Print this page

Phase I Functional Overview

The IBS Test Terminal (a.k.a. the "Devil Duck") is a benchmark tool for the test and development of communications systems based on Integrated Waveform (IW) and Common Interactive Broadcast (CIB) systems.

The purpose of the “Devil Duck” is to acquire, monitor, schedule, and decode IBS traffic reception.  It does this using Xenotran’s IW/CIB modem (MIL-STD-188-181C) and Multiple Access layer interface (MIL-STD-188-183B).

The Rx Only “Devil Duck” is compatible with both real and simulated environments.  This includes both testing Over-the-Air (OTA) as well as in a lab with Test Channel Controllers and Satellite Simulators (SATSIM).  It can also be used for pre-JITC FOW acquisition testing. 

The Rx Only Terminal receives RF Integrated Broadcast Service (IBS) traffic, converts it to an intermediate frequency (IF), processes it using the GFI 181C software and Hunt Heron HEPC9 PCI card, then passes it to the 183B layer for IW/CIB processing by the upper layers.  The user can monitor received message parameters such as modulation option, frequency, and message length on the LCD panel.  The “Devil Duck” also contains 4 USB ports, a VGA port, and is network enabled. 

The “Devil Duck” is portable, compact, and easy to use.  It can be used on a standard 19” rack or as a standalone device.  The “Devil Duck” can be utilized as an IW/CIB Receive Only Terminal or as a standalone, single channel, 181C Radio. 

Software provided with the “Devil Duck” includes:

Hardware Configuration Tool- The Hardware Configuration Application is used to configure and program the DSPs and FPGAs contained in the Hunt Hardware.

181C Test Host Application- The 181C Test Host Application is used to initialize the 181C interface, record information received by the 181C layer sent from the 183B layer, and record information sent by the 181C to the 183B layer.

183B Test Client Application- The 183B Test Client Application is a GUI that allows the user to send acquisition, alignment, and reception commands to the radio, m onitor responses from the radio, and monitor frame indications. 

IW/CIB Protocol Analyzer- The IBS Protocol Analyzer parses and decodes burst header and data passed between the 181C and 183B interfaces.  This includes downlink acquisition and frame alignment commands, burst reception commands, frame indications, FOW bursts, and UCOM bursts.

Technical Specificaitons:

Input Signal Range (RF): 240 – 268 MHz

Receiver Gain: ~72 dB

Optional: 10 MHz input clock

Tuning Resolution: 100 Hz

Size: Compact 19” / 2 RU rack mount

Ports:  3 SMA Connectors (I signal input, Q signal input, RF Rx input) TCP/IP Ethernet connection VGA monitor port LCD Panel for displaying modulation option, frequency, and message length

Memory: MB Hard drive Power:  110/120 VAC input power