Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, 4301 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92110-3127

58 -- HF/UHF/VHF MULTICOUPLER SUBMISSION NO. 295022 MODIFICATION SOL N00039-99-R-xxx9 DUE 022399 POC Kim DeBois Sousa (619)524-7186 WEB: Click here for the specification. The file is listed, http://www.jmcoms.org/jmcomsnews/slicefilelist.cfm?DIVISION=1763&;AREA= PUBLIC. E-MAIL: The Click here to contact the contract specialist, deboisk@spawar.navy.mil. This is to modify SPAWAR JMCOMS Program Office, PMW 176 RFI by adding UHF/VHF parameters. SPAWAR PMW 176 is seeking concepts and potential sources to supply the Navy and joint forces with antenna couplers to support Digital Modular Radio (DMR) Line-of-Sight (LOS) ops. SIC code 3663, size standard 750. Both HF (previously described in the 4 Feb 99 submission No. 295022) and UHF/VHF couplers (shipboard ops over the frequency range of 30 MHz to 400 MHz) are required. The Navy would prefer a combined HF and UHF/VHF Multicoupler contained in a single unified physical design using a centralized processor control to accept external control commands. The coupler will be included in LOS communications designs for new construction ships, with the possibility of the coupler being incorporated into backfit ship radio systems designs. Primarily, the motivation for the multi-band coupler is to complement the new multi-band DMR power amplifier and to simplify RF distribution systems designs for future ship platforms.The following information for a UHF/VHF Multicoupler is provided in addition to the 4 Feb 99 synopsis for an HF Multicoupler. Besides simplifying RF distribution systems designs, the new coupler, along with the introduction of DMR, will allow the Navy to gradually shift its LOS focus for ship-to-ship communications from UHF to VHF without completely abandoning current UHF LOS operations. The interest in transitioning to a VHF-based LOS scheme is to take advantage of the Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) capability provided by VHF, which in turn provides greater communications range than UHF. In addition to expanding the frequency range, the coupler will need to accommodate higher bandwidth signals of DMR. The wider bandwidth waveforms cover PSK waveforms of up to 1024 Kbps for basic LOS communication and the High Data Rate (HDR) option that has throughputs of up to 4.6 Mbps. It is desired that the new coupler will retain the selectivity of the present couplers when handling current Navy LOS waveforms and, upon demand, expand its passband bandwidth to handle the higher bandwidth types without sacrificing filter shape factors. As a reference, the following provides the HDR operating frequencies and associated bandwidths, which will be fielded as part of DMR: Op 30-400MHz at 25kHz bandwidth, 50kHz bandwidth, 200Hz bandwidth, and 600kHz bandwidth, and Op 225-400MHz at 1200kHz bandwidth and 1800kHz bandwidth. The current coupler concept has an interface for one VHF antenna and another interface for one UHF antenna. But in the interest of compactness, PMW 176 is seeking an alternative concept which will allow separate receive and transmit antennas to be connected to the same coupler, i.e., four antenna interfaces per coupler. It should be noted that in cosite ship environments, the free space isolation between transmit and receive antennas occupying the VHF or UHF band have been measured between 30 and 40 dB. With several concurrently operating transmitters each with 200 Watts amplifiers, a receive system can expect powers of up to 23 dBm per transmit channel entering its system. Also the HDR option can use two receive antennas for dual diversity receive mode which eliminate fading/multipath losses, which are prevalent in LOS communications. Each coupler concept should possess the following characteristics: 1) Minimum of four radio channels, 2) Ability to handle 200-Watts rms max. output of the DMR amplifier, 40 dB (absolute minimum) filter attenuation at +5% from desired frequency, but greater attenuation at narrower bandwidths is desired, 3) Reduce cosite transmit signals that are +5% or more away in frequency from a desired receive signal to below -35 dBm before reaching the DMR. (-10 dBm is considered the threshold level), 4) Support SINCGARS, HAVEQUICK, and SATURN frequency hopping operations, and 5) Use either or both of the control interface(s) listed in the DMR and Power Amplifier Communications Set Performance Specification. The two applicable sections are 3.7.6.1 and 3.7.6.3 in the main body of the specification. The specification may be found in the file listed as "RFPR_RFP.zip" at (see below). Reponses are desired by 3-15-99. Technical Questions can be addressed to Sam Milligan at (619) 553-2186 or Gary Clinesmith at (619) 553-1245. As part of a response, PMW 176 would appreciate replies to the following questions and is open to any alternate concepts or suggestions: 1) Selectivity of the coupler, 2) Insertion loss of the coupler, 3) ROM cost for the coupler, 4) What are the 3 and 30 dB bandwidths of your coupler, 5) How fast does the coupler switch frequencies, 6) What is the coupler's tuning resolution, 7) Does the combining of the frequency ranges drastically increase the coupler cost, 8) Is a particular requirement drastically increasing the coupler cost, 9) Do you desire a face to face meeting? (If so, notify Gary Clinesmith by 23 Feb 99), 10) Suggestions? Please identify if your company is a Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Woman-Owned Business, or qualifies as a HUD-zone business. See Numbered Note 9. Posted 02/09/99 (W-SN296504). (0040)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0306 19990211\58-0001.SOL)