scope:

This document establishes mandatory technical standards and design objectives (DO) that are necessary to ensure interoperability and to promote performance among data modulators-demodulators (modems) used in the voice frequency (VF) band of long-haul and tactical communications systems. This document also provides guidance to the designers of new data modems that incorporate characteristics not yet standardized by specifying the technical characteristics of data modems currently in the inventory. The purpose of this guidance is to ensure attainment of minimum acceptable performance and maximum interoperability between existing and future data modems with specified transmission channel conditions.

These standards are mandatory within the Department of Defense (DoD) in the design, development and engineering of new communications facilities for both narrowband and wideband long-haul and tactical systems. In some cases, reference is made to other documents that provide standards for specific applications. It is not intended that existing systems be immediately converted to comply with the requirements of these standards. New systems, and those undergoing major modification or rehabilitation, conformance to these standards is subject to current procurement regulations. This document is applicable to the design and development of new data modems with standard data signaling rates up to and including 19200 bits per second (bps) used in long-haul and tactical communications systems. This document is not applicable to high frequency (HF) data modems used in the Tactical Digital Information Link (TADIL) A. The HF data modem standards for TADIL A are published in MIL-STD-188-203-1.

intended Use: