This system would be a supplementary communication network that would serve to minimize the traditional radio usage, since the constant use of traditional radios quickly drains their batteries, and replacing or recharging those could be very difficult in the battlefield.
And there are plenty of situations that require fast and secure communication within a distance of several kilometers when instead of speech, text message transfer is sufficient.
The supplementary communication network would be based on CW grenades. The CW grenade would be a smoke grenade size radio that would be specifically designed for battlefield conditions, and capable of receiving and transmitting continuous wave signals (like Morse code). Since the technology on which it is based already exists (for example the goTenna), the development costs could be reasonable.
Simplified diagram about the CW grenade:
1. The shell of the CW grenade would be waterproof and shockproof. It would consist of two main parts, which could be rotated on each other.
Rotating clockwise the upper part would turn on the CW grenade. Rotating in the opposite direction would turn off the CW grenade, and further rotating the CW grenade can be disassembled for battery change.
2. The power supply will be provided by four rechargeable AA batteries.
3. The radio would be installed in the upper part of the CW grenade.
4. The top of the CW grenade would be fully rotatable so that the operating frequency could be selected. On the top of the CW grenade, like an hour's dial, there would be sixty line markings, and each marking would be a different frequency number. That is, the CW grenade would not have a digital display and various adjustment buttons, for making it even simpler and cheaper.
5. Safety pin to prevent accidental frequency change.
6. Very small folding handle in which a cord or a carabiner could be inserted, thus the CW grenades can easily be carried on tactical vests, or can be placed on combat vehicles and different landmarks, for example on tree branches.
Operation of the communication network:
The CW grenade would be designed for working in a network, which could contain various smart devices. Writing and reading messages would be done on smart devices connected to the CW grenades via radios. These smart devices could be secure, waterproof, shockproof and high battery capacity smartphones, laptops or similar smart devices.
That is, a CW grenade would serve simultaneously for sending messages, and receiving targeted messages from other CW grenades, and as an automatic signal amplifier for transmitting messages between the CW grenades, but the messages would be handled through an app, that could be installed on any smart device which can be connected to the soldier's traditional handheld radio.
In its automatic signal amplifier function, the CW grenade would not amplify the incoming signal, but would recognize the transmitted messages and resend them, so the transmitted signal would be strong and noiseless again. And since each message would have its own unique identification number, the CW grenades would not send the once already transmitted messages again.
Every soldier would have an own tactical smartphone and at least one CW grenade. To send a message, one of the soldiers would use the smartphone app to write the message. To ease the use, the smartphone could be fixed to the forearm of the soldier. The message would be a short text message like an SMS. The app would encrypt the message, add a unique message identification number, the sender's own identification number and the recipient's own identification number, and then send it to the CW grenade via the soldier’s traditional handheld radio.
The CW grenade using its own radio will send the encrypted text message as CW signal. All CW grenades that operate at the same frequency and detect the signal will automatically recognize the identifier numbers from the signal, and if the smartphone with the recipient's identifier number is connected, then the message will be forwarded to the recipient's smartphone in which the app can decrypt and display the message.
The usefulness of this network is that no matter how many CW grenades should be used as an amplifier between the sender and the recipient. And the soldiers can carry more CW grenades, which can be placed on the battlefield. Thanks to the durability of the CW grenades, there is no need to be careful when placing them, it can even be thrown on tops of trees and buildings, and these CW grenades can be left behind as a consumable device.
Because the CW grenades would be set to the same frequency as soldiers' own handheld radios, sending simple text messages through CW grenades instead of talking would be a very energy efficient way to communicate dozens or even hundreds of kilometers.
In addition, one of the sixty available frequencies on the CW grenade could be labeled as an emergency frequency, and equipped with external antennas and solar panels, the CW grenades set to the same frequency can be placed in permanent locations, from mountain tops to safe houses, creating an always available backup communication network in places like Afghanistan. The acceptable identification numbers could be pre-programmed into the placed CW grenades to prevent network overload by unauthorized use.
5. Safety pin to prevent accidental frequency change.
6. Very small folding handle in which a cord or a carabiner could be inserted, thus the CW grenades can easily be carried on tactical vests, or can be placed on combat vehicles and different landmarks, for example on tree branches.
Operation of the communication network:
The CW grenade would be designed for working in a network, which could contain various smart devices. Writing and reading messages would be done on smart devices connected to the CW grenades via radios. These smart devices could be secure, waterproof, shockproof and high battery capacity smartphones, laptops or similar smart devices.
That is, a CW grenade would serve simultaneously for sending messages, and receiving targeted messages from other CW grenades, and as an automatic signal amplifier for transmitting messages between the CW grenades, but the messages would be handled through an app, that could be installed on any smart device which can be connected to the soldier's traditional handheld radio.
In its automatic signal amplifier function, the CW grenade would not amplify the incoming signal, but would recognize the transmitted messages and resend them, so the transmitted signal would be strong and noiseless again. And since each message would have its own unique identification number, the CW grenades would not send the once already transmitted messages again.
Every soldier would have an own tactical smartphone and at least one CW grenade. To send a message, one of the soldiers would use the smartphone app to write the message. To ease the use, the smartphone could be fixed to the forearm of the soldier. The message would be a short text message like an SMS. The app would encrypt the message, add a unique message identification number, the sender's own identification number and the recipient's own identification number, and then send it to the CW grenade via the soldier’s traditional handheld radio.
The CW grenade using its own radio will send the encrypted text message as CW signal. All CW grenades that operate at the same frequency and detect the signal will automatically recognize the identifier numbers from the signal, and if the smartphone with the recipient's identifier number is connected, then the message will be forwarded to the recipient's smartphone in which the app can decrypt and display the message.
The usefulness of this network is that no matter how many CW grenades should be used as an amplifier between the sender and the recipient. And the soldiers can carry more CW grenades, which can be placed on the battlefield. Thanks to the durability of the CW grenades, there is no need to be careful when placing them, it can even be thrown on tops of trees and buildings, and these CW grenades can be left behind as a consumable device.
Because the CW grenades would be set to the same frequency as soldiers' own handheld radios, sending simple text messages through CW grenades instead of talking would be a very energy efficient way to communicate dozens or even hundreds of kilometers.
In addition, one of the sixty available frequencies on the CW grenade could be labeled as an emergency frequency, and equipped with external antennas and solar panels, the CW grenades set to the same frequency can be placed in permanent locations, from mountain tops to safe houses, creating an always available backup communication network in places like Afghanistan. The acceptable identification numbers could be pre-programmed into the placed CW grenades to prevent network overload by unauthorized use.
(The first version of this concept was written in July 2018.)