HF Communications System
(with PS440 Control Display Unit)
HF Communications System
(with PS440 Control Display Unit)
KHF 1050
KHF 1050
Pilot’s Guide
Pilot’s Guide
N
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Copyright ©2003 Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of this publication or any portion thereof by any means without the
express written permission of Honeywell International Inc. is prohibited. For further information contact the Manager, Technical Publications; Honeywell; One
Technology Center; 23500 West 105th Street; Olathe, Kansas 66061.
Telephone: (913) 782-0400.
KHF 1050 (PRIMUS HF 1050) SYSTEM DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
SYSTEM OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
PS440 CONTROL DISPLAY UNIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
CONTROLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
DISPLAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
PS440 OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
ON/OFF/VOLUME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
FAIL MODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
SQUELCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
DIRECT TUNING A FREQUENCY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Selecting the Proper Operating Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Simplex Direct Tuning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Semi-Duplex Direct Tuning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
MODE SELECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
CHANNEL OPERATION AND PROGRAMMING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Channel Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Emergency Channel Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Channel Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Clearing User Programmed Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Emergency Channel Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Clearing User Programmed Emergency Channels . . . . . . . . . . . .12
CLARIFIER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
MARITIME RADIOTELEPHONE NETWORK CHANNEL OPERATION .12
TRANSMIT POWER SELECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
DATA COMMUNICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
AVIATION SERVICES AVAILABLE TO HF USERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
ARINC AIR/GROUND INTERNATIONAL RADIO SERVICES . . . . . . . .14
UNIVERSAL WEATHER AND AVIATION INC/HOUSTON RADIO . . . .14
WLO MARINE RADIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Table of Contents
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KHF 1050/PS440 Pilot's Guide
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APPENDIX A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
CHARACTERISTICS OF HF SSB COMMUNICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
HF SSB COMMUNICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
FREQUENCY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
SKYWAVE PROPAGATION - WHICH FREQUENCY TO USE? . . . . . .16
WHY SINGLE SIDEBAND IS IMPORTANT IN HF COMMUNICATIONS .21
AMPLITUDE MODULATION (AM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
SINGLE SIDEBAND OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
SUPPRESSED CARRIER VS. REDUCED CARRIER . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
SIMPLEX AND SEMI-DUPLEX OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
APPENDIX B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
MARITIME RADIOTELEPHONE CHANNEL DESIGNATIONS . . . . . . . . .23
Table of Contents
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KHF 1050/PS440 Pilot's Guide
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KHF 1050 (PRIMUS HF 1050) SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
The KHF 1050 System (also known as the Primus HF 1050 System) is a
solid-state high frequency (HF) single sideband (SSB) transceiver system providing voice and data communication. Data communication is
through an external modem.
This publication describes the operation of the KHF 1050 HF
Communication System using the PS440 Control Display Unit (CDU).
SYSTEM OPERATION
PS440 CONTROL DISPLAY UNIT
CONTROLS
The control functions of the PS440 are described in the following sections. Refer to Figure 1 for control locations.
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Figure 1 - PS440 Controls
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4
3
6
7
8
2
9
1
1 ON/OFF/Volume - Inner concentric knob. Press ON and press OFF.
Rotate to adjust volume.
2 Function Selector - Outer concentric knob. Rotate to select FREQ,
CHAN, MOD, SQL or OPT.
3 Emergency Channel Access Button - Press to gain access to
selection of emergency channels.
4 Functional Test Button - Press to initiate the built-in functional test.
5 Display Area - Digital display of frequencies, modes, channel numbers,
etc.
6 Sub-Function Select Button - Press to enter and select sub-functions.
7 Transmit Lamp - Illuminates when the system is transmitting.
8 Outer Selector Knob - Right outer concentric knob. Rotate to select
frequency, channel numbers, etc.
9 Inner Selector Knob - Right inner concentric knob. Rotate to select
frequency, channel numbers, etc.
10 Enter Button - Press to store data entries.
10
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KHF 1050/PS440 Pilot’s Guide
DISPLAY
Figure 2 defines the display areas.
PS440 OPERATION
ON/OFF/VOLUME
This smaller inner concentric knob (lower left) turns the system off and
on and controls volume. Pressing the inner knob turns the system on.
Pressing and holding the inner knob for 3 seconds turns the system off.
Rotating the inner knob clockwise increases volume. Counterclockwise
rotation decreases volume.
