What kind of synchronization does the terminal need to receive messages?

• A. Fine sync
• B. Coarse sync
• C. Ultra sync
• D. Normal sync

Answer: (A)

In Link 16, messages are sent in tightly timed, time-slotted frames, so a terminal must lock onto the network’s timing with high precision in order to sample and decode the data correctly. That precise timing is what fine synchronization provides. Coarse synchronization only gets you roughly aligned to the frame start and is not enough to reliably demodulate the individual slots or samples; without fine sync, the receiver can’t correctly interpret the incoming symbols. Ultra or normal synchronization aren’t the required levels for actual message reception in this system. So the terminal needs fine synchronization to receive messages accurately.