Eric E. Johnson, Christopher Redding, David F. Peach, and Robert T. Adair

Abstract: Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) technology automates the selection of channels and establishment of links among high-frequency radios, but creates a vulnerability in such automated networks to hostile manipulation of network operations. The Linking Protection (LP) technique described in this report was developed to protect against such manipulation, while causing minimal degradation to network performance. This report provides a summary of ALE operation, followed by a discussion of the LP technique and suggestions for producing high-performance implementations of LP, based upon simulation studies of protected-mode performance.

Keywords: simulation; HF; authentication; high-frequency radio; performance analysis; radio networks; automatic link establishment (ALE)

Disclaimer: Certain commercial equipment, components, and software may be identified in this report to specify adequately the technical aspects of the reported results. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, nor does it imply that the equipment or software identified is necessarily the best available for the particular application or uses.

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