Networking software and encryption offered by Cambridge for military DTCS satellite radio network

May 31, 2012
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., 31 May 2012. Cambridge Consultants Inc. in Cambridge, Mass., has completed initial trials of key components for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Distributed Tactical Communications System (DTCS) with satellite communications specialist Iridium Communications Inc. in McLean, Va.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., 31 May 2012. Cambridge Consultants Inc. in Cambridge, Mass., has completed initial trials of key components for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Distributed Tactical Communications System (DTCS) with satellite communications specialist Iridium Communications Inc. in McLean, Va.

The U.S. military's DTCS, which may be the world's largest push-to-talk radio system, enables soldiers in isolated areas to communicate without ground infrastructure in locations where they often cannot pick up a geostationary communications satellite’s signal unless they move to higher ground.

Engineers from Cambridge Consultants have developed radio transceiver electronics for DTCS handheld radios, as well as gateway infrastructure, to support the DTCS service.

The netted group-call DTCS communication system provides over-the-horizon, beyond line-of-sight tactical networked communications that enable warfighters to use lightweight handheld push-to-talk radios to exchange mission-critical data with command centers across the globe.

The new technology developed by Cambridge Consultants includes software radio functionality that will enable several receivers to operate together, as well as rapid synchronization to Iridium satellites. Cambridge also developed encrypted bearer channels that support encrypted communication within groups.

For more information contact Cambridge Consultants online at www.cambridgeconsultants.com.

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John Keller | Editor

John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.

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