Marine Corps Tactical Satellite Communications

A tactical satellite communications exercise using the DARPA Microsats was conducted by Naval Academy personnel at the Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia. Midshipmen used a military UHF radio, a modified amateur radio transmitter, and scanner receivers while a station in Annapolis communicated with them. Voice communications were clear and understandable even when the tactical teams were in the woods. Amateur radio operators and scanner enthusiasts around the eastern half of the United States and Canada successfully monitored the Microsat downlinks during the demonstration.