Ledningsdemonstrator – System in focus: Silvus StreamCaster
Publish date: 2026-02-02
Report number: FOI-R--5863--SE
Pages: 31
Written in: Swedish
Keywords:
- radio communication
- achievable data rate
- signal reconnaissance
- detection distance
Abstract
In order to facilitate regrouping ability of the command headquarters of a brigade, wireless communication systems are evaluated as complement to fiber-optic cable based on a scenario taking place at Härads firing range, highlighting how a brigade utilizes its command. This report shows the results of one of multiple tests conducted in the project and the target audience are people involved in the project. Each test evaluates a different communication system. The results from all tests constitutes a basis for a summarizing report at the end of the project. The wireless radio system used during the test is the Silvus StreamCaster, commonly known in the Swedish Armed Forces as radio link 39 (RL39). The evaluted parameters are capacity in terms of achievable data rate as well as distance of detection. The communication performance was evaluated for unicast (point-to-point) and multicast (one-to-many) transmissions, using varying antenna heights. Two frequencies were examined, one in the UHF-band (center frequency of 301.875 MHz with 1.25 MHz bandwidth) and one in the L-band (1375 MHz center frequency with 10 MHz bandwidth). The results showed that the maximal achievable data rate that resulted in a packet error rate of at most 1% was 2 Mbit/s for UHF using antennas under 15 meters. The achievable data rate was limited due to the fact that only 1.25 MHz bandwidth was available during the test. For the L-band with 10 MHz bandwidth, the antennas had to be above 18 meters in order to establish contact between the nodes. At a height of 24 meters, the unicast-transmissions resulted in an achievable data rate of 8 Mbit/s. Multicast transmissions with antenna heights of 21 meters, resulted in a data rate of 4 Mbit/s. If the MIMO-functionality was used the resulting data rates could have increased, but this was not evaluated during the test. The analysis to determine what distance the communication may be detected consisted of three parts. The first part consisted of a prediction of the signal-to-noise ratios at a few predetermined locations in the area. The second part consisted of measurements of the signal-to-noise ratios performed during the test, using the detector STEJL Etapp 7 (E7). The third part ties the prior results together by examining the required recieved power for successful detection. Thereafter, generalized simulations are performed for a complete statistical view of the detection distance. The results are presented as a statistical interval, where the limits are based on the 25:th and 75:th percentiles, i.e., the distance where 25% and 75% of the communication is detected. For the UHF-band the detection interval is estimated to be 1-5 km for lower antenna heights, and 6-18 km for higher antennas. For the L-band the detection interval is estimated at 1-4 km for lower antennas and 3-6 km for higher antennas.