LFPhoenix^™- Low Frequency for the Future of Navigation and Timing

On our low frequency (LF) roadmap, we offer the transmission and broadcasting services to upgrade your Loran-C and/or eLoran infrastructure. We provide these offerings under the LFPhoenix^™ brand, first introduced in 2010. Some general upgrades might include alternative algorithms, alternative waveforms, or alternative modulation techniques used in the wireless transmission and reception of low frequency radio signals for positioning, navigation, timing, frequency, and data. Our radio frequency transmitters, receivers, and antennas are fully capable of LFPhoenix^™ operations.

Almond Code^™

In 2012, we introduced one of our LFPhoenix^™ add-on services for transmission and broadcasting, called Almond Code™. Almond Code™ takes advantage of our software defined low frequency transmission and reception technology to optimize the pulse shape and other characteristics of the signal in space using orthogonal coding schemes.

Tactical, Temporary, and Transportable (T³) Solutions

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T³ Equipment Enclosure (Open)

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Most of the history of Loran for tactical purposes was created during the 1960s and 1970s. As an example, the US DoD fielded air deployable transmitters requiring manned operation into the Vietnam region. The antennas were fixed structures of significant height to realize the large coverage area desired. Other projects used “antennas of opportunity” that may have previously served other LF/MF applications such as radio beacons, or AM broadcast. The antenna at Anthorn in the UK is a “T” antenna strung between two masts of a VLF antenna system. Experiments have also been performed with tethered Aerostats. Finally, there have been projects with shorter quick erect masts for limited range applications.

The inherent flexibility of our advanced LF technology has allowed us to develop new ways to package and deploy eLoran systems. We call these solutions “T³” for Tactical ,Temporary, and Transportable solutions. These solutions include transmitters installed in air transportable containers for military or other missions; antennas (e.g., humanitarian) that are transportable and deployable within 24 hours; and custom solutions that include everything needed to deploy one or more eLoran transmission sites to a remote location.

Our personnel have worked with several T³ Loran and eLoran systems over the years. We have supported, and replaced, the Air Transportable Loran System (ATLS) at the former Loran-C transmission site in Lampedusa, Italy. We have worked with the US Air Force tactical Loran-D system. We were a subcontractor on the triple-CONEX box solution currently deployed at the Anthorn, England eLoran site. We designed, developed, deployed, and operationally tested a prototype T³ solution for the US Army. We have also been involved in two “mini-chain” Loran-C solutions, one along the Saint Lawrence Seaway and one along the Suez Canal.

The UrsaNav™ T³ transmission system consists of a transmitter and UN-2000 eLoran Signal Generation, Monitor and Control System housed in a transportable enclosure and a purpose-built transmit antenna.

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T³ Equipment Enclosure (Closed)

T³ Deployable Inverted Pyramid Antenna

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Most Loran or eLoran systems have been designed with baseline distances between stations on the order of 400 to 1200km. It is at these ranges that 100kHz is at its most cost-effective coverage per square kilometer. The wavelength of 100kHz is 3km. An effective radiator is said to be not less than ¼ wavelength. This implies an antenna mast of some 750m, a height that is neither structurally practical nor economically feasible. Therefore, Loran transmission antennas have always been electrically short. The most common mast heights and type are TLM antennas with heights ranging from 34m to 220m. The peak radiated power from such sites ranges from ~ 1kW to ~1MW.

For our T³ offerings, we developed a novel antenna configuration, (shown below) primarily to keep the voltages at manageable levels while still meeting a rapid deployment requirement. In this case, the structural component is four pneumatic locking telescopic masts with height of 21-24 meters that are guyed in three directions. Isolated from the top of the masts by insulators is a series of wires that form an inverted pyramid that meet at the center of the four masts about one meter or so above ground. This is the point where the transmitter feedline is terminated. The termination point is isolated from a base plate that forms the center of a ground plane consisting of 36 radials (every 10 degrees) of length equal to the mast height. When using short antennas, a loading coil is required to be placed just before the termination point. The Inverted Pyramid Antenna has been deployed in the field in Canada and at two locations in the United States.

Federal Republic of Germany (BRD)

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LFPhoenix™- Low Frequency for the Future of Navigation and Timing

Almond Code™

Tactical, Temporary, and Transportable (T3) Solutions

Federal Republic of Germany (BRD)

LFPhoenix^™- Low Frequency for the Future of Navigation and Timing

Almond Code^™

Tactical, Temporary, and Transportable (T³) Solutions