked or other materials.

• LOS distance
• LOS distance between a ground station and an aircraft station, or between two
aircraft stations, is limited by the curvature of the Earth's surface, and
dependent on the elevation/height of the two stations and the elevation of
intervening terrain. 

The rule-of-thumb is: the maximum direct path distance (the distance to the
horizon) between an aircraft and a ground station, in nautical miles, is equal to
the square root of the aircraft height, in feet, above the underlying (flat)
terrain. Actually it is 1.06 times the square root of the height, but for our
purposes that can be ignored. 
 Splitting

One method for squeezing in more channels is "splitting." As

the accompanying chart shows, the VHF band has been split four
times, result­ing in an increase from 90 channels to over 2,280. This
became possible with advances in digital signal pro­cessing,
CH F Acceptable? NOTES
especially to make the com receiver respond very selectively to the
new, narrow channels. 90 100 kHz No January 1, 1997 banned radios with 360 or fewer
  channels
The increase trom 180 lo 360 channels resulled
A large number of old-technology avionics could not operate with       when Ihe band was expanded Irom 126.90 lo
such tight spacing and, in 1997, ra­dios with 360 channels or fewer 180 50 kHz No 135.9 MHz
were banned (see chart).

Doubling 01 channels resulted from

VHF Data Radio. In the coming years, there will be a dramatic drop      
360 50 kHz No "channel splitting" (moving frequencies closer
in the number of voice transmissions on the VHF aircraft band It is together).
due to the rise of "data link," where messages are sent and
received in digital coding. The human voice delivers information at
a slow rate about 300 words per minute. Compare this to an e-mail Again channels were split, but new
message building on a computer screen. Three hundred words 760 25 kHz Yes technology produced selective receivers which
could separate close-
appear in about one-tenth of a second! Not only will data link take spaced channels. Also, another megahertz was
one channel and split it more than four ways, it operates faster, added lo the band, providing 40 more channels
and eliminates misunderstood words.

Further channel splitting Tripled the channels

      to accommodate increasing air traffic. This
2280 8.33kHz Yes spacing, 8.33 kHz, was first used in Europe,
where frequency congestion became critical.
 Data radio?
Voice: This is the traditional air/ground
communications where the pilot talks over a
microphone. It is known as AM, or amplitude
modulation
VDR: Airliners and other large aircraft are equip­
ping with a new generation known as VDR, for
VHF Data Radio. Because many years are required
to transition to a new system, the VDR must
operate on both existing and future systems:
ACARS: An automatic system that reports via
VHF radio to an airline company when its aircraft
takes off and arrive, and carries messages about
company operations (described in detail in the
next chapter.)
VDL: Yet another mode is VDL, for VHF datalink.
Many airliners have equipped with VDL because
of their wide-ranging flights must be prepared to
communicate with any major system.
 EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION
KX 155/165
• TECHNICAL
• Two way voice communication within the frequency
range 118.00 MHz to 135.975 Mhz (720 channels) or
118.00 to 136.975 (760 channels) in 25 Khz increments.
• Reception of navigation signals within the frequency
range of 108.00 to 117.95 Mhz in 50 Khz increments (40
channel)
• VOR/LOC signal converter (165)
CHARACTERISCTICS
• sections:
• Com transmitter
• Com receiver Power comsumption
• Com frequency Synthesizer
• Nav receiver
• TSO compliance
KX 155: +27. 5 VDC
KX 165: +27. 5 VDC
RECEIVE: 0.4 A max
TRANSMIT: 6.0 A max

• ICAO annex 10 (interference

• Nav frequency Synthesizer
• Glideslope Receiver and Converter KX 155: +13. 5 VDC RECEIVE: 0.7 A max
KX 165: +13. 5 VDC TRANSMIT: 8.5 A max
• Glideslope frequency Synthesizer
• VOR/LOC converter
• Gas discharge display
immunity)
• Microprocessor
• Switching power supply • Temperate range (-20 to +55 ºC)
• 4 Ohm radio amplifier

