Satcom Direct integrates Exinda into router for fast in-flight Internet connectivity

Satcom Direct is integrating the Exinda Mobile platform into the Satcom Direct Router (SDR). The first Satcom hardware product, the SDR can serve as a Wi-Fi access point on an airplane. The Exinda Mobile platform, which is integrated into the SDR, will enhance the data user experience for aircraft passengers by improving the consistency and response time of Internet applications.

Business professionals, executives, and government officials are spending more and more time traveling aboard aircraft. This led to the spread of the ‘office in the sky’ mindset, the corresponding need for constant connectivity during flights, and the desire for in-flight Internet user experience equal to the quality found in terrestrial offices. SDR aims to deliver such an enhanced in-flight Internet experience via the integrated Exinda Mobile platform.

Exinda is the sole solution currently available on the market that can apply collaborative caching and apply traffic acceleration according to the location of the user. It does not need extra hardware or reconfiguration of the entire satellite communications network in order to improve the performance of applications.

The Exinda Mobile platform enables faster applications, improves remote collaboration, saves massive amounts of bandwidth, and provides high-speed connectivity and a reliable experience for users regardless of location.

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SpaceX’s Merlin 1D engine cleared for flying aboard Falcon 9

Space transport company Space Exploration Technologies announced that Merlin 1D engine, the company’s next-generation machine, has been recently qualified to fly on the Falcon 9 rocket after passing a series of test programs.

Officials said that the testing program showed a ratio of 4:1 for critical engine life parameters, with an industry standard of 2:1. Merlin 1D is said to be the most efficient booster engine ever built due to its vacuum thrust-to-weight ratio of more than 150. The engine also maintains the thermal and structural safety margins to carry astronauts. The next-generation engine makes use of higher efficiency processes, increased robotic construction and reduced parts count. As a result, it enhances manufacturability.

Merlin 1D was assessed to be flight-ready following almost 33 minutes of firing over the course of 28 various tests at SpaceX’s rocket-development facility in Texas. The engine will be integrated with the Falcon 9 rocket soon.

In a statement, SpaceX Chief Designer and CEO Elon Musk said: “The Merlin 1D successfully performed every test throughout this extremely rigorous qualification program. With flight qualification now complete, we look forward to flying the first Merlin 1D engines on Falcon 9’s Flight 6 this year.”

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C-Com introduces new generation iNetVu Ka-band flyaway satellite antennas

The vanguard of C-COM Satellite Systems Inc.’s new generation of Ka-band Flyaway Antennas made its debut at the Satellite 2013 exhibition held in Washington, DC.

The new iNetVu FLY-75V model is a Ka-band Flyaway Antenna that measures 75cm. The new satellite antenna was designed so that a single person can transport, assemble, and disassemble it within 10 minutes. It can be fitted into a pair of rugged, lightweight cases for easy transportation and does not require any tools for assembly.

Using the proprietary iNetVu controller, the fully automated iNetVu FLY-75V satellite antenna can locate a satellite mere minutes after deployment with just the press of a button. Commercial Ka-band satellite broadband service users -like Viasat Exede in North America nd Eutelsat Tooway KaSat in Europe- will be able to automatically acquire satellite locks using the new C-Com product.

The new iNetVu platform is flexible, easy to configure, and can be scaled to support a number of small-size Ka-band antennas prevalent amongst the Ka-band services emerging across the world. The pedestal drive is motorized and is almost completely free of backlash, and the FLY-75V’s high-pointing accuracy has raised the bar for the auto-deploy antenna industry.

C-Com plans to offer the Fly-75V product to Ka-band market verticals that use high bandwidth applications and need to be quickly deployed in the field by personnel who know little about antenna pointing. These verticals include disaster recovery, emergency services, and satellite news gathering.

Glowlink aids satellite traffic planners with new SAMS planning tool

Glowlink has begun offering SAMS, its new NexGen tool for satellite capacity and link planning.

SAMS can be used by satellite traffic planners to sort out satellite communications traffic, execute link budget analysis, and optimize space assets to fulfill objectives regarding data throughput and link performance. An additional benefit of the Glowlink product is that it costs only a faction of the price of comparable planning products.

Both fixed and mobile networks will be able to use SAMS. The program is compatible with aeronautical and maritime satellite networks. It is easy to use and employs a graphical and intuitive point-and-click interface, allowing users to plan traffic links and predict their performance on a link-by-link or network-wide basis.

SAMS can serve on its own as a link planning tool. It can also be integrated with Glowlink’s carrier monitoring systems to create an end-to-end, all inclusive network planning/management operation.

Furthermore, SAMS can add real-time carrier measurements into the refinement and assessment of planned traffic. All it takes to load a spectrum plan into the monitoring system is a single mouse click, and then the user can verify the performance of the planned traffic.

