SECTION II. MULTICHANNEL CONTROL SYSTEM
LEARNING EVENT 8: SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
1. With multichannel TACSAT communications terminals in use by the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps,
the DSCS controller cannot accommodate the increased number of users. The ground mobile forces satellite
communications (GMFSC) system operates as a subnetwork providing its own control system. This prevents
interference degradation for other users of the DSCS SHF satellites.
2. The GMF satellite communications control centers (GMFSCCC), AN/MSQ-114 and AN/FSQ-124, provide
mobile and fixed control facilities. The United States Army Information Systems Command's (USAISC)
operation and control procedures contain specific information and instructions on GMFSC planning, control,
management, and terminal user procedures. (These procedures are currently being revised.)
3. Specially trained US Army GMF controllers provide GMFSC control for the terminals deployed by the
multiservice (Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps) GMFSC system. The GMF controllers continuously
monitor the downlink signs for all terminals in their networks to control uplink signals. They direct changes as
necessary. The controller ensures that all terminals operate within the proper limits of frequency, power, and
channel capacity. Should any discrepancies take place, the controller communicates by orderwire to initiate the
changes necessary.
4. The GMFSCCC operates in the SHF frequency range of 7.9 to 8.4 GHz transmit and 7.25 to 7.75 GHz
receive. Orderwire and AJ/CM units are used for communicating with terminals under their control. The
satellite automatic monitoring system (SAMS) is used to monitor downlink frequencies of all terminals. This
provides control over uplink power and frequency.
LEARNING EVENT 9: DEPLOYMENT
The AN/MSQ-114 is usually deployed one unit per theater of operation. Since the AN/MSQ-114 is a limited
production item, its deployment is rigidly controlled. The AN/MSQ-114 can support forward deployed forces,
nonforward deployed forces, or contingency operations. Nonforward deployment usually refers to the home
location of the GMFSCCC (either AN/MSQ-114 or AN/FSQ-124). The control system must be within the
respective satellite footprint, which usually is the NC/AC antenna footprints for DSCS II or the GDA footprint
for the DSCS III satellites. (See Figure 5-6 on page 5-16.) Using DSCS II, a GMFSCCC located in Korea can
control GMF terminals in continental United States (CONUS), provided the control system and GMF terminals
are within the NC/AC footprints on that satellite. On DSCS III, the control system and GMF terminals must be
within the GDA footprint. If the NC/AC or GDA footprint is moved to support a mission so that the control
system falls outside the footprint, the AN/MSQ-114 would be deployed into a footprint to allow control
coverage of the GMF mission.
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