IEEE rRANSACTIONS ON POWER APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS VOL. PAS-85, NO.

10 OCTOBER,19f66

A New Multiplex Technique for

Communication Systems
ARTHUR H. BALLARD, SENIOR MEMBER, IEEE

Abstract-A new technique for multiplex communication is As pointed out in this paper, there is another class of
described, in which orthogonal pulse waveforms are transmitted multiplexing systems available which provides maximum
as simultaneous subcarriers. Information signals are carried in the
form of independent amplitude modulations of each subcarrier, rejection of crosstalk. The distinctive feature of these
and are extracted by means of waveform correlation. Known as systems is the use of orthogonal subearrier waveforms.
ORTHOMUX (orthogonal multiplexing), the new technique offers Being orthogonal, the subearriers do not interfere with
the advantages of: 1) high spectrum efficiency, 2) maximum re- each other in a product type of detector. The particular
jection of crosstalk and noise, 3) information response down toorthogonal multiplex technique to be described provides
zero frequency, 4) mixed information rates, 5) simple, compact
equipment, and 6) modular flexibility. an efficiency and flexibility comparable to single sideband
systems, yet employs compact and inexpensive compo-
nents more typical of time-division systems. In practice,
INTRODUCTION a signal accuracy of one percent (total distortion at least
W
5T7HERE the design of a communication system re- 40 dB down) appears quite feasible.
quires many channels of information to be trans-
mitted along the same path, the use of multiplexing has PRINCIPLES OF ORTHOGONAL MIULTIPLEXING
long been recognized as a valuable means of reducing wire- The theory of orthogonal multiplexing has been pub-
line costs or conserving radio spectrum space. In fact, lished elsewhere [1] and will be only summarized here.
there has been an ever-increasing demand to send more The key point is that noninterference between channels
information, of greater variety, at reduced cost, over a given can be guaranteed if the subearrier waveforms are chosen
transmission circuit. To meet this demand, highly efficient, from an orthogonal set. The orthogonal property requires
flexible, and economical multiplexing equipment is needed. that all pairs of waveforms have an average product of
In, the past, it has generally been assumed that only zero. Thus, if P (t) and Pm(t) are two subearrier waveforms
two basic techniques of multiplexing were available: with a common repetition period T, they are orthogonal if:
frequency-division and time-division multiplexing. In 1 T T0n = X n
frequency-division systems, a separate portion of the P,(t) Pm (t) dt = jI; m (1)
available frequency spectrum is reserved for each channel
by using sinuosidal subearriers and resonant narrow band Equation (1) also implies that each waveform has a mean
filters. Systems employing stacked single sideband chan- square value of unity. This property is desirable for multi-
nels, or multiple frequency modulation (FM) or frequency plex subcarriers, since it means that all waveforms have
shift keying (FSK) tones are examples of this type. In equal power and will be equally affected by random
time-division systems, the entire available spectrum is noise.
allocated to all channels, but at discrete sequential times. Figure 1 illustrates how orthogonal waveforms can be
Multichannel PAM, PWM, and PCM systems are ex- applied for efficient transmission of multichannel data.
amples of this type. Ideintical waveform generators are used at both terminals
Generally speaking, frequency-division systems are to produce the set of orthogonal waveforms Pi(t), P2(t), . . .
simpler and more flexible than time-division systems, yet Pn(t). Automatic synchronization is provided over the link
the equipment required is often more bulky and expensive so that both generators operate at the same repetition
because of the many special filter components required. rate 1/T c/s.
Both systems are limited in their spectrum efficiency by At the transmitting terminal, the subcarrier waveforms
the phenomenon of crosstalk, or interaction between for each channel are modulated by a multiplication process,
channels. To avoid undesirable cross-channel interference, which is equivalent to double-sideband amplitude mod-
spectrum guard bands must be provided in frequency- ulation. The composite signal obtained after adding the
division systems, or the pulse repetition rates must be modulated subearriers has the form:
kept low in time-division systems. N

