Advanced VSAT to Heights Networking Platform Network Conversion Overview Overview For Advanced VSAT network operators that would like to take advantage of the features of the new Heights Networking Platform, we have developed a method to fully or partially convert an Advanced VSAT hub to a Heights Networking Platform hub. This document describes the steps involved in this conversion. When developing this conversion method, we were mindful of its impact to operations, with a goal to minimize network maintenance windows and to allow for the maximum amount of operator flexibility to operate a shared network during the conversion. The conversion involves four steps: Step 1 Upgrade to Advanced VSAT firmware v1.7.1.1 and NetVue to v2.1 Step 2 Replace Advanced VSAT CTOG-250 & CDM-800 with the Heights Networking Platform HTO-1 & HTX-450 Step 3 Install Heights Demodulators at hub & Height Remote Gateways at remote locations Step 4 Convert Outbound Carrier to the DVB-S2-EB waveform Important Considerations: The candidate Advanced VSAT hub hardware that will be converted to the Heights Networking Platform hub hardware must be upgraded to Advanced VSAT firmware release 1.7.1.1 prior to starting the conversion. Also note that if a hub operator is running the Advanced VSAT using its built in E1 interface, Heights does not have this interface. Should this be the case the network operator will need to address the conversion of the E1 traffic to IP externally to the Heights Networking Platform using Memotec CX-U product line Step 1: Upgrade to Advanced VSAT v1.7.1.1 with NetVue 2 The first step in the conversion is to upgrade the existing network to Advanced VSAT firmware release 1.7.1.1 including the VMS release 3.13.1 or later and NetVue release 2.1 (Figure 1). This step is required to maintain compatibility with the Heights software as the network is converted. Full NetVue 2.1 support will be available upon completion of this step.
Figure 1: Original Hub Advanced VSAT Network with Product Upgrades Step 2: Existing CTOG-250/CDM-800 is upgraded to the HTO-1/HTX-450 In this step of the network conversion, the existing CTOG-250 and CDM-800 will be replaced with the Heights HTO-1 and HTX-450 (Figure 2). Step 2 Considerations: The CTOG-250 version 1.7.1.1 is compatible with the HTO-1. As a result, the CTOG-250 parameter file can be transferred from the CTOG-250 to the HTO-1 via FTP. The HTO-1/HTX-450 pair supports the Advanced VSAT DVB-S2 waveform and allows operation with mixed types of Advanced VSAT Remotes and Heights Remote Gateways, including the CDM-840, H8, H16, H32 and H64. All existing features such as ACM/VCM, dscpc, BPM and Layer 3 Group QoS will continue to be available. NetVue release 2.1 and the VMS also support mixed operation with the HTO-1/HTX-450 pair, CDD-880 Advanced VSAT Multi-demodulators and Advanced VSAT CDM-840 Remotes. If the Advanced VSAT hub did not have a VMS, a Heights Bandwidth Manager will be installed at this step Once the HTO-1/HTX-450 pair has replaced the CTOG-250/CDM-800 pair, the HTO-1 will be configured to provide the DVB-S2 Forward Error Correction (FEC) with the following criteria: The HTO-1 DVB-S2 version has the same symbol rate specifications as the CTOG2-250 version: o 1000 to 62000 ksps for MODCODs QPSK 1/4 through 8PSK 9/10 o 1000 to 47000 ksps for MODCODs QPSK 1/4 through 16APSK 9/10 o 1000 to 37000 ksps for MODCODs QPSK 1/4 through 32APSK 9/10 The HTO-1 DVB-S2 version has the same Es/No switching points for ACM MODCOD selection as the CTOG-250 version. The HTO-1 DVB-S2 version has the same supported roll offs as the CTOG-250 version: o 20% o 25% o 35% The HTO-1 will limit the outbound IP traffic to Heights Remote Gateways as specified (e.g. up to 30 Mbps receive IP data rate for H8) for all FECs (S2 or EB), but will not limit the outbound IP traffic destined to CDM-840s.
