How Vsat Network Works

How does a VSAT network work? A VSAT network has three components: • A central hub (also called a master earth station) • The satellite • A virtually unlimited number of VSAT earth stations in various locations – across a country or continent Content originates at the hub, which features a very large -15 to 36-foot (4,5 -11m)- antenna. The hub controls the network through a network management system (NMS) server, which allows a network operator to monitor and control all components of the network. The NMS operator can view, modify and download individual configuration information to the individual VSATs. pic] Outbound information (from the hub to the VSATs) is sent up to the communications satellite’s transponder, which receives it, amplifies it and beams it back to earth for reception by the remote VSATs. The VSATs at the remote locations send information inbound (from the VSATs to the hub) via the same satellite transponder to the hub station. This arrangement, where all network communication passes through the network’s hub processor, is called a “star” configuration, with the hub station at the center of the star.

One major advantage of this configuration is that there is virtually no limit on the number of remote VSATs that can be connected the hub. “Mesh” configurations also allow for direct communication between VSATs. | | |What is a VSAT? | |A very small aperture terminal (VSAT) is a device – known as an earth station – that is used to receive satellite | |transmissions. The “very small” component of the VSAT acronym refers to the size of the VSAT dish antenna -typically about 2 | |to 4 feet (0. 55-1. 2 m) in diameter- that is mounted on a roof on a wall, or placed on the ground.

This antenna, along with the| |attached low-noise blocker or LNB (which receives satellite signals) and the transmitter (which sends signals) make up the | |VSAT outdoor unit (ODU), one of the two components of a VSAT earth station. | |[pic] | |The second component of VSAT earth station is the indoor unit (IDU). The indoor unit is a small desktop box or PC that | |contains receiver and transmitter boards and an interface to communicate with the user’s existing in-house equipment – LANs, | |servers, PCs, TVs, kiosks, etc. The indoor unit is connected to the outdoor unit with a pair of cables. |[pic] | |The key advantage of a VSAT earth station, versus a typical terrestrial network connection, is that VSATs are not limited by | |the reach of buried cable. A VSAT earth station can be placed anywhere – as long as it has an unobstructed view of the | |satellite. VSATs are capable of sending and receiving all sorts of video, data and audio content at the same high speed | |regardless of their distance from terrestrial switching offices and infrastructure. Advantages of VSAT technology As companies compete for an increasingly savvy customer looking for value (quality and service), information technology and communications networks are becoming tools to achieve business goals. Today’s networks must support the need to improve customer service, increase per site revenues and reduce costs (all driving net income growth) – in the most cost-effective manner possible. Further, network managers want virtual 100% availability. They need to easily expand the network when they acquire, move or add new sites to the operations.

In addition, they require network flexibility – ease of migration from existing legacy systems as well as addition of new network applications as their companies offer additional services to its customers Businesses and organizations give many reasons for using VSAT networks over terrestrial alternatives. Among them are: |[p|Cost-effective | |ic| | |] | | |[p|Flexibility |ic| | |] | | |[p|Accessibility | |ic| | |] | | |[p|Availability | |ic| | |] | | |[p|Reliability | |ic| | |] | | |[p|Versatility | |ic| | |] | | |[p|Transmission quality | |ic| | |] | | |[p|High network performance | |ic| | |] | | |[p|Fast transmissions | |ic| | |] | | |[p|Control | |ic| | |] | | |[p|Ability to handle large amounts of data | |ic| | |] | | |[p|Single vendor solution for both equipment and bandwidth | |ic| |] | | |[p|Broadcast capability | |ic| | |] | | |[p|Ability to handle Voice, Video and Data | |ic| | |] | | OVERVIEW VSAT technology is a telecommunication system based on wireless satellite technology. The term ‘VSAT’ stands for ‘Very Small Aperture Terminal’. As the definition itself indicates, VSAT technology is made up of a small satellite earth station and a typical antenna of 1. 8 meter diameter. There are three components in a VSAT network. The first is called the Master Earth Station which is the network control center for the entire VSAT network.

The configuration, monitoring and management of the VSAT network are done at this location. [pic] The Master Earth Station also has a large six-meter antenna, a fully redundant electronics, self-contained backup power system, and a regulated air conditioning system. This Master Earth Station is manned 24 x 7 days throughout the year. The second component is the VSAT remote earth station. This is the hardware installed at the customer’s premises that includes the outdoor unit (ODU), the indoor unit (IDU) and the interfacility link (IFL). The VSAT outdoor unit consists of a standard 1. 8 meter offset feed antenna, a solid state amplifier (SSPA), a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), and a Feedhorn.

The indoor unit is a VCR-sized unit that houses the communications electronics that includes interface with the customer’s equipment such as computers or telephones. The IFL consists of coaxial cables that connects the outdoor unit to the indoor unit. [pic] The third component of a VSAT network is the satellite itself. All signals sent between the VSAT earth stations are beamed through the satellite. The VSAT system uses a geostationary satellite, which is orbiting at 36,000 km above the ground. VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) are small fixed satellite antennas that provide highly reliable communication means for data, voice and fax between almost any number of geographically dispersed sites.

VSAT technology represents a cost effective solution for users seeking an independent communications network connecting a number of remote sites. VSAT networks offer value-added satellite-based services capable of supporting the Internet, data, LAN, voice/fax communications, and can provide powerful, dependable private and public network communications VSAT satellite communication provides reliable digital data communication and the use of VSAT provides the ability to expand capacity and system growth, while maintaining a handle on costs which are closely associated with the increase in capacity or system growth. VSATs are used for a wide variety of telecommunications applications, including -Internet/Intranet access -Corporate networks SCADA/Line Monitoring -Rural telecoms -Environmental Monitoring -Distance Learning -Seismic Monitoring -Telemedicine -Utility monitoring -Disaster recovery -Remote Video Monitoring -Ship-board communications Corporate companies are now utilising both terrestrial and satellite communication to connect to remote offices around the country side. The cost and security advantage of satellite bandwidth compared with some terrestrial circuits ensures that the number and diversity of VSAT networks will continue to grow in the future. The mining, construction and oil&gas industries are typical examples of applications which find advantages with VSAT.