Paper 31 TP 66-28, recommended and approved by the Power

E (t) = x: anPn (t).
1
(2)
System Communications Committee of the IEEE Power Group
for presentation at the IEEE Winter Power Meeting, New York, The amplitude coefficients an represent the modulating
N. Y., January 30-February 4, 1966. Manuscript submitted April information in each channel. For analog information, the
12, 1965; made available for printing November 17, 1965.
The author is with Bernard Electronics Co., Washington, D. C. amplitudes take on a continuous range of positive or nega-
1054
1966 BALLARD: MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS 1055

INFORMATION INPUT SIGNALS

. I

+l
___ 0

}
+1
PI 0

liL - l -1
+1
P2 0
-I

P3
-I+1

P4

P5
I
+1

4-I0
+l-I
I
.+l-I0
O
P7
-I I i _L _II I

RECEIVING TERMINAL
PB
XrWIl +i E 0
-I
II _I ;- _ _ _
4

TIME FREQUENCY
f P, (t)
0
Pm. (t) dt = { 1: n - m T
4
T
2
3T
4
T 10 12 14 16 IS 20 I/T

Fig. 1. Orthogonal multiple.x system. Fig. 2. Orthogonal pulse waveforms and spectra.

tive values, while for binary digital infornmation, they are
restricted to the values ± 1.
To preserve waveform orthogonality, the amplitude co-
efficients a. must remain essentially constant over each
interval T. This condition is met if each information input
signal amplitude is sampled and held constant for the suc-
ceeding transmission interval. In the case of analog signals,
the sampling rate can be as low as twice the information
signal bandwidth; while for digital signals, the sampling
rate for all channels, any combination of rates related by
powers of two can be provided, as demonstrated later.
The composite signal of (2) is transmitted over a con-
ventional link, using additional AM or FM techniques if
necessary to place it in an advantageous part of the RF
spectrum. After recovery of the composite signal at the
receiving terminal, the various information channels are
separated by a set of correlation detectors. Each amplitude
am is extracted by correlating the composite signal with
the subearrier waveform for its particular channel
T later.
am =
a
T E(t)P,,(t)dt;m = 1,2,...N.
filtering to reproduce analog data, or applied to binary
regeneration circuits to reproduce digital data.
The correlation process just described represents the
optimum process for rejecting random noise as well as
crosstalk between. channels [2]. Correlation has the prop-
erty of maximizing SNR at the detector output. Signal-
to-noise power ratio is ''always improved by the factor
2WT (W = input noise bandwidth, and T = integration
time), regardless of signal waveform. The effective
noise bandwidth per channel is therefore 1/2T, the
same as the maximum information signal bandwidth.
Where bandwidth efficiency is not critical, the multiplex
system of Fig. 1 can be further simplified. If the wave-
form repetition rate 1/T is chosen high compared to the
maximum information signal bandwidth, the sample-and-
hold circuits can be eliminated. The reset integrators can
be replaced with simple lowpass filters to extract the
desired low-frequency information signals directly from
the receiving multipliers. This is the technique used in the
automatic synchronizing and calibration circuits described
(3)