• Altitude -15.000 feet to 50.000

feet
COMM TRANSCEIVER
• Intermodulation (IM)
or intermodulation
distortion (IMD) is
the amplitude
modulation of signals contai
ning two or more
different frequencies. The
intermodulation between
each frequency component
will form additional signals.
• desensitization is a form of electromagnetic interference
where a radio receiver is unable to receive a weak radio
signal that it might otherwise be able to receive when there
is no interference. This is caused by a nearby transmitter
with a strong signal on a close frequency, which overloads
the receiver and makes it unable to fully receive the desired
signal.
• Typical receiver operation is such that the Minimum
Detectable Signal (MDS) level is determined by the thermal
noise of its electronic components. When a signal is received,
additional spurious signals are produced within the receiver
because it is not truly a linear device. When these spurious
signals have a power level that is less than the thermal noise
power level, then the receiver is operating normally. When
these spurious signals have a power level that is higher than
the thermal noise floor, then the receiver is desensitized.
This is because the MDS has risen due to the level of the
spurious signals. Spurious signals increase in level when the
received signal strength increases.
• MODULATION CAPABILITY
The maximum percentage modulation which can be • HEADPHONES IMPEDANCE
used without exceeding a specified distortion level
is the measure of the opposition that a system presents to an
• SIDETONE acoustic flow when an acoustic pressure is applied to it.
is audible feedback to someone who is speaking. The • Broadband 50 ohm antenna?
term is most used in the telecommunication field.
• BULLETIN BENDIX KING 55
HARMONIC CONTENT: 60 Db down from carrier
• IN LINE WATTMETTER
• CH 27
Bandwith for a person to speak?

All signals that are transmitted consist of multiple

frequencies. The range of frequencies a signal occupies is • 6 Db S n/n
called the bandwidth of the signal. The bandwidth is
measured in terms of Hertz (Hz). • Signal-to-noise ratio (S+N/N ratio,
The bandwidth of a signal depends on the amount of
information contained in it and the quality of it. The range of
or SNR for short)   is defined as
frequencies necessary for an analogue voice signal, with a
fixed telephone line quality (recognizable speaker), is 300 -
the ratio between the desired
3400 Hz. This means that the bandwidth of the signal is
3,100 Hz. A human voice contains much higher frequencies,
signal, and the background noise
but this bandwidth gives a good signal
• AGC Characteristics: or Automatic
A key characteristic of bandwidth is that any band of a given
width can carry the same amount of information, regardless
gain control, the purpose of which
of where that band is located in the frequency spectrum. For
example, a 3 kHz band can carry a telephone conversation
is to provide a controlled signal
whether that band is at baseband (as in a POTS telephone
line) or modulated to some higher frequency.
amplitude at its output, despite
variation of the amplitude in the
input signal
KA 30 BLOWER
RADIO
SYSTEM
37 Transmitter
selector switch
01 Transceiver
03 Power supply
57-58 rehostat
39 Radio cooling
installation
38 Mic
36 Headsets
34 Com
35 Nav
 MANUFACTURERS
• AIRCRAFT RADIO CORPORATION • INFORMATION? E.M
(ARC)
• CESNNA • ATA ##?
• KING ELECTRONICS
• MOTOROLA AUTOMATIC DIRECTION
• NARCO ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
• PATRONICS TRANSCEIVER
• SUNAIR TRANSCEIVER
• GARMIN
 Basic VHF-Navcom Connections: General
Aviation
1. DC Power Input
Depending on the airplane's electrical system, this is
primary power to the radio; 14- or 28-volt DC. IT from a
circuit breaker or fuse designated for a navcom. In some
diagrams, DC power input is also called the "A" lead.
2. Switched Power
When the radio is turned on, this connection sends power
from the radio to certain accessories, such as an external
indicator that displays navigation informa­tion. An example
is the VOR instrument that displays left-right, up-down
steering commands.
3. Ground
The negative side of the electrical system, it can be any
part of the airplane's metal structure that goes
back to the negative side of the battery. In composite (non-
metal) airplanes, the ground is a "bus bar," or heavy
copper wire or braid that extends the negative battery lead
through the airplane.
 4. Mic Key Line
Turns on the transmitter when a microphone but­ton is
pressed. The button may be on the mike, or mounted
on the control yoke. Releasing the button switches the
radio back to receive.
5. Mic Audio
This is the voice signal from the pilot micro­phone brought
into the radio through a microphone jack or audio panel.
Mic audio is applied to the transmitter, and drives the
pilot intercom or' passenger address system
 Basic VHF-Navcom Connections: General
Aviation

