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==What is HFDL?==
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Please see the SigIDWiki definition for [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/High_Frequency_Data_Link_(HFDL) HFDL] for a technical description, software and additional information
  
HFDL is a HF data link protocol, defined in [http://www.arinc.com ARINC] spec 635-3.  The HFDL service is operated by Rockwell Collins (since 2014) through a worldwide network of HF stations. See this [http://www.udxf.nl/What%20Is%20HFDL.pdf PDF file] from the UDXF for more.
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A waterfall for HFDL can be found [[HFDL Waterfall|here]]
  
The name is somewhat misleading, as HFDL actually describes a class of data signals; it is also referred to as HF [[ACARS]].
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Also see the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjRrOLiIFOw&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=TechMinds Decoding High Frequency Data Link (YouTube)] video
  
* Transmissions on HF are in USB on a sub carrier of 1440 Hz with a symbol speed of 1800 baud.
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; Groups.io Reflectors
* Modulation is 2-[[PSK]], 4-PSK or 8-PSK with effective bit rates of 300, 600, 1200 or 1800 bits/sec.
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* [https://acars-vdl2.groups.io/g/main ACARS VDL2 JAERO and HFDL (Subgroup)] 
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* [https://groups.io/g/UDXF Utility DXers Forum (UDXF)]
  
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; HF ACARS with PC-HFDL (PDF article from MT)
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* [https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Short-Wave/Monitoring-Times-IDX/00s/Monitoring-Times-2006-09-OCR-Page-0074.pdf Page 1]
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* [https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Short-Wave/Monitoring-Times-IDX/00s/Monitoring-Times-2006-09-OCR-Page-0075.pdf Page 2]
  
==Current Usage==
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; UDXF website links
This mode is utilized exclusively by fixed aeronautical stations in communications with planes, often at great distances - too far for VHF radio to accomplish. See the Frequencies in Use section for a link to a list of frequencies and sites.
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* [http://www.udxf.nl/Digital-aero.pdf Aeronautical Frequencies (HF and others) (PDF)]
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** The HF frequencies listed above can be found [http://www.udxf.nl/pchfdl-51.zip here] as a zip file. It also contains a file that can be used in the registered version of PC-HFDL.
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* [http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/p/vhf-acars-hfdl-aka-hf-acars.html Btown Monitoring Post - HFDL]
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* [https://dxinfocentre.com/hfdl.htm DX Information Center - HFDL HF Aeronautical Stations]
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* [http://www.udxf.nl/What-Is-HFDL.pdf What is HFDL? (PDF)]
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* [http://www.udxf.nl/HFDL-some-ideas.pdf HFDL - Some Ideas (PDF)]
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* [https://www.icao.int/Meetings/anconf12/Document%20Archive/AN10_V2_cons%5B1%5D.pdf ICAO Aeronautical Communications Vol. 2 (PDF)]
  
  
==Decoding==
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==PC-HFDL==
===PC-HFDL===
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PC-HFDL is a Windows software to decode HFDL data traffic and has been written by Charles Brain. To connect your receiver to your PC, please see the [[Connecting Radios to Soundcards]] article. The most recent version can be downloaded from the HFDL subgroup (above). This [http://www.udxf.nl/pchfdl-51.zip file] can be used in the registered version of PC-HFDL.
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[https://acars-vdl2.groups.io/g/HFDL/wiki/13593 PC-HFDL Issues and Corrections]
  
PC-HFDL is a Windows software to decode HFDL data traffic and has been written by Charles Brain. Just feed the HF receiver speaker's output into the soundcard of a Windows PC. It can be downloaded from the [https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/hfdl/info HFDL Yahoo group].
 
  
 
[[Image:pchfdl_screenshot.jpg|thumb|PC-HFDL screen]]
 
[[Image:pchfdl_screenshot.jpg|thumb|PC-HFDL screen]]
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So in short, with all options ON except SPDU and HEX, the complete session can be seen: LOG-ON of the aircraft to the ground station giving its 24bit ICAO-ID, the assignment of the 1byte sequence ID number to the given ICAO-ID by the ground station referenced in all subsequent traffic, clear distinction of MPDU packets containing more than just one LPDU, and full traffic details.
 