Equation (3) can be verified by replacing E(t) with the
series of terms in (2) and noting that all products having
unequal subscripts integrate to zero. The product having
equal subscripts integrates to the value of the desired
amplitude coefficient.
Each correlation is performed during each interval T
by means of a multiplier and reset integrator. At the end of
each interval, the integrated voltages are sampled and
stored, and the integrators are reset to prepare them for
the next interval. The sequence of amplitude samples
recovered for each channel is either smoothed by lowpass
ORTHOGONAL PULSE WAVEFORMS
There are many sets of orthogonal waveforms which
might be used as multiplex subearrier signals. Some of
the factors affecting choice of waveforms are spectrum
efficiency, ease of waveform generation and detection,
and adaptability to practical system requirements. In an
earlier paper [3], an ORTHOMUX system based on
orthogonal polynominals was described. The orthogonal
pulse waveforms in Fig. 2 permit the ultimate in equipment
simplicity and flexibility to be achieved with little or no
reduction in bandwidth efficiency.
1056 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS
Waveform Characteristics
Each of the orthogonal pulse waveforms in Fig. 2 always
has a value of +1 or -1; hence each has a mean square
value of unity. The distinguishing features of each wave-
form are the number and position of its zero crossings.
For easy reference, the index number of each waveform
gives the number of internal zero crossings during each
repetition interval T. The P0 waveform is constant at + 1
for the entire interval and contains no zero crossings.
The P1 waveform has one internal zero crossing at T/2,
and the P2 waveform has two zero crossings at T/4 and
3T/4. The P3 waveform combines the zero crossings of Pi
and P,.
Each higher-order waveform is obtained by inserting
additional zero crossings in a binary fashion. Thus P4 has
four zero crossings at odd multiples of T/8. Waveform P5
combines the zero crossings of P4 and Pi, waveform P6 com-
bines the zero crossings of P4 and P2, and so on up to P7.
Waveform P8 contains eight zero crossings at odd multiples
of T/16, and higher waveforms up to P15 are obtained by
combining the zero crossings of P8 with those of P1, P2,
and P4 in binary progression. This process of obtaining
higher-order waveforms can be extended as far as desired.
As P5 and P6 illustrate, the orthogonal pulse waveforms are
not merely square waves. A two-to-one variation in spac-
ing between zero crossings occurs frequently in the higher-
order waveforms.
That the pulse waveforms in Fig. 2 are orthogonal can be
verified by inspection. Any selected pair are alike in sign
for one half the interval T, and differ in sign for the re-
maining half-interval. Their average product then is zero.
The waveforms in Fig. 2 are similar to the Reed-Muller
error-correcting codes [4], if the + 1 level is associated with
a binary one and the -1 level with a binary zero. Viterbi
[5] has shown how such waveforms can be used for im-
proved detection of single channel digital data. Their
orthogonal property and ease of generation make them ideal
for improved multiplex systems also.
Frequency Spectrum
The frequency spectrum for a composite ORTHOMUX
signal can be deduced from the frequency spectrum for each
orthogonal pulse waveform. The results shown in Fig.
2 for waveforms P0 through P8 have been computed using
well-known methods of Fourier series analysis. Since a
constant +1 modulation was assumed, line spectra at
harmonics of the common repetition rate 1/T c/s are ob-
