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Air Traffic Control Radar Signal Transmission Enters the 64 kbps Era—An Analysis of the Capacity-Expansion Technical Solution for Mode S Radar PCM Equipment
Release time:
2026-06-29
With the accelerated deployment of Mode S secondary surveillance radar, upgrading radar signal transmission rates has become an essential industry requirement. This paper takes the case of a certain air traffic control airport’s PCM equipment, which was expanded from 19.2 kbps to 64 kbps, to analyze the heightened bandwidth demands of Mode S radar. It also presents the core technical solutions of the ZMUX‑DS‑24 device—covering interface upgrades, dual‑signal parallel transmission, and data selection—providing a reference for achieving comprehensive speed improvements in air traffic control radar signaling.
With the accelerated deployment of Mode S secondary surveillance radar in air traffic management, upgrading radar signal transmission rates has become an industry‑wide imperative. Recently, a domestic air traffic control airport successfully increased the transmission rate of its PCM equipment from 19.2 kbps to 64 kbps, providing robust assurance for high‑quality transmission of Mode S radar data. This milestone marks the official entry of air traffic control radar signal transmission into the 64 kbps era.
Why is 64 kbps required? — Data transmission challenges in S‑mode radar
Mode S (Discrete Surveillance Beacon System) is a secondary radar beacon system based on discrete‑addressing capability, with its defining feature being aircraft‑level identification achieved through selective address‑based interrogation. Compared with the traditional Mode A/C, Mode S radar offers significant advantages: altitude accuracy has improved from 100 feet to 25 feet; the data payload includes a 24‑bit address code, enabling a unique identifier for each aircraft; and it supports datalink functionality, allowing the transmission of rich information such as flight number, indicated airspeed, ground speed, heading, altitude, and GPS coordinates.
However, the exponential growth in data volume places increasingly stringent demands on transmission bandwidth. In the air traffic control domain, the 2-Mbps (E1) link has long served as the primary interface standard for ATC transmission services (G.703, 2048 kbit/s) and is widely used for radar signal transmission. Raising the radar signal transmission rate from the conventional 19.2 kbps to 64 kbps enables more efficient utilization of the E1 link’s channel capacity, thereby meeting the bandwidth requirements for parallel S‑mode radar data transmission and the integration of new‑generation radar‑mode signals. Furthermore, ADS‑B receivers feature high data‑update rates, and a baud rate of 64 kbps is likewise a fundamental requirement for ADS‑B data transmission.
Technical Solution: The Core Path for Expanding PCM Equipment Capacity
PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) equipment systems leverage standard E1 data transmission channels and adhere to the PCM 30/32 format, enabling direct provision of multiple user interfaces for voice, data, and video. When deployed in radar communication systems, PCM equipment not only expands interface options but also enhances network management capabilities, offering flexible networking configurations and strong network adaptability.
The core technical approach of this expansion plan includes:
First, equipment selection and interface upgrades. It employs a next-generation PCM multiplexing device and radar data distributor that support a high data rate of 64 Kbps. Taking the ZMUX‑DS‑24 as an example, this equipment supports a maximum transmission rate of 64 Kbps, provides 24 independent interfaces, and integrates both distribution and selection functions into a single unit. Featuring an active design, it offers signal regeneration and drive capabilities, effectively mitigating signal attenuation and distortion over long-distance transmission.
Second, a dual-signal parallel transmission strategy. During the upgrade, it is necessary to increase the radar’s transmission rate to support new‑generation S‑mode radar signals, while continuing to transmit legacy radar‑mode signals to ensure compatibility with existing automation systems. By leveraging the time‑slot allocation capabilities of PCM equipment, both new and legacy signal streams can be transmitted in parallel over a single E1 link, thereby making full use of the 64 kbps bandwidth resource.
Third, flexible allocation and selection schemes. The next-generation radar data distributor supports independent configuration of multiple interfaces, with 24 channels that can be freely combined—either as a single‑channel broadcast mode with one input and 23 outputs, or in various distribution schemes such as two groups of one input and 11 outputs, or three groups of one input and 7 outputs. The device also features radar data selection and comparison functionality, enabling quality assessment of redundant data streams and selecting the highest‑quality output to ensure high reliability of air traffic control radar signals.
Industry Trend: A Comprehensive Acceleration from 19.2K to 64K
At present, radar distributors widely deployed in China’s air traffic management sector still predominantly operate at a 19.2 kbps rate. As flight volumes continue to rise and surveillance sites are increasingly densified, the conventional data rate can no longer keep pace with demand. Guangzhou YinXun has upgraded the data rates of the radar interfaces across its entire product line, now supporting high‑speed rates such as 38.4 kbps and 64 kbps.
Industry experts point out that the S‑mode has become an inevitable trend in contemporary radar development. Increasing the radar signal transmission rate to 64 kbps is not only an essential step in technological advancement but also a critical measure for ensuring air traffic control operational safety and enhancing air traffic management efficiency. As more air traffic control airports complete the expansion and upgrade of their PCM equipment, 64 kbps is poised to become the industry’s new benchmark for data rates.
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