So in short, with all options ON except SPDU and HEX, the complete session can be seen: LOG-ON of the aircraft to the ground station giving its 24bit ICAO-ID, the assignment of the 1byte sequence ID number to the given ICAO-ID by the ground station referenced in all subsequent traffic, clear distinction of MPDU packets containing more than just one LPDU, and full traffic details.
  
The HFDL Yahoo group can be found [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hfdl/ here]. Version 2.042 (which '''is''' Vista compatible) can be downloaded from this stub [http://www.chbrain.dircon.co.uk/ page]
 
 
=== Other software that can decode HFDL ===
 
; Hobby Level Software
 
* [http://www.hoka.net/products/code3-32p.html Hoka Code 3-32P]
 
* [http://www.hoka.com/products/code300-32-p.html Hoka Code 300-32P]
 
* [http://f6cte.free.fr/index_anglais.htm MultiPSK]
 
* [http://www.coaa.co.uk/planeplotter.htm PlanePlotter] (Not a decoder but will show aircraft decoded by PC-HFDL)
 
* [http://www.saharlow.com/technology/sigmira/index.htm Sigmira]
 
* Skysweeper (Discontinued by manufacturer)
 
* [http://www.radioaficion.com/HamNews/archivo/vagabundos-del-dial/5814-sorcerer-decoder.html Sorcerer]
 
** '''Note:''' It has been recently discussed on the UDXF Yahoo group that Sorcerer is using an old freq/site list - you may get correct decodes, but not correct site IDs
 
 
 
; Professional Equipment/Software
 
* [http://www.go2signals.ch/products/go2decode/ go2decode] needs verification
 
* [http://www.hoka.com/products/code300-32/standard-version.html Hoka 300-32]
 
* [http://www.comintconsulting.com/krypto500/ Krypto 500]
 
* Many of the newer [http://www.computer-int.com/wa.htm WaveCom] modems
 
* [http://www.computer-int.com/WA-WCode.htm Wavecom W-Code]
 
 
 
==Audio Example and Waveform==
 
* See this [http://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/High_Frequency_Data_Link_(HFDL) entry] from the Signals Indentification wiki
 
* [http://sferix.myweb.hinet.net/hfasia/files/HFDL.html HFDL Waveform]
 
  
  
==Frequencies in Use==
 
*The current version (Sept. 5 2014) of the HFDL database table is 49. It's available from the UDXF Modes page [http://www.udxf.nl/HFDL-ACARS-VDL2.pdf here] in PDF.
 
*The .dat file that can be used with the registered version of PC-HFDL can be had by joining the PC-HFDL Yahoo group and requesting one via private mail. It will NOT work with the free version.
 
  
  
[[Category:HF Topics]]
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[[Category:HF Modes]]
 
[[Category:RR Glossary]]
 
[[Category:RR Glossary]]
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[[Category:HF Glossary]]
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[[Category:Signal Analysis and Decoding Glossary]]
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[[Category:Software Glossary]]

Latest revision as of 21:06, 21 March 2024

Please see the SigIDWiki definition for HFDL for a technical description, software and additional information

A waterfall for HFDL can be found here

Also see the Decoding High Frequency Data Link (YouTube) video

Groups.io Reflectors
HF ACARS with PC-HFDL (PDF article from MT)
UDXF website links


PC-HFDL

PC-HFDL is a Windows software to decode HFDL data traffic and has been written by Charles Brain. To connect your receiver to your PC, please see the Connecting Radios to Soundcards article. The most recent version can be downloaded from the HFDL subgroup (above). This file can be used in the registered version of PC-HFDL.


PC-HFDL Issues and Corrections


PC-HFDL screen

The best monitoring results will be achieved with the following PC-HFDL settings:

  • PREAM ON - to control the audio offset of the receiver
  • SPDU OFF - only needed temporarily ON to see the squitters of a new unknown ground station
  • MPDU ON - see the MPDU packets
  • LPDU ON - see the LPDUs within the MPDUs
  • BDU ON - see the BDUs
  • VERB ON - see more details
  • HFNPDU ON - see the routine position reports
  • HEX OFF - only needed for debugging purposes

So in short, with all options ON except SPDU and HEX, the complete session can be seen: LOG-ON of the aircraft to the ground station giving its 24bit ICAO-ID, the assignment of the 1byte sequence ID number to the given ICAO-ID by the ground station referenced in all subsequent traffic, clear distinction of MPDU packets containing more than just one LPDU, and full traffic details.