expanding d m echannels（扩大d m echannels）.docVIP

ACP WORKING GROUP F MEETING (Nairobi, Kenya, February 20 – February 27, 2004) Agenda Item #7: Shared use of ILS, VOR, DME and MLS frequency bands Expanding DME Channels (Presented by the United States of America) SUMMARY In much of the world the 960-1215 MHz band is heavily utilized for distance measuring equipment (DME). This paper recommends study of expanding the number of channels through the development of receivers that will incorporate more of the ICAO-standard DME channel codes. 1. Introduction The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 10, Volume 1, provides the internationally standardized distance measuring equipment (DME) channel plan. That plan not only provides the interrogation/reply frequencies for each channel, but also the associated VHF-band or Microwave Landing System (MLS) frequency for each channel. As shown pictorially in Figure 1, the plan includes provisions for X-channels, Y-channels, W-channels and Z-channels. Though the channels often share the same frequency with other channels, channel coding (i.e., the inter-pulse spacing between the first and second pulses of the DME channel waveform) allows the receiver to discriminate between different channels, and between interrogations and replies on the same channel. It should be noted that W- and Z-channels were developed to support the implementation of MLS. As that system has not been widely fielded, those channels are unused and for the most part have not been implemented in user equipment. As a result, spectrum managers are faced with having to meet the need for DME resources using only X- and Y-channels. This has become quite a problem in several States, and is made even worse by the growing demand for additional DMEs to support area-navigation (RNAV) routes, and by spectrum sharing for other aviation systems such as the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Universal Access Transceiver (UAT). Portions of the 960-1215 MHz band are also be