TPS adding more bandwidth

  • Published
  • By Kenji Thuloweit
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  With advances in satellite television, cell phones and more complex communication systems, the skies are becoming cluttered with frequency users. The need for more bandwidth is not just something people want for faster video or music downloads; it's also needed to expand communications capabilities between aircraft and ground-based people and equipment.
 
Telemetry is a technology that allows remote measurement and reporting of information. It is how data from an aircraft is transferred to engineers on the ground to assess the aircraft's performance. Here, at Flight Test Nation, the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School has installed a first-of-its-kind aeronautical telemetry ground system.
 
"Due to technological advances and the increase in civilian use of various frequencies, some of which happen to be the same frequencies we use, there has been a need to expand our range of frequencies for flight testing," said John Ward, Test Management Group and Telemetry Systems Integration and Support program manager.

The TSIS program, in collaboration with the TPS, has installed the new aeronautical telemetry ground system, which is capable of acquiring airborne telemetry data in the L-, S-, and now, C-band frequency ranges. The system replaces an older ground telemetry system, which was capable of only receiving telemetry in the L and S ranges.

"Air-to-ground telemetry has always been conducted in the 1435-1525 Megahertz (L-Band) and 2200-2395 Megahertz (S-Band) frequency ranges." said Mr. Ward. "However, as we test aircraft with greater technology advancements, more telemetry bandwidth use is inevitable and this new tri-band telemetry capability will expand the range of available telemetry frequencies into the 4 Gigahertz and 5 Gigahertz ranges (C-band)."

The additional frequencies added will benefit both the surrounding community and the different squadrons on base by relaxing the encroachment of frequencies used by civilians and other squadrons.

"You may have emergency response companies and cell phone companies all desiring to use more and more frequencies and that could cause congestion in the frequencies we use here for flight tests," Mr. Ward said. "Part of our goal is to help accommodate the increase by adding more frequencies that will allow us to conduct flight tests while at the same time allowing civilians to continue using our frequencies."

Mr. Ward says this new tri-band telemetry capability with the C-band receiver is likely the first of its kind in the world. The C-band installation occurred much earlier than expected because of a unique collaboration between the TSIS program office, TPS leadership, 412th Test Wing and the contracting office. The TPS' flexibility in scheduling, small number of aircraft to equip and working relationship with the different offices was a big factor in setting up the system ahead of schedule.

The new C-band at the TPS will help the school out a lot because, with numerous test squadrons at Edwards, the fight for frequencies can be challenging.

"Being the first to get ground level C-band is a plus because we're always competing for bandwidth with the rest of the base and we have one of the lowest priorities," said Steve Conner, TPS, Lead Telemetry and Data Acquisition engineer. "To be able to go full C-band is going to work out perfectly for TPS."

Some acceptance testing still remains for the TPS ground systems. Early testing has been very encouraging and full initial operating capability is expected to be completed by July. The TSIS program is a five-year improvement and modernization program to upgrade the entire Air Force Flight Test Center ground and airborne telemetry capability.