tained. In the presence of time-varying modulation,
sideband components will appear out to frequencies 1/2T
c/s on either side of the lines shown.
Each odd-order waveform has the same frequency
spectrum as the next higher even-order waveform, except
for a phase shift of 900. The spectrum peak for each even
order waveform Pn occurs at n/2T c/s. The P0 spectrum
is of course a spike at zero frequency. The P1, P2 spectrum
peaks at 1/T c/s; the P3, P4 spectrum peaks at 2/T c/s;
the P5, P6 spectrum peaks at 3/ T c/s; and so on. For
application to a bandpass transmission link, the lower
OCTOBER
numbered waveforms can be omitted and only those wave-
forms selected whose significant spectrum components lie
within the transmission pass-band.
Although the spectrum for all waveforms other than Po
contains higher harmonics which drop off at a rate of six
dB per octave, not all of these harmonics have to be
preserved in a practical system. As a minimum, the
system bandwidth must be broad enough to cover the
spectrum peaks for all channels; that is Wm,n = N/2T c/s.
Computations for the nine waveforms of Fig. 2 have
shown that a system bandwidth of only 5/T c/s will pre-
serve orthogonality of the subearrier waveforms to a
sufficient degree that average crosstalk is on the order of
-40 dB. Further rejection of crosstalk is possible with
additional guard band at the high end of the spectrum
(not between channels), or if special compensation tech-
niques are used.
Mixed Sampling Rates
If the same sampling rate 1/T c/s is employed for all
channels, the maximum information bandwidth for all
channels will be 1/2T c/s. The orthogonal pulse wave-
forms of Fig. 2 can also be used in systems where the
various information signals to be transmitted exhibit widely
different bandwidths. All that is required is that the sam-
pling rates used for the various channels be related by some
power of two. A channel sampled at 2/T c/s can be used
in place of two channels sampled at 1/T c/s, a channel
sampled at 4/T c/s can be used in place of four channels
sampled at 1/T c/s, and so on.
As an illustration of this flexibility, consider the wave
forms shown in Fig. 2. Waveform P0 through P3 might be
used for four low-speed channels sampled at the basic rate
of 1/T c/s. Waveform P4 might then be used for a higher
speed channel sampled at 2/T c/s, because P4 iS orthogonal
to the lower-order waveforms during each half-interval
T/2. To verify this statement, observe that during the first
half-interval, P4 appears as a time-compressed P2 wave-
form; while P3 and P2 appear as time-compressed Pi wave-
forms; and P1 and Po appear as time-compressed Po wave-
forms. A similar relation holds true during the second
half-interval. Even though P4 may have different ampli-
tudes during each half-interval, its average cross-product
with the lower-order waveforms is still zero for each inter-
val T/2, as well as for the full interval T.
In this example, waveform P5 cannot be used because it
is not orthogonal to P4 during each half-interval. Waveform
P6 and every second higher waveform can be used for
additional channels at a 2/ T c/s sampling rate, however,
because they remain orthogonal to P4 and the other
selected waveforms during each half-interval. In general, if
a higher sampling rate of 2k/ T c/s is used, only every 2kth
waveform can be selected to preserve orthogonality during
each subinterval T/2k. The process is analogous to super-
commutation in time-division systems. From a frequency
spectrum viewpoint, the bandwidth allocation of a high-
speed channel replaces several more tightly-packed low-
speed channel allocations.
1966

