StreamCaster 4200 Enhanced Plus wireless data-link product

The StreamCaster 4200 Enhanced Plus (SC4200EP) is a 2x2 MIMO wireless data-link radio from Silvus Technologies, a Motorola Solutions company. It is a mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) radio for line-of-sight links between unmanned aircraft, ground vehicles, ground control stations and people, carrying video, telemetry, command and control and voice over one self-forming mesh. It is sold in four forms: a rugged externally powered brick, a rugged handheld with a twist-lock battery connector, a non-rugged OEM module for embedding in custom products, and a drop-in module for plug-and-play integration into platforms.

The radio uses the Mobile Networked MIMO (MN-MIMO) waveform with COFDM modulation and automatic link adaptation, which adjusts throughput to changing conditions, and it is stated to cope with multipath and non-line-of-sight propagation and with high-speed platforms. Channel bandwidth modes are 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 MHz, and the data rate is up to 100 Mbps, adaptive. Latency averages 7 ms per hop at 20 MHz bandwidth. Native transmit power is adjustable from 1 mW to 10 W for the SC42A0 model, or up to 4 W for the SC4240, and transmit beamforming raises the effective power, up to 20 W for the higher-power model, which improves range and throughput. Receive sensitivity is -99 dBm at 5 MHz bandwidth. Frequency bands from 300 MHz to 6 GHz are available, with dual band in one radio.

As a network node, the radio supports self-healing and self-forming mesh topologies, including star, hub and spoke, relay and fixed backbone, on a single frequency with time division duplexing, and up to 559 nodes in one network. An embedded network management interface, StreamScape, can be reached from a computer, tablet or smartphone and shows topology, signal levels, node positions on a map, and diagnostics such as a spectrum analyser and temperature and voltage monitoring.

For integration, the radio is housed in an IP68 anodised aluminium enclosure, rated as submersible to 20 meters for 30 minutes, with an operating temperature range of -40 to +85 degrees C. The rugged version measures 101.6 x 66.8 x 38.35 mm and weighs 425 g, while the OEM version measures 91.7 x 54.61 x 18.03 mm and weighs 122 g. The input voltage is 9 to 20 VDC, with power consumption from 5 W up to 48 W at 10 W transmit power. The interfaces are one Ethernet, one RS232 and two USB ports, with two TNC antenna connectors. Wi-Fi and GPS are added with external dongles, and the unit includes up to 128 GB of storage and Cursor on Target messaging for ATAK, WinTAK and iTAK.

The radio supports AES256 encryption, validated to FIPS 140-3 Level 2, and anti-jam and low probability of intercept features are available. Silvus states that the SC4200EP is Blue UAS Framework certified and complies with the NDAA and DoD cybersecurity requirements. Typical applications are command and control and payload video links on small and medium unmanned aircraft, manned-unmanned teaming, tactical ground communications and public safety, and broadcast.