A built-in functional test is performed at power-up. The test should take
no longer than 30 seconds. If any problems are found, the system will
enter a Fail Mode.
The functional test may also be initiated by pressing and holding the
TEST button for three seconds. After three seconds, all display segments will be lit and the TX lamp will be illuminated. Allow at least 30
seconds for the test to complete. Press the TEST button again to exit
the test mode.
NOTE: At temperatures below -30˚C, allow the system a one minute
warm-up period after turn-on before transmitting.
2
Figure 2 - PS440 Display
1
2
4
1 Controller Number - Identifies the designation of the Control Display
Unit. Pilot’s side would normally be #1 and co-pilot #2.
2 Frequency Display - Indicates transmit or receive frequency.
3 Transmit or Receive - RX indicates displayed data pertains to receive
state. TX indcates data pertains to transmit state.
4 Information Display - Alpha-numeric characters conveying information
such as selected mode, channel number, squelch type/value, power
setting, clarifier setting, etc.
3
FAIL MODE
If there is a failure in the PS440 the bottom row on the display will show
PANEL.
A failure elsewhere in the system will display FAIL (ACP in the case of
an Antenna Coupler pressure warning or failure) on the top row of the
display.
Depending on the nature of the failure, the system will display the following on bottom row of the display:
RXEX Receiver/Exciter Failure
PA Power Amplifier Failure
CPLR Antenna Coupler Failure
PRS W Antenna Coupler Pressure Warning (service will be required
soon)
PRS F Antenna Coupler Pressure Failure (transmitter power has been
reduced to 50 Watts. The antenna coupler requires service.)
SQUELCH
The KHF 1050 system offers four types of squelch with corresponding
values as follows:
SBH - (Syllabic Squelch High). This is the default squelch and is usually
best for normal voice communications. A syllabic squelch opens upon
receiving a signal with voice-like characteristics while ignoring other signals. With syllabic squelch, there is the possibility that the first syllable of
a voice reception may be partially squelched. The possible adjustment
levels are open, meaning no squelch action (OPN), minimum (MIN),
medium (MED) and maximum (MAX).
SBL - (Syllabic Squelch Low). This squelch is also a syllabic squelch
and is intended for voice communications where the desired signal is
very weak and noisy. This squelch is more prone to opening on noise
than the SBH squelch. The possible adjustment levels are open (OPN),
minimum (MIN), medium (MED) and maximum (MAX).
SQH - (Signal/Noise Squelch High). This is a traditional signal-to-noise
squelch best suited for listening to non-voice signals, or voice signals
that do not respond well to one of the syllabic squelches. Compared to
the syllabic squelches, a higher signal level is generally required for this
squelch to perform well. The possible adjustment levels are 1-32, where
1 is open squelch.
SQL - (Signal Level Squelch). This is a signal strength squelch which
opens on any strong input signal. It opens quickly on strong signals, but
also opens on strong noise or static. Use of SQL is recommended for
use only with strong signals and under low noise conditions. This
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KHF 1050/PS440 Pilot’s Guide
squelch is well suited for music broadcasts. The possible adjustment levels are
1-32, where 1 is open squelch.
Perform the following steps to set the
squelch:
1. Rotate the left outer concentric knob to
the SQL position. See Figure 3. The
value of the active squelch is displayed on
the right bottom row of the display. At system power-up the last selected squelch will
be active.
2. Press the FUNC button to cycle through
the four types of squelch. Turn the right
inner knob to select the desired value for
the selected squelch type. See Figure 4.
NOTE: It is important to know that squelch
operation in HF is not as predictable as in
conventional VHF communications. It is
not unusual for conditions to make it
necessary to make squelch inactive
(open) to maintain satisfactory reception. Otherwise the signal may fade below
the threshold you have set on the squelch,
and you may miss an important message
from a ground station. This is unlike VHF
receiver squelch where you are normally
dealing with a strong, non-fading signal. For this reason SELCAL may be
a desirable option.
DIRECT TUNING A FREQUENCY
SELECTING THE PROPER OPERATING FREQUENCY
Long range communications are possible due to the signals being
reflected back to earth by the ionosphere. The ionosphere’s ability to
propagate HF radio signals is dependent on many factors. These
include time of day, season of the year, solar activity and latitude.
Various frequencies propagate differently as they travel through the
ionosphere. See Appendix A for more information.
It is important that the selected operating frequencies be appropriate for
the distance between the aircraft and the ground station or other aircraft.