SAMPLING RATE =

~~~~I0.8-~~~1.
+1

51T
1/T

O I

~~~~~~~+

+2

-2
P3(t)

a3P3(t)

O0~
P3(t)

__
t
.__
0
O.B6_

-I--.-- n-----°--f4---Z-3.16
3
11~~~~.5
-1~~~~~~~~~~~~D 8
~--O.E6_;1

~~~~-0.0
+10

-F

E(t)
1 BALLARD:

SAMPLING RATE

-O

i1
J

T/4
_

T/2
-F

AT/4a

a3P3(t)+a4P4(t)
= 4/T
MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

P4(t)

a4P

a4 P4 (t)
OSCILLATR

INPUT a
A
SMLE
K
2 /Tcps

HOLD
K STAGE

2 /Tcps C4/Tcps, r 2 t 1[|s~ ~p(ats3,+_

BINARY COUNTER

Fig. 4. Waveform generator.

UFIFER
AMPL.
L

2/Tcps

DIODE COMBINING MATRIX

D
L

MULTIPLIER
.

I/Tcps

n/TcPs

SUMMING
I/Tcps
SYNC PULSES

SET +1

FF

TYPICAL
OUTPUT
STAGE

OUTPUt
p (t)
10(57

< ~~~E(t)P4(t) ; 1S 1 ~~~~~RESISTOR

2LIJ-T1EtWP3 (t) CARRIE
4/T E(t)P 4

_ l*t
,
I ~~~~~FLIPFLOP
0
I-/ " .---
1 0U'.5 S NC. PARTS COUNT
-5.86 TRIGGER 8 TRANSISTORS
P,t
SAMPLE & HOLD O B6 PULSE 9 DIODES
1j
Et d .

1 a
28 RESISTORS
LOWPASS FILTER ij__ - 3 Ba6 5 CAPACITORS
1I~

Fig. 3. Modulation and demodulation waveforms. (a)

0 IOD RESET IISAMPLE |0
LOWAS
INPUT MULTIPLIER INTEGRATOR X HOLD FILTER OUTPUT
The waveforms in Fig. 3 illustrate the ORTHOMIUX
modulation and demodulation processes, including the CARRIER PARTS COUNT
use of mixed sampling rates. Channel 3, with dc modula-
tion, is sampled at a 1/T rate, while channel 4, with sine-
FLIPYFLOP 10 TRANSISTORS
8TRIGGER PULSE 9 DIODES
wave modulation, is sampled at a 4/T rate. PULSE 30 RESISTORS
7 CAPACITORS

EQUIPMENT DESIGN (b)

Waveform Generator Fig. 5. Channel modules. (a) Transmit. (b) Receive.
The desired orthogonal pulse waveforms can be gen-
erated easily with conventional flip-flops and diode logic
circuits as shown in Fig. 4. Repetitive timing pulses are Channel Module
supplied from an oscillator running 2K times as fast as the Figure 5(a) illustrates a universal channel module which
basic sampling rate. A maximum of 2K subearrier wave- incorporates all transmitting circuits associated with a
forms can be generated, ranging from PO to P2K--1 The given channel. It includes the carrier generating flip-flop,
timing pulses are applied to a conventional binary counter an input sample-and-hold circuit, a diode multiplier, and
containing K stages. Noncarry pulses are taken from each an output summing resistor. A simple diode multiplier is
counter stage, which appear as nonoverlapping pulse possible because of the binary nature of the subearrier
trains at repetition rates 1/ T, 2/ T, ... (2K-1)/T. waveform. The transmitting channel module contains eight
A separate flip-flop is provided for each subearrier transistors, nine diodes, five capacitors, and 28 resistors.
signal desired. In every case, the output flip-flop FFn is set Using printed circuit card construction, the channel
to its + 1 state at the beginning of each interval T (or each module occupies only about 4 X 5 X 3/8, or 7.5 in3. Thin
binary subinterval for mixed rate systems). The n zero film or integrated circuit construction reduces the volume
crossings desired in waveform Pn during the interval are to more like 1/2 in3.
obtained by triggering the flip-flop with a synthesized The module of Fig. 5(a) cani be used interchangeably for
pulse train. The triggering pulse train is synthesized us'ng any data channel in the transmitting multiplexer. External
diode OR logic to obtain the proper combination of the synchronizing pulses determine the sampling rate, and
nonoverlapping pulse trains from the binary counter. external trigger pulses determine the channel assignment.
FF6 for example is triggered by the 2/T and 4/T pulse The output terminals of all channel modules can be
trains, because 6 = 2 + 4. Both the subearrier waveform strapped together at the input connection of a common
P. and its negative waveform are available from the summing amplifier.
output flip-flop FFn for application to a four-quadrant The receiving channel module in Fig. 5(b) contains
multiplier. only slightly more circuitry. In addition to a flip-flop
For a limited number of channels, the waveform genera- FFn, a multiplier, and a sample-and-hold circuiit, a reset
tor of Fig. 4 can be further simplified. The arrangement integrator and lowpass filter are needed. The receive
shown, however, makes possible the concept of uiniversal module contains ten transistors, nine diodes, seven capaci-
channel modules. tors, and 30 resistors. No bulky inductive filters or electro-
1058 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS OCTOBER

multiplier and lowpass filter. The fine AFC voltage as a

function of receiver delay has the sawtooth variation
TRANS shown as AB. It is used to vary the frequency of the local
IMISNK timing oscillator and drive it to a null at the nearest multi-
ple of T/2K seconds in delay.
'AC
ITUDE The coarse AFC loop operates in a similar fashion to
