Transportable Satellite-Based Internet Connectivity

Dr. Bob DixonChief Research Engineer

OARNet Ohio State University

SURA/ViDe Digital Video Workshop April 23-25, 2002 Birmingham, Alabama

American Distance Education Consortium (ADEC)

63 Land-Grant colleges

NSF grant to provide distance learning via satellite to minority colleges:

Tribal Indian Historically Black Hispanic

Tachyon Satellite Network

Covers North America, Central America, Hawaii, Europe

Earth stations in San Diego and Amsterdam

Optimized for IP traffic; guaranteed speeds

NOC monitors all stations continuously

ADEC Satellite Network

A portion of the Tachyon satellite network

Separate NOC at OARNet

ITEC-Ohio pushes the state of the art

50 sites on the air today; 90 in a year

A few transportable systems

Internet 1 orInternet 2

EarthSatellite

Permanent Ground Station

Tachyon Central Ground Station San Diego

Internet Instructional Sites

Instructional Sites

Instructional Sites

Transportable Ground Station

Tachyon Network Access Points

Small (2x3 feet) portable dish.Usually permanently mounted on a roof.

$4K installed + $1.5K/month max.

Maximum speed is2 Mbits down, 512 Kbits up, guaranteed.

Lower speeds are available at lower costs.

Example Tachyon Satellite Dish Installation

Transportable TAP Design Goals

Inexpensive to build and operate

Off-the-shelf parts for easy duplication

Easy to operate by one person with one day training

Small and light

Reliable and adaptable to diverse field conditions

Easily modified

Tachyon Transportable Access Point

Some Initial ApplicationsProvide distance learning in underconnected locations such as rural areas and inner cities.

Demonstration / Evaluation for a future fixed installation.

Link field research to campus computers and laboratories and collaborators worldwide.

Link field instruction and demonstrations to campus classrooms.

Link field activities to remote databases, eg via PDAs.

Special events, conferences, fairs, disasters, etc.

Remote monitoring of construction projects.

In addition to construction and operation:

Develop improved designs.

Demonstrate at conferences.

Publish papers.

Provide complete plans for duplication.

Provide training on use of the system.

Provide consultation on design, construction, operation.

Arrange for turnkey system purchases.

Satellite Trailer Subsystems

Dish and Radio Transceiver

Power

Leveling and Aiming

Heating and Cooling

External Connections

Computer

Ground Station Power Alternatives

(ALL are provided)

Local Power Outlet unlimited(long extension cord)

Batteries via UPS at least 4 hours before(computer controlled) recharging

Gasoline generator at least 24 hours before(pushbutton start) refueling

Type of power Running Time

Aiming System

Satellites are 2 degrees apart in the sky; aiming accuracy must be better than 1/2 degree.

GPS Receiver provides accurate local position to PC.

PC calculates azimuth, elevation and polarization settings.

Dish is aimed with precision compass and inclinometer, using screw adjustments, traditionally.

Our method - dish is aimed traditionally at home location, and locked to the trailer. Thereafter the trailer itself is aimed. Faster, easier and more precise.

Weatherproof Equipment Rack Cabinets

Mounted on trailer on shock absorbers.

Automatic thermostatically controlled heater.

Automatic thermostatically controlled cooling fan.

No actual air cooling. Use parasol if needed.

Contents: Radio transceiver UPS and two external battery packs Spectrum analyzer Ethernet switch Laptop PC docking station Local wireless access point Storage for miscellaneous small parts and tools

Instructional Site

Transportable Ground Station

Long-Range wireless (miles)

Wall-Penetrating wireless (several walls)

Local Wireless (200 ft)

Local EthernetCable (200 ft)

Local PowerCable (200 ft)

Ground Station to Instructional Site Connection Alternatives(ALL are provided)

Instructional Site Internal PC Connection Alternatives

Ethernet Switch

PCsGround Station

PCs

PCs

Ground Station

Ethernet Switch

Ground Station

Ethernet Switch

Ground Station

Existing LAN

PCs

ExternalWireless

Internal Wireless

InternalEthernet

Internal LAN

(ALL are provided)

Ground Station

Wireless Router

PCsExternal and Internal Wireless

Computing System

Laptop PC in docking station

Runs 3 special programs:

Satellite aiming Dish Transceiver control and monitoring UPS control and monitoring

Also supports Internet access testing:

Web browsing Email H.323 Video Conferencing Distance Learning tools

Fitting the UPS batteries into the outdoor cabinet

UPS Batteries inoutdoor cabinet

40% of the UPS batteries

Start of Dish Assembly Process

Dish assembly continues; instructions lost.

Dish base completed; so far so good

Success! Dish fullyAssembled in one day.

PolycomViewstation

PolycomViewstation

A/V INA/V IN

A/V OUT A/V OUT

Internet 1 andInternet 2

EarthSatellite

ITEC-Ohio Ground Station

Tachyon Ground StationSan Diego

User Demo Site

User Demo Site

Earth Satellite H.323 Video Demonstration System