If communications cannot be established on a particular frequency,
attempt to establish communications on other appropriate frequencies.
Table 1 summarizes the typical propagation distances of various frequencies. Occasionally, propagation distances significantly different
from Table 1 may be observed.
Figure 4
Figure 3
In direct tune operation, the pilot may select directly any of 280,000 frequencies in the range of 2.0 to 29.999 or 29.9999 MHz. Installation configuration may limit the upper frequency to 22.999 or 22.9999 MHz.
There are two types of frequency operation. “Simplex” is tuning the
same frequency for receive and transmit. “Semi-duplex” (sometimes
called “split”) is tuning two different frequencies, one for receive and one
for transmit. It is important to know the requirements of the desired
ground station when tuning these frequencies. Virtually all aviation services operate
on simplex.
SIMPLEX DIRECT TUNING
1. Turn the left outer knob to FREQ. See
Figure 5. The frequency shown in the
upper row of the display is the receive frequency indicated by the RX on right of the
display.
2. Select the desired frequency using the
right inner and outer concentric knobs.
The outer knob changes the frequency in
.1 MHz increments. The inner knob changes the frequency in .001 MHz
(1 KHz) increments or .0001 MHz (100 Hz) increments, depending on
the configuration selected when the system was installed.
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Figure 5
Frequency Band (MHz) Daytime Distance (Miles) Nighttime Distance (Miles)
2.8 & 3.0 Up to 100; Often unusable Up to 400
3.4 Up to 150; Often unsable Up to 800
4.4 Up to 200 Up to 1000
5.5 Up to 300 100 to 1200
6.5 100 to 600 200 to 1500
8.8 200 to 800 400 to 1500 or greater
10.0 300 to 1000 500 to 1800 or greater*
11.1 400 to 1200 600 to 1800 or greater*
13.3 600 to 1500 or greater Often unusable
17.9 700 to 1800 or greater* Often unusable
21.9 900 to 1800 or greater* Often unusable
The transition between daytime and nighttime distances may occur gradually
over a several hour period. During this transition, communication distances
between the daytime and nighttime distances listed will generally be realized.
* At times,communication may not be possible on this band during this timeframe. However, during periods of good propagation, worldwide communications may be realized.
Table 1 - Typical HF Signal Propagation Distance for Common
Aviation Bands
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KHF 1050/PS440 Pilot’s Guide
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The transmit frequency will automatically track the receive frequency
when tuning, providing for simplex operation. To verify the transmit frequency, press and hold the ENT button located on the end of the right
knobs. RX and TX will be illuminated on the display and the transmit frequency will be displayed in the upper row.
3. Tune the antenna coupler. Momentarily press the push-to-talk button
to initiate antenna tuning. During the tuning process the TX lamp (just
below the TEST button) will flash and the frequency numbers will blank.
A tune tone will be heard, if enabled during system installation. When
the TX lamp stops flashing and the frequency reappears, the antenna
tuning cycle is complete and you are ready to transmit on the selected
frequency.
In the event the antenna coupler is unable to tune to the selected frequency, the frequency digits and the TX lamp will flash. If enabled, a
tune tone will sound intermittently. Press push-to-talk once or twice to
clear the fault or initiate another tune cycle attempt. The fault may also
be cleared by selecting a different frequency. After the new frequency is
selected, press the push-to-talk to tune the antenna coupler.
NOTE: The KHF 1050 stores the antenna coupler tune information for
previously tuned frequencies. If the antenna coupler was previously
tuned for the current frequency (or nearby frequency) the antenna coupler may not need to be tuned and transmission may begin immediately.
It is advisable to always press the push-to-talk button after selecting a
new frequency to initiate antenna tuning. Otherwise poor reception may
be experienced or it may not be possible to hear a ground station which
is calling.
SEMI-DUPLEX DIRECT TUNING
If operating in a situation that requires a
transmit frequency that is different than the
receive frequency (semi-duplex) a different
transmit frequency may be tuned.
1. Turn the left outer knob to FREQ. See
Figure 5. The frequency shown in the
upper row of the display is the receive frequency indicated by the RX on right of the
display.
2. Press and hold the ENT button.
3. Momentarily press the FUNC button,
then release the ENT button. The transmit
frequency can now be tuned independent of the receive frequency. Note
that TX is now illuminated on the display indicating that the displayed frequency is the transmit frequency. See Figure 6.
Figure 6