6. Instrument Lighting
At night, the pilot may dim lights on the panel with one
control. When this connection is wired to the dimmer, radio
lighting is controlled along with all other illumination.
 7. Com Antenna
Coaxial cable that runs to the VHF com antenna.
8. Nav Antenna
Coaxial cable to the VOR nav antenna.
9. Com Audio
Audio received from an incoming signal In simple
installations, this line connects to the pilot's headphone jack.
Audio al this point is "low level," meaning it can only drive
a headphone, and not a cabin speaker. Although some
radios have built-in amplifiers, many aircraft add an audio
panel. lt not only provides amplification for the cabin
speaker, but boosts and mixes low level audio from other
sources.
 10. Nav Audio
This enables the pilot to listen to and identify navi­gational
signals, which broadcast an ID in Morse code and voice.
 VHF-Com System

A com radio typically found in airliners and large

aircraft The pilot operates the VHF Control
Panel, while the main unit of the VHF transceiver
is in a remote electronics bay.
Two frequencies may be selected at one time; the
active channel sends and receives, the stored
channel remains inactive. When the transfer
button is pressed, the two channels exchange
places.
The Audio Panel connects pilot micro­phone
and headset or loudspeaker. "PTT" is the push-
to-talk button that switches the radio between
transmit and receive. The button is on the
microphone or the con­trol yoke.
The transceiver also provides an audio output to
the Cockpit Voice Recorder to retain radio
messages in the event of a safety investigation.
There are usually three VHF com radios aboard an
airliner. One radio, however, is operated in the
ACARS system, as de­scribed later in this course
 Third Com Radio

This is the same as the other two com ra­dios,

except for modifications to operate on ACARS
(Aircraft Communication and Report­ing System)
described in a later chapter.
There is no pilot control panel because the fre­
quency is pre-set to an assigned ACARS channel
ACARS automatically receives and transmits messages
about company opera­tions.

A pilot may also use voice on this radio through

the mic and receiver audio connec­tion.
VHF com radios in large aircraft typically operate
from a 28 VDC power source, The transmitter is
often rated at 25 watts of radio frequency output
power
 VHF-Com Control Panel
Typical airline control head for one
VHF transmitter-receiver (transceiver).
The pilot is communicating on the left
display; the frequency trans­fer switch is
pointing left. He has stored the next
frequency on the right side. A flip of the
transfer switch activates the next
frequency. This panel­mounted unit
controls a re­mote transceiver in the elec­
tronics bay.
The "Com Test" button at the bottom
disables the auto­matic squelch. This
allows atmospheric noise to be
heard, which is an approxi­mate test
of whether the radio is operating.
Located in the electronics bay, the VHF
transceiver is remotely tuned by the
control head in the instrument panel.
This LRU (Iine replaceable unit) has
several test features built in. The
indicator at the top shows transmitter
power in the forward direction (toward
the antenna) or power reflected back
to the transmitter. If reflected power is
high, there is not problem in the
antenna or cable. This is covered in the
chapter on test and troubleshoot­ing.
The jacks at the bottom enable the
technician to talk and listen while
testing in the electronics bay.
 Radio Management System
A Radio Management System eliminates numerous knobs, buttons and separate control
heads for oper­ating com and nav radios. It's less of a workload to operate and saves space on
the instrument panel. The pilot sees only the control-display unit (at the bottom) and selects
or stores frequencies, transponder
codes, etc. AII the other units are mounted in remote racks and are controlled through a
databus (ARINC429). This system, the Chelton RMS 555, is used by
corporate, regional airline and military aircraft
 
3.2 What is the frequency coverage of the 3.7 A typical com radio has two frequency which are?
VHF com band?   
  3.8 What is the purpose of a squelch?
 
3.3 What is "splitting" channels?
3.9 What function does the "com test" control pro­vide?
   
3.4 What development greatly reduces the 3.10 Where is the LRU (line replaceable unit) for a com
num­ber of voice reports on VHF com? transceiver of a large aircraft located?
   
3.11 What is the benefit of a radio management
3.5 What is the narrowest spacing for channels system?
in the VHF com band?  
  3.12 What is the third VHF com radio of an air­Iiner
often used for?
3.6 What is the purpose of a mic key line?
3.13 who is goint to say, the drinks today are on me?