Figure 2: Convert Outbound to HTO-1/HTX-450 DVB-S2 Step 3: New Heights Remotes and Demodulators are added to the Network This step involves adding the Heights HTX-16 or HTX-64 Demodulators to the network hub so that upon completion of Step 3 the network operator can add Heights Remotes to the network (Figure 3). In this hybrid mode of operation, the CDM-840 Remotes will only be associated with CDD-880 Advanced VSAT Multi-Receiver Routers and the H8/16/H32/H64 Gateway Remotes will only be associated with the HRX-16/HRX-64 Multi-Channel Receivers running VersaFEC -2 and VersaFEC-2 High Rate. Step 3 Considerations: The Heights Remote Gateways (H8/H16/H32/H64) can receive the Advanced VSAT DVB-S2 waveform. NetVue 2.1 management, 3-Level outbound QoS (HTO-1), 2-Level return QoS (CDM-840, Heights Remote Gateways), BPM, ACM, DPC and dscpc features are available in the hybrid network. For dscpc Entry Channel Mode (ECM), the Advanced VSAT CDM-840 Remotes will use a VersaFEC ECM channel hosted on a CDD-880 Multi-Receiver Router. For ECM, The Heights Remote Gateways will use a VersaFEC-2 ECM channel hosted on a HRX-16 or HRX-64 Multi-Channel Receiver. The VMS will support CDM-840s and Heights Gateway Remotes in the same bandwidth pool. VNO capabilities are available with the hybrid hub and remote configuration.
Figure 3: Hybrid Advanced VSAT / Heights Network (Heights Multi-Demods Added) Step 4: Convert Outbound Carrier to DVB-S2-EB When the last CDM-840s and CDD-880s are decommissioned from the network, the outbound carrier from the HTO-1/HTX-450 pair is converted to the DVB-S2-EB waveform using the Alternate Demodulator feature in the Heights Gateway Remote units (Figure 4). At this point in time the conversion from an Advanced VSAT network to a Heights Networking Platform network is complete. Figure 4: Completed Conversion to a Heights Network
Conclusion With the method described above, an Advanced VSAT service provider now has the ability to either: Continue operation with their existing customers using the Advanced VSAT while adding new customers using Advanced VSAT products. Continue operation with their existing customers using the Advanced VSAT while adding new customers using the Heights Networking Platform. If the service provider desires to operate a combination of Advanced VSAT remotes and Heights Networking Platform Remote Gateways, they do not need to make the conversion of step 4 and can stop at step 3. Convert all of their existing Advanced VSAT customers to the Heights Networking Platform by completing step 4. The benefit of completing step 4 are the space segment efficiency savings realized from the implementation of the Efficiency Boost (EB) outbound carrier waveform with optimized rolloffs and higher outbound throughput. This is the opportunity for existing Advanced VSAT service providers to convert to the Heights Networking Platform to take advantage of its multiple efficiencies, horsepower and intelligence. The Comtech EF Data s Heights Networking Platform is designed to provide a higher QoE per user, at a lower cost per delivered bit, letting you increase your market penetration, expand your addressable markets, operate with better margins and minimize end-customer churn. Heights is a fully managed platform focused on the intelligence to enable dynamic allocation of bandwidth when and where it is needed, on throughput as well as service quality. It has the processing power needed to support your packets per second and data rate transmission requirements, while enhancing the service quality your users demand to meet their stringent SLAs. For additional information, please contact us. Email: sales@comtechefdata.com Voice: +1.480.333.2200 Fax: +1.480.333.2540 Web: www.comtechefdata.com 2114 West 7th Street, Tempe, Arizona 85281 USA Voice: +1.480.333.2200 Fax: +1.480.333.2540 Email: sales@comtechefdata.com See all of Comtech EF Data s Patents and Patents Pending at http://patents.comtechefdata.com Comtech EF Data reserves the right to change specifications of products described in this document at any time without notice and without obligation to notify any person of such changes. Information in this document may differ from that published in other Comtech EF Data documents. Refer to the website or contact Customer Service for the latest released product information 2016 Comtech EF Data 9/28/2016