What prevents two units from transmitting simultaneously on the same link in a Link 16 net?

• A. Non-overlapping time slots assigned by the NCS via network management messages.
• B. Random backoff by each unit.
• C. Frequency partitioning with guard bands.
• D. Time-limited transmissions per unit.

Answer: (A)

Link 16 prevents two units from transmitting at the same time on the same link by using time-division access. The Network Control Station assigns non-overlapping time slots to each participant and distributes these slots through network management messages. Each unit only transmits during its designated slot, so only one radio speaks in the shared channel at any moment, avoiding collisions.

Random backoff would imply a contention-based approach, which isn’t how Link 16 schedules access. Frequency partitioning with guard bands would split bandwidth rather than time, and while guard bands exist for spillover, they don’t govern who can transmit when. Time-limited transmissions per unit describe how long a unit may talk but doesn’t enforce the non-overlap that slot scheduling provides.