3G
Third Generation ALE

ALE
Automatic Link Establishment - Technology that allows for quick consistent connections using HF communication.

antenna
A device for receiving and radiating radio waves.

ARQ
Automatic Repeat Request

associated channel group
The channel group that will be scanned by other radios on the net.

asynchronous
3G calls that are placed without respect to the Dwell timing  of a channel group.

broadcast sync
Signal sent by the TOD server that brings all outstations back to full sync.

Burst PSK
Burst Phase Shift Keying - Quick wave bursts that keep the channel space free and allow for quick transmission rates.

calling
Communication between two radios, achieved after both a call and response PDU has been sent.

channel
A set frequency that radios can communicate over when programmed properly.

channel congestion
Traffic that occurs when there are too many radios attempting to communicate over a channel at once.

channel plan
A group of channels that a radio must scan when in 3G mode.

CSMA/CA
Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance - Helps radios avoid data collision over a channel.

GPS
Global Positioning System - informs a user of various information such as TOD and geographic location.

HF
High Frequency (3-30 MHz)

HF Spectrum
The section of the RF spectrum that pertains to HF (3-30 MHz)

outstation
A radio that is part of the net and not a TOD server.

PDU
Protocol Data Units - Packets of data sent over the channel.

propogation
The measure of how well the radio waves are traveling on a channel e.g. a good channel is said to be propogating well.

PSK
Phase Shift Key - Radio waveform used in 3G.

RPA
Radio Programming Application - Computer software application that is necessary to program a radio operating in 3G.

scanning
Radios listen for calls when not engaged in linking or traffic.

SNR
Signal to Noise Ratio - The measurement the quality of a channel by comparing the magnitude of a received signal with the magnitude of the background noise on the channel.

STANAG
Standardization Agreement (NATO)

synchronized channel scanning
All radios have the ability to scan the same channels at the same time.

synchronous
3G calls that are placed at a specific time with respect to the Dwell timing of a channel group.

time of day
The time that all radios are synchronized to, either via GPS, or the TOD server.

TOD server
Radio responsible for sending out broadcast syncs to keep outstation radios at full sync.

VHF
Very High Frequency (30-300 MHz)

waveform
Modulation of a wave sent over a channel.