High frequency data link (HFDL) for civil aviation: a comparison between single and multitone voiceband modems

In this work we deal with the design and simulation of a complete multi-carrier modem alternative to the recommended one (single-carrier) for the high frequency data link standard (known as HFDL) for communications between ground stations and civil aircraft. We show how the multicarrier modem offers a better performance, from the bit error rate point of view, even in the case of very short interleaving procedure, fulfilling, at the same time, the timing constraints imposed by the TDMA structure of the HFDL system.