The present document applies to the following radio equipment types:
• Very High Frequency (VHF) Digital Link (VDL) Mode 4 ground-based radio transmitters and receivers for
air-ground communications operating in the VHF band, using Gaussian-filtered Frequency Shift Keying
(GFSK) Modulation with 25 kHz channel spacing and capable of tuning to any of the 25 kHz channels from
112,000 MHz to 136,975 MHz as defined in ICAO VHF Digital Link (VDL) Standards and Recommended
Practices (SARPs) [1].
The present document provides part 3 of the technical specifications.
The present document is designed to ensure that equipment certified to it will be compatible with the relevant ICAO
VHF Digital Link (VDL) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) [1] and VDL Mode 4 Technical
Manual (TM) [i.1].
Manufacturers should note that in future the tuning range for the ground transceivers may also cover any 25 kHz
channel from 108,000 MHz to 111,975 MHz.
The scope of the present document is limited to ground stations. The equivalent specification for airborne stations is
ETSI EN 302 842 [i.4].
A description of the scope of the VDL Mode 4 system is provided in ETSI EN 301 842-2 [3], clause 1.
ETSI EN 301 842-1 [2] deals with tests of the physical layer. ETSI EN 301 842-2 [3] deals with tests of the link layer
sufficient to support broadcast functionality including requirements and tests sufficient to recognize and respond to
transmissions associated with point-to-point communication. The present document provides technical specifications
for a VDL Mode 4 ground-based transceiver supporting a full Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B)
capability and, optionally, the additional functionality of either, or a combination of, the following services:
• Traffic Information Service-Broadcast (TIS-B);
• Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B);
• GNSS Augmentation Service-Broadcast (GNS-B).
The TIS-B, FIS-B or GNS-B functionality in the ground-based equipment is expected to be provided by a TIS-B, FIS B
or GNS-B processor, which could be contained within the VDL Mode 4 transceiver, but could also be housed in a
separate physical unit. Therefore to support TIS-B, FIS-B or GNS-B, the minimum functionality demanded of a basic
VDL Mode 4 ground-based transceiver unit (i.e. one that does not have a TIS-B, FIS-B or GNS-B processor housed
within it) is to receive, from the TIS-B, FIS-B or GNS-B processor, all messages to be transmitted, and to transmit
them. In the case of FIS-B there is an additional requirement to receive report request messages (from other VDL4
stations) and to pass those messages to the FIS-B processor.
It should be noted that the specifications for TIS-B, FIS-B and GNS-B in the present document represent a first step
towards defining these applications, based on the work carried out as part of the NUP and MEDUP Programmes, and
changes to the specifications for these services may therefore occur in the future.
The present document is organized as follows:
• clause 2 provides references to relevant documents;
• clause 3 provides general definitions, abbreviations and symbols used;
• clause 4 describes the VDL Mode 4 ground station functionality to support ADS-B, TIS-B, FIS-B and GNS B;
• clause 5 provides performance specifications for the VDL Mode 4 ground station supporting ADS-B, TIS-B,
FIS-B and GNS-B Services;
• clause 6 provides general design requirements;
• clause 7 provides protocol tests which emphasis the ADS-B, TIS-B, FIS-B and GNS-B functions of the
system;
ETSI
8 ETSI EN 301 842-3 V1.4.1 (2015-04)
• annex A provides a detailed cross-reference to the relevant requirements contained in [i.1].
Note that the system can support a very wide range of functions. It is not practical to provide specific tests for all
aspects of functionality. The approach used is to provide detailed tests for the core functionality to support ADS-B, FIS
B, TIS-B and GNS-B focusing on the system requirements which, if wrongly implemented, could cause a deterioration
in the service offered by other VDL Mode 4 stations.
Mandating and Recommendation Phrases
a) "Shall":
the use of the word "Shall" indicates a mandated criterion; i.e. compliance with the particular procedure or
specification is mandatory and no alternative may be applied.
b) "Should":
the use of the word "Should" (and phrases such as "It is recommended that...", etc.) indicates that though the
procedure or criterion is regarded as the preferred option, alternative procedures, specifications or criteria may
be applied, provided that the manufacturer, installer or tester can provide information or data to adequately
support and justify the alternative.
PUBLISHED
SSH EN 301 842-3 V1.4.1:2015
60.60
Standard published
24 maj 2016
English