RENCE
bring the local waveform generator into proper phase rela-
tionship with the received composite signal. The modula-
tion D on the received reference subearrier is detected
synchronously and correlated against a similar 1/2T c/s
square wave, E shifted 900, to obtain the coarse AFC volt-
age ODE. The latter causes pulses to be added or sub-
tracted from the local waveform generator until it reaches
a null in delay at the nearest multiple of 2T seconds. The
receiving circuits will then be in complete synchronism.
T An amplitude reference can be obtained by lowpass
A iln1n
UUUL
1 A-AB
REPEAT EVERY;
2K filtering of the reference modulation waveform D. The
amplitude reference voltage can be used for automatic
B gain control of the receiving circuits, as well as calibration
of data processing equipment, if required.
C
)UUU EODE
-UUL
ILLUSTRATIVE SYSTEM DESIGNS
-TTO0T +T
-
When applied to meet practical communication system
DELAY

E ~~~~~~~~2K
+2K
requirements, multiplexing with orthogonal pulse wave-
0 T 2T
forms offers some impressive advantages.
Fig. 6. Synchronization and calibration.
In communication systems related to electrical power
distribution, for example, numerous on-off signals must be
transmitted between stations for monitoring and control
mechanical components are required. Size of the receive purposes. Typical data rates are about 100 switch closures
module is only about ten percent greater than that of the per minute, or less. At present, the standard practice is to
transmit module. transmit these signals as FSK tones, frequency multiplexed
onto a 3-kc/s telephone circuit which leases for 3 dollars
Synchronization and Calibration Circuits per month. Using the ORTHOMUX technique with a
Achieving the high spectrum efficiency inherent to sampling rate 1/T = 1.875 c/s, fourteen data channels can
orthogonal multiplexing requires that the receiving wave- be provided over a telegraph-grade circuit, which has a
form generator be closely synchronized to the transmitting bandwidth of 0-1o c/s and leases for only 0.75 dollars per
generator. Since only one oscillator is used at each terminal, mile per month. The data subearriers would consist of the
the receiving equipment can be automatically synchronized orthogonal pulse waveforms P1 through P14, the referenee
if a timing reference is transmitted. The same signal can be subearrier P15 being a 15 c/s square wave. Because of the
used to transmit an amplitude reference level indicating digital nature of the data signals, the sample-and-hold
full-scale modulation on the information channels. circuits could be replaced by simple flip-flop circuits.
The circuits in Fig. 6 show one method of achieving auto- As a second example, an ORTHOMUX system with
matic synchronization and calibration. At the trans- mixed sampling rates might be employed to combine a 3.2
mitting terminal, the reference signal A is obtained using kc/s voice signal with six 0-100 c/s proportional data
one of the orthogonal pulse waveforms as a subearrier. signals in a single 4-kc/s bandwidth allocation. The basic
Because of the correlation processes performed at the sampling rate 1/T would be chosen equal to 200 c/s, but
receiving terminal, the best choice for the reference sub- the voice signal would be sampled 32 times faster (6400
carrier is a waveform which remains orthogonal to the samples per second). Since the voice signal has no dc or low-
data subcarriers even when shifted in phase. A square wave frequency components, it can be placed on the P0 sub-
at the timing oscillator frequency (for example, P7 in Fig. carrier, which is equivalent to sending the signal directly
2) meets this requirement. On-off modulation at one-half although in time-quantized form. The reference subearrier
the lowest sampling rate provides coarse timing informa- would be either P31 or P32 (3200 c/s square waves), and the
tion without interfering with the data channels. six data subearriers would be P33 (3400 c/s) through P3g
At the receiving terminal, two feedback loops are em- (3800 c/s). With suitable line equalization, it should be
ployed for automatic frequency control (AFC). In the fine possible to achieve a one percent accuracy or better on
AFC loop, a local reference subearrier shifted 90°, B is the proportional data channels, with 40 dB or better cross-
correlated against the received composite signal. The talk rejection between all channels.
average correlation is obtained by means of a diode (Continued following Directory)
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS VOL. PAS-85, NO. 10 OCTOBER 1 966

As a final example, the ORTHOMUX technique can be CONCLUSION

compared directly with single sideband techniques in
stacking 4-kc/s voice channels. To obtain four 3.6-kc/s
