An Analysis of IEEE 802.11B and 802.16 Technologies as Part of the Tactical Internet

This research evaluates IEEE 802.11b and 802.16 technologies to examine whether these wireless technologies can integrate into the tactical Internet. In order to establish a baseline, the current Marine Corps systems architecture is analyzed with emphasis placed on mobile forces at the Regimental level and below. A side-by-side comparison between existing communication assets in the Marine Corps inventory, such as the Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS) and Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS), and available 802.11b/16 technologies will evaluate whether existing Command and Control requirements are met, determine the existence and extent of excess capacity, and identify potential adaptations required to implement commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technology into a military environment. The method for side-by-side evaluation will incorporate both COTS products as well as Marine Corps tactical communication devices in laboratory as well as field experimentation. This research captures key performance metrics such as range, power consumption, security, and bandwidth, but remains focused on the needs of the warfighter by evaluating performance of the system in support of Command and Control Compact Edition (C2CE) and Command and Control Personal Computer (C2PC) applications.