Command Post Antenna Remoting System (CARS) Prototype Development

Phase II prototypes and demonstrates a Command Post Antenna Remoting System (CARS) that can remote antennas for up to six radios in these frequency bands: HF (1.6-30 MHz), Low VHF (30-88 MHz), and UHF (225-450 MHz). The planned radios are the PRC-150/160 (HF); RT-1523 ASIP (SINCGARS/Low VHF), and PRC-117G (UHF), although many other radio types can interoperate with CARS. Each antenna remoting link uses external power amplifiers at the antenna site, reducing CARS size-weight-power-cost (SWaP-C) by adopting standard power amplifiers that are already purchased by the Army in large quantities and sustained by its logistics system. The prototype CARS remotes antennas up to 500-m. Each radio connects to CARS with an RF and, in many cases, a C2 interface cable. The C2 interface enables CARS to "know" the channel being used by the radio, to tune hopping filters inside the CARS system; a classic example is the "SNAP" hopping interface on the RT-1523 ASIP. In the case of the HF radio, the Harris PRC-150/160, the C2 interface enables the transceiver to communicate with the remote power amplifier and, if used, the remote antenna tuner.