The ARD9900 is designed to convert your HF/VHF/UHF radio equipment into a multi-mode and digitally encrypted voice / image capable system without performing any modifications to your transceiver.

For an overview, please refer to the standard modem page ARD9800 (unencrypted), the ARD9900 is an encrypted version for government / commercial use on a COTS basis (Commercial Off The Shelf).

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Features

• Digital voice communications using existing analogue 2 way radios with encryption capability.
  
• The ARD9900 uses the same audio frequencies (300 Hz ~ 2500 Hz) as microphone audio to modulate the voice signal.  This allows you to use an analogue radio as a digital voice transceiver.
  
• Digital voice communications in the Single Side Band (SSB) mode.  The automatic frequency clarifier function adjusts frequency drift automatically in the SSB mode (approximately up to +/- 125 Hz).
  
• Utilities an ODFM (Multi Carrier Modulation) circuit that is effective against Mult-path or Selective Fading.
  
• Automatic digital receive.  Automatic voice signal detector recognises the received signal as analogue or digital, automatically switching to the appropriate mode.
  
• Digital slow scan TV (SSTV). NB: requires ME-1 memory module, supplied pre-fitted to ARD9900.
  
• Built-in video capture function (NTSC or PAL depending on country in which unit is purchased)
  NB: Requires optional ME-1 memory module, supplied pre-fitted to ARD9900.
  
• Built-in high grade Vocoder (AMBE).  Utilising high-grade digital voice compression; delivers quality digital voice communications.
  
• Built-in FEC error correction.
  
• A powerful error correction circuit delivers stable and reliable communications
  
• Data communications on the HF band.
  
• Data communication is possible on the HF (High frequency) bands at no extra cost.
  (Speed may be limited by regulations in certain jurisdictions
  

• Small and compact unit. Easy to operate.

• Simply connect the ARD9900 to the microphone jack and speaker out jack of your transceiver.

• No complicated or risky radio modifications are necessary.

• Utilises a uniquely designed high performance DSP (Digital Signal Processor) engine.

• Battery operation possible for field use.

 Digital Voice

• Totally Encrypted (2⁷¹ code based key)
• Amazing Voice Quality (AMBE2020)
• Easy interface with TX/RX (MIC/SP)
• Keep High quality in Heavy Fading channel
• Wide range AFC for SSB Operation
• Easy cross operation Analog - Digital
• Auto Detection of Digital Voice

Digital Picture

• Totally Encrypted
• Video Capture from the NTSC video
• NTSC video Output for the Monitor (PAL available to order)
• Powerful Error control (FEC) (Convolution coding + Reed-Solomon)
• Flexible PC interface(Up/Down load etc)
• 368x240 pels Modified JPEG compression
• Auto Detection of Digital Picture

Digital Data

• Totally Encrypted
• Transmission of ASCII or Binary packet
• 2Kbyte maximum packet size
• FEC:Vitabi and Reed-solomon
• 1,472bps through-put on HF channel
• Auto Detection Data mode

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Specifications

Note: Image transfer 'out of the carton box' is in NTSC format, the optional ME-1 memory card is pre-fitted in the ARD9900.  The ARD9900 hardware is capable of supporting PAL but a small hardware modification involving a crystal change and couple of SMD capacitors is required plus a firmware update.  

As the file format transferred over the air is identical for NTSC and PAL, units of different types remain compatible with each other.

Retro-upgrades are available for a small charge, please enquire.

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	ARD9900 encryption It is NOT possible for the ARD9800 to be updated to the ARD9900 encryption specification (for technical, licensing and commercial reasons).  The major differences between ARD9800 and ARD9900 are: ARD9900 is equipped with the encryption facility. ARD9900 is equipped with the ME-1 memory module as standard. ARD9900 has a front panel painted in B/W reversed. The ARD9900 has been developed by AOR using the encryption technique developed by AOR. It has two methods of encryption in order to meet today's environment where security and privacy are most at risk. Method-1 - Use of a pre-determined encryption code. The two parties can communicate each other using the pre-determined encryption code. Method-2 - Use of the Air-key. The Air-key (random numbers) can be used with the initial transmission, included within the data signals. The received Air-key will be able to automatically select the matched encryption code thus enabling to decode the encrypted signal. This facility can be further enhanced by the use of the rolling encryption, if needed, which allows the encryption code to change every 20mSecond. Note: The method-2 is more susceptible to radio interference (operating conditions) than the method-1. The ARD9900 operates under the channelised mode with each channel being configured individually. * Security Manager's Mode The ARD9900 is equipped with the security manager's mode whereby access to the encryption side of the information remains restricted. A dedicated command is assigned to allow the access to the security manager's mode. The command itself is configurable in a form of a 12 digit number (0 to 9) through the PC. Once the command has been set, only the security manager can access the ARD9900 to set the all important encryption data. Even in an unlikely event of faulty ARD9900 the command is kept untouched and out of reach of the repair engineers. Necessary repair will be carried out only after the ARD9900 has been brought to the factory default via the engineer's command.

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Operating manual & presentation 

Downloads available in Acrobat PDF format:

• ARD9900 operating manual, edited in the UK - final version, PDF (287kb)
• ARD9000 sales leaflet (293kb)
• PowerPoint presentation of the ARD9900(2MB)

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