SAMS is a true turn-key, plug-and-play solution. Glowlink will include a SAMS Server and an integrated SAMS workstation with its tool.

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STM, ESA, Norway developing very high-throughput TDM/TDMA Hub modem

STM Group, the European Space Agency, and the Norwegian Space Centre are embarking on a project that will develop an integrated TDM/TDMA satellite Hub modem with very high-throughput speeds.

According to the announcement by STM, the final product will fit in a a compact 1U rack-mountable unit. The new satellite modem will enable 350 Mbps of IP throughput over DVB-S2 forward carriers and achieve symbol rates up to 200 Msps (Mega-symbols per second.) It will also support 64APSK modulation and other DVB-S2 extensions that DVB is currently standardizing.

Furthermore, the new STM modem will be able to handle burst demodulation for multiple DVB-RCS2 return carriers (maximum of 64 simultaneous unit) that are using ACM per burst to achieve an IP throughput of 150 Mbps.

An integrated Network Control Center (NCC) function will be built into the hardware platform, allowing the STM satellite modem to schedule TDMA return link bursts and track burst performance for a maximum of 10,000 active VSAT systems.

According to Helge Fanebust, Chief Technology Officer of STM, each rack unit of the new Hub modem can achieve a total throughput of 500 Mbps. This high throughput vastly exceeds the performance and density of competing satellite Hubs and will be of great benefit to VSAT networks that will use the High-Throughput Satellites. The compact Hub will also be suitable for smaller Hubs because of its smaller physical footprint and lower total cost of ownership.

A multinational satellite product and communications engineering company based in the United States and Europe, STM Group Inc. enables access to satellite broadband in central, urban, and remote regions of the world. The Company ‘s SatLink brand offers a complete selection of IP-based satellite network systems compliant with DVB-RCS & DVB-RCS2 standards and capable of operating in all frequency bands. STM products and services enable a broad range of IP based applications and see global service with consumers in the terrestrial, on-the-move, and maritime communication sectors.

ViviSat opens ATK testing facility, offers tours during SATELLITE 2013

Leading in-orbit service provider Vivisat has opened to its clients the ATK Robotic Rendezvous and Proximity (RPO) testing facility at the headquarters of ATK’s Space Systems Division in Beltsville, Maryland. Tours of the facility for ViviSat clients will take place at the Satellite 2013 Conference on March 18-21, 2013 in Washington, D.C.

The RPO testing facility enables ViviSat and ATK to exhibit and verify important enabling technologies for complicated space missions. To allow simulation of satellite motion, the lab utilizes cutting-edge robotic and air-bearing testbeds. The technology is also used to facilitate hardware and software development and validation.

Moreover, ATK Space Systems Divisions’ completed docking mechanism prototype will be used to validate contact dynamics and docking performance for ViviSat’s Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV). The vehicle is specifically designed to dock with the orbiting satellite and serve as a propulsion and attitude control system. This allows mission extension for satellites that have run out of maneuvering fuel, yet still possesses a healthy payload and power system.

In a company statement, ATK Space Systems Division Vice President and General Manager Tom Wilson noted: “The ATK Robotic RPO Lab demonstrates a substantial investment in retiring risk for ViviSat and its clients. The capability currently demonstrated is the first step in our plans to perform full six degree of freedom docking validation and qualification.

Meanwhile, ViviSat CEO Bryan McGuirk said of the opening of the RPO testing facility: “We demonstrated this closed loop capability to several clients and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. They see these developments as further validation that ViviSat is making key qualification milestones and demonstrating real capabilities to provide in-orbit servicing.”

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Cobham to introduce new HD MPEG4 IP encoder at CABSAT 2013

British manufacturing company Cobham will be launching its new HD MPEG4 IP encoder, featuring IP connectivity through 3G, 4G and LAN at the CABSAT Exhibition 2013 in Dubai. Especially designed for broadcast applications, the high capacity, 3G capabilities featured in the IP encoder guarantees access to high-speed wireless 3G internet connections even from remote locations.

Capable of easy connection to any camera, the IP encoder also features connectivity for composite, SDI, HD-SDI and HDMI video inputs, as well as audio input options which has a balanced analogue audio running on 48V phantom power.

Cobham’s IP encoder also includes a USB port for super-fast file uploads or for use with a 3G/4G dongle, and broadcast-standard IFB talkback is available as an option to all models. The encoder comes in three forms — a small “brick,” camera back or rack mount.

Using Wi-Fi technology, it enables wireless connectivity between presenter, camera and the newsroom. It also allows access to email, IT facilities and the Internet which can be shared by the location crew.
In a statement, Cobham’s Broadcast Systems Director Stuart Brown said: “Our IP encoder provides even more bit rate efficiency with the added benefit of the ability to operate in standard, low and ultra-low latency modes. And with power consumption rated at a very low 7-9 watts, this encoder is ready for extended periods of deployment in virtually any environment.”

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