voice channels in a 0-16 kc/s allocation, the sampling rate
would be 1/T = 7200 c/s and the subearriers would be
Po PF1, P2, and P3. The 14.4-kc/s square wave P3 iS also
available as a reference subearrier since its modulating
signal contains no dc or low-frequency components.
Modulation will produce lower sidebands in the case of the
odd-order subearriers, and predominantly upper sidebands
in the case of even-order subearriers. If the transmission
circuit cuts off sharply at 16 kc/s, a guard band of 1.6 kc/s
is still available. This guard band is unnecessary, however,
if additional channels are stacked using similar techniques
of orthogonal multiplexing. A duplex equipment for four
voice channels would consist of approximately 12 printed
circuit cards plus power supply. It might be packaged in
a single chassis-panel assembly 19 inches wide, 51/4 inches
high, and 15 inches deep. Estimated production cost is
approximately 1500 dollars.
Multiplexing with synchronous orthogonal subcarriers
provides a means for obtaining high spectrum efficiency
with maximum rejection of crosstalk and noise. The use of
orthogonal pulse waveforms, in particular, leads to equip-
ment which is extremely simple, compact, and inexpensive.
System versatility is enhanced through the use of universal
channel modules, capable of operation over a wide variety
of data rates. M\iixed data rates in a given system can also
be accommodated.
REFERENCES
[1] A. H. Ballard, "Orthogonal multiplexing," Space/Aeronautics,
pt. 2, November 1962.
[2] W. B. Davenport, Jr., and W. L. Root, Random Signals and
Noise. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1958.
[3] A. H. Ballard, "A new concept for multiplexing communication
signals," Proc. 1962 6th Nat'l Conv. on Military Electronics.
[4] I. S. Reed, "A class of multiple-error-correcting codes and the
decoding scheme," IRE Trans. on Information Theory, vol.
IT-4, pp. 38-49, September 1954.
[5] A. J. Viterbi, "On coded phase-coherent communications,"
IRE Trans. on Space Electronics and Telemetry, vol. SET-7,
pp. 3-14, March 1961.

Communication Circuits on 500-kV Lines

T. M. SWINGLE, SENIOR MEMBER, IEEE, AND H. I. DOBSON, MEMBER, IEEE

Abstract-The characteristics of 500-kV transmission lines from a arrangements, modal component attenuation, relative
communication viewpoint are discussed based on tests and ob- velocity of propagation, and other characteristics of natural
servations of the Tennessee Valley Authority's first 500-kV line to mode behavior. The influence of seasonal variations and
be placed in service. Dead-line carrier frequency tests included
attenuation on the insulated shield wires and phase-coupled power- differences in geographical area are discussed, as well as
line carrier arrangements. Modal component attenuation, relative factors which affect stability of a propagated model com-
velocity of propagation, and other characteristics of natural mode ponent.
behavior are covered. Experiences to date on operation of power- Experiences to date oin operatioin of power-line carrier
line carrier terminals and audio equipment are given, along with a terminals and audio tone equipment are summarized, along
brief resume of RI measurements.
with a brief resume of radio interference (RI) measure-
ments. An appreciable amount of the additional informa-
INTRODUCTION tion which remains to be gathered is also described.
A NTERIM report on the characteristics of power- DEAD-LINE CARRIER TESTS
line carrier and insulated shield wires for com-
munication over the Tennessee Valley Authority's 500- TVA's 500-kV lines are single circuit, with a 40-foot
kV transmissioil lines is presented here. horizoiltal phase spacing and a 66-foot average shield wire
The results of extensive dead-line carrier tests are dis- spacing. Each phase consists of three 971.6 mem ACSR
cussed. These results in-clude attenuation on iinsulated shield conductors in an 18-inch triangular bundle, apex down.
wire circuits and coniventionally coupled power-line carrier Each shield wire consists of seven strands, no. 9 Alumo-
weld. The shield wires are transposed at intervals ranging
from three to ten miles. There are no transpositions of the
Paper 31 TP 66-53, recommended and approved by the Power phase conductors.
System Communications Committee of the IEEE Power Group Upon completion of the Johnsonville-Cordova section
for presentation at the IEEE Winter Power Meeting, New York,
N. Y., January 30-February 4, 1966. Manuscript submitted Novem- (approximately 120 miles) of the Johnsonville-West
ber 1, 1965; made available for printing November 22, 1965.
The authors are with the Tennessee Valley Authority, Chat- Memphis 500-kV line, arrangements were made to permit
tanooga, Tenn. measurements of carrier behavior on the dead-line. A series
1059