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Digital IF forSATCOM Terminals

Introduction

A.J. Vigil, Ph.D.Senior Scientist, Systek

Senior Systems Engineer Product Director, Satellite Communications Systems (PD-SCS)

(703) 806-8469 / DSN (312) 656-8469aj.vigil@us.army.mil

2011 February 04 Friday

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Digital IF = Digital Intermediate Format Motivators Concept Feasibility Technical Readiness Level Enterprise Terminal Architecture Enterprise Terminal Cost-Benefit Mid-Size Terminal Architectures Small Terminal Architectures Why an Open Commercial Standard? Standardization Objectives Standards Process Progress & Activity

L-Band IF: Intermediate Frequency

Digital IF: Intermediate Format

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Introduction: Motivators Traffic Demand Link Count Transmission BW (BandWidth) Cost & Schedule

Development Production Deployment Operations

Floor Space SWAP (Size, Weight And Power)

VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminals) COTM (Comm[unications] On The Move

Operational Complexity RF Performance New Capability Insertion

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Digital IF: Concept

L-Band IF Digital IF

Waveform Analog Digitally Sampled

Capacity Bandwidth Sampling Rate

Fidelity Dynamic Range Sample Size

Frequency Waveform Center Frequency Center Frequency Tag

Power Waveform Power Power Tag

Transport Medium Coaxial Cable Analog Fiber

Ethernet Twisted Pair Ethernet Digital Fiber

Modem Mixed-Signal Pure DSP Engine

Switch Analog Ethernet

Combine / Divide Analog Digital

IFL Analog Fiber Digital Fiber

Conversion L-Band to RF Digital to L-Band or RF

Acronym Intermediate Frequency Intermediate Format

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Digital IF: Feasibility L-Band IF Digital IF

DSP

125 MHz BW - lights up WGS transponders 90 dB Dynamic Range - cert-level performance

250 Msamples / sec x 16 bits / sample = 4 Gbits / sec << 10 Gig Ethernet

Switches L-Band Matrix Switch COTS Ethernet Switch, 288x288 - 10 Gig Ethernet Capable

Standards & Precedents

MIL-STD-188-164 NATO STANAG 4486

Cellular Base Stations WGS Channelizer ANSI/VITA 49.0-2009 (SIGINT)

Technology Growth Linear Exponential

- think “Moore’s Law”

Feasible now Strong precedents Ideal for sustained growth

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Digital IF: Technology Readiness Level CERDEC FAST Prototypes

Underlying Technology A/D, D/A, DSP, FFT, IP, Ethernet SNMPv1, SNMPv3, XML over IP, secure XML over IP

Technology Readiness Level Description

6. System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment

Representative model or prototype system, which is well beyond the breadboard tested for TRL 5, is tested in a relevant environment. Represents a major step up in a technology's demonstrated readiness. Examples include testing a prototype in a high fidelity laboratory environment or in simulated operational environment.

Technology Readiness Level Description

8. Actual system completed and 'flight qualified' through test and demonstration

Technology has been proven to work in its final form and under expected conditions. In almost all cases, this TRL represents the end of true system development. Examples include developmental test and evaluation of the system in its intended weapon system to determine if it meets design specifications.

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Digital IF: Enterprise Terminal Architecture

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Digital IF: Enterprise Terminal Cost-Benefit

modems through block conversion L-Band IF Digital IF

Modems, 192 each $1,920,000 $ 960,000

Switch Matrix Combiner/Divider, 192x24 $3,200,000

Ethernet Switch, 288 x 288, 2 each $ 200,000

Digital Combiner/Dividers, 24 each $ 240,000

Digital / L-band Converters, 24 each $ 600,000

Coax Cables, L-band Amps $ 50,000 $ 50,000

Totals, modems to RF $5,170,000 $2,050,000 Assumptions

Significant components only Modem cost is half Modem conversion cost is trivial Ethernet Switch – layer 1 – quoted Digital combiner/dividers $10k / aggregate Digital / L-band Converters $25k per pair All are conservative

Conclusions Save > $3M / terminal, incl modems Save > $1M / terminal sinking modem cost Conservative; yet to consider

IFLs Future insertions Performance burdens Facility burdens

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prototype equipment under development

Digital IF: Mid-Size Terminal Architectures

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medium sized terminal, modems daisy chained with fail-over redundancy

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traffic L/-Band RFDigital IF

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VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) or COTM (Comm On The Move)

Digital IF: Small Terminal Architectures

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Why an Open Commercial Standard?

Plug & play interoperability Faster procurement path Less procurement expense Wider participation

Government Industry

Level playing field Standard comes first Full COTS basis Technology development is mature

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Digital IF: Standardization Objectives CONOPS

Reduced equipment complement Simplified installation Simplified test processes Reduced operational complexity Practical remote CMA

Economy Development costs & schedules Equipment / production costs Deployment costs & schedules Terminal footprint SWAP

Migration Minimal operational disruption, if any Retain legacy infrastructure value Arbitrarily scalable

Initial Capability Digital conversion to L-Band min 125 MHz contiguous BW 16 bit resolution Existing technology only;

Engineering, not development

Growth – Inherent Capability No limit to link count No limit to bandwidth Common to all terminal types & sizes

RF Performance Resolve IFL DR bottleneck Non-additive Tx noise floor Eliminate linear distortion effects Enable compensation for surviving

linear distortion

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Digital IF: Standards Process Why IEEE?

Credibility, experience, affordability, technical oversight, indemnification umbrella “Industry Connections”

“Incubation” stage - bring stakeholders together – with relevant IEEE support –under IEEE liability umbrella – up to 1 year

“Study Group” Up to 6 months, IEEE sponsor

Advanced Corp Membership Including “Government Agencies” $3,500 to $10,000 / year One membership, all standards Present members include

DISA, Boeing PAR & Working Group

Project Authorization Request Min 3 Advanced Corporate Members

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Digital IF: Progress & Activity Progress

MILCOM 2009 Concept Paper Website www.systek.com/Digital_IF/ MILCOM 2010 CONOPS Paper RDECOM CERDEC S&TCD FAST POTATO Participation Visibility & Interest, Govt & Industry PD-SCS POM wedge for FY 2013

Present Activity Website updates Email distribution list & e-newsletter Establishing partnerships IEEE Standards Association We welcome collaborators !

More Information www.systek.com/Digital_IF/ sign up for email updates