Some particularities of the SkyLINK data transmission network

• The SkyLINK net is an autonomous (private) data transmission network
• Cost-effective transmitter with low power requirements (typ. 10 mW)
• High performance through narrow bandwith and coding
• Particular consideration of security aspects

SkyLINK differs from other standardized concepts, like GSM, DECT, TETRA due to the following characteristics:

The SkyLINK net is an autonomous (private) data transmission network

By this it is independent of an existing infrastructure with base stations covering the whole area. This independency is especially an advantage for the worldwide export of complex MSR-systems. But also in the home country SkyLINK nets can be installed in sparsely populated areas which are not completely covered with radio cells.

Cost-effective transmitter with low power requirements (typ. 10 mW):

By this it is possible to effect data transmission over a period of several years with one firmly installed battery (autonomous measuring probe). This is especially advantageous in environmental monitoring. The extremely long service period of such measuring probes enable an effective but cost-effective hermetical sealing - this is a requirement for outside operation in severe climate all around the year. The compact set-up in relation with the low weight of autonomous probes enables a reasonably priced installation of such probes in the open air: in the simplest case the radio transmission probe is "hidden" in a tree.

High performance through narrow bandwith and coding:

In spite of the low power requirements the SkyLINK concept can cover about the same distances (10 ... 100 km / 6 ... 62 miles) as they are normally only reached with a transmitting power in the range of 1 to 3 Watt. This surprising efficiency is based on the relatively narrow system bandwith of only 1,2 kHz. Such narrow-banded transmission concepts require in any case a particularly careful conception of the system:

On the part of the TRANSMITTER:

• highly stable crystal oscillators
• sophisticated modulation techniques
• efficient channel- and signal coding

On the part of the RECEIVER:

• elaborated pre-selection and pre-amplifier techniques
• IF-processing on the level of commercial MIL- and SAT-projects
• application of latest DSP(Digital Signal Processing) concepts for AFC, FIR-filtering and subcarrier-oriented demodulation
• high computing power for decoding and forward correction

Particular consideration of security aspects:

In environmental monitoring and measuring techniques there are different tasks for emergency preparedness. In these cases SkyLINK operates on reserved paramilitary frequencies as for example used with police radio transmission. An extremely high level of data integrity is therefore applied in the SkyLINK concept. These features are only partly respected in public communication networks.