Phoenix Nest MARS

Open-source HF digital communications software for Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) operations.

Project Status

Component	Status	Description
CP	✅ Building	Communications Processor - core message handling
SMLinux	✅ Building	Station Mapper Linux port - NCS operations & mapping
Crypto	✅ Working	KIK/TEK key tape management & MS-DMT encryption
Propagation	✅ Working	VOACAP-based coverage prediction
Modem	🚧 Future	MIL-STD-188-110A/MELP-e (separate project)

Components

Communications Processor (CP)

Qt5-based message processor for MARS digital traffic. Handles:

• Message formatting and routing
• V3PROTOCOL XML communication with Station Mapper
• MS-DMT binary protocol for modem interface

Build:

cd src/cp
qmake CP-standalone.pro
make

Station Mapper Linux (SMLinux)

Network Control Station (NCS) operations tool:

• Station mapping and visualization
• Roster management
• Terminal interface (V3PROTOCOL)
• VOACAP propagation integration (in progress)

Build:

cd src/smlinux
qmake StationMapper-linux.pro
make

Note: SMLinux v0.71 is a feature-reduced port. Full VOACAP/heatmap integration pending.

Crypto

MARS key tape management and MS-DMT encryption infrastructure:

• Intel HEX parser with checksum verification for key files
• KeyTape class for managing KIK/TEK key collections
• CipherEngine for session management and encryption
• Time-based TEK slot calculation for key rotation
• Auto-discovery of keys from directory structure

Key structure supports ZYG (general membership, 6-month rotation) and ZYI1/ZYI2 (interop, 12-month) key types with hierarchical derivation from shared 32-byte master seeds.

from crypto.cipher_keys import KeyTape, CipherEngine

tape = KeyTape.from_directory("/path/to/keys")
engine = CipherEngine(tape)
ciphertext = engine.encrypt(plaintext)

Propagation

Offline HF propagation prediction using VOACAP/voacapl:

• Area coverage heatmaps
• Channel comparison
• MARS channel database

Requires voacapl installation for real predictions (falls back to simulated data).

from propagation import PropagationPredictor

pred = PropagationPredictor("AAR6XX", 38.47, -82.63)
result = pred.predict_coverage(channel="A4", utc_hour=18)
result.render_heatmap("coverage.png")

Requirements

Build Dependencies

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install build-essential qt5-default qtbase5-dev \
    qtcharts5-dev libqt5serialport5-dev libssl-dev

Python Dependencies (Propagation)

pip install numpy scipy matplotlib

Optional: voacapl (Real Propagation Predictions)

sudo apt install gfortran
# Download from https://github.com/jawatson/voacapl
./configure && make && sudo make install
makeitshfbc

Directory Structure

phoenix-nest-mars/
├── src/
│   ├── cp/              # Communications Processor
│   ├── smlinux/         # Station Mapper Linux
│   ├── crypto/          # KIK/TEK key management
│   └── propagation/     # VOACAP prediction module
├── docs/                # Documentation
├── scripts/             # Build/utility scripts
└── releases/            # Pre-built binaries

Related Projects

• MIL-STD-188-110A Modem - HF modem implementation (separate repo, future)
• MELP-e Vocoder - Voice encoding for HF (separate repo, future)

License

Components have varying licenses:

• CP/SMLinux: Based on GPL sources from MARS community
• Crypto: Project-specific
• Propagation: MIT

Contributing

This is a Phoenix Nest LLC project for MARS amateur radio operations.

Acknowledgments

• Original Station Mapper by KYHiTech.com
• voacapl by James Watson (HZ1JW/M0DNS)
• VOACAP by NTIA/ITS