Digital IF for MILSATCOM Terminals

1. Digital IFfor MILSATCOM Terminals A.J. Vigil, Ph.D. Product Director, Satellite Communications Systems (PD SCS) (703) 806-8469 / DSN (312) 656-8469 aj.vigil@us.army.mil 4 November 2010

2. Digital IF = Digital Intermediate Format Introduction Architecture CONOPS (CONcept of OPerationS) Standard Way Forward Conclusions L-Band IF: Intermediate Frequency Digital IF: Intermediate Format What is Digital IF? It’s about MILSATCOM Today we move electromagnetic signals around our terminals, from modem to antenna, at an IF – Intermediate Frequency - using coax. Suppose instead that we digitized those signals and moved them around our terminals using Ethernet over CAT6 cable. Tha’t’s Digital IF – Digital Intermediate FORMAT for moving carrier & aggregate waveforms around our terminals, from modems to antenna & antenna to modems. What is Digital IF? It’s about MILSATCOM Today we move electromagnetic signals around our terminals, from modem to antenna, at an IF – Intermediate Frequency - using coax. Suppose instead that we digitized those signals and moved them around our terminals using Ethernet over CAT6 cable. Tha’t’s Digital IF – Digital Intermediate FORMAT for moving carrier & aggregate waveforms around our terminals, from modems to antenna & antenna to modems.

3. Digital IF: Introduction Introduction PD-SCS history (Product Director, Satellite Communication Systems) Caveats Motivators Four Pillars Architecture CONOPS Standard Way Forward Conclusions

4. Introduction: PD-SCS history PD-SCS is Product Director, Satellite Communications Systems, part of Team DCATS, Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems. PD-SCS is the recognized DoD MILSATCOM terminal experts. We do - development - terminal integration - configuration management We have over 50 years continuous MILSATCOM experience. For 50 years, we have always worked to grow & improve. We are still working, today, to grow and improve, and add significant value to the MILSATCOM Community through our terminals work. PD-SCS is Product Director, Satellite Communications Systems, part of Team DCATS, Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems. PD-SCS is the recognized DoD MILSATCOM terminal experts. We do - development - terminal integration - configuration management We have over 50 years continuous MILSATCOM experience. For 50 years, we have always worked to grow & improve. We are still working, today, to grow and improve, and add significant value to the MILSATCOM Community through our terminals work.

5. Introduction: Caveats RECTIFYING SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS. TECHNOLOGY INSENSITIVE NEW technology is GOOD EXISTING technology is BETTER ANY technology is OK Open the playing field! LEVEL the playing field ! USER-ORIENTED APPROACH Just make it PLUG-and-PLAY; STANDARD – OPEN COMMERCIAL STANDARD – is key! !!!! SDR? It’s an ALL DIGITAL terminal - NOT an “ALL SW” terminal NEW? New to MILSATCOM TERMINALS NOT new to COMMS – or even SATCOM! GOOD SYSTEMS ENGINEERING We know what TO do (stay “digital” to the very end, converting at the last possible moment) We know what NOT to do (back & forth D/A – A/D – D/A – A/D – bad systems engineering) RECTIFYING SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS. TECHNOLOGY INSENSITIVE NEW technology is GOOD EXISTING technology is BETTER ANY technology is OK Open the playing field! LEVEL the playing field ! USER-ORIENTED APPROACH Just make it PLUG-and-PLAY; STANDARD – OPEN COMMERCIAL STANDARD – is key! !!!! SDR? It’s an ALL DIGITAL terminal - NOT an “ALL SW” terminal NEW? New to MILSATCOM TERMINALS NOT new to COMMS – or even SATCOM! GOOD SYSTEMS ENGINEERING We know what TO do (stay “digital” to the very end, converting at the last possible moment) We know what NOT to do (back & forth D/A – A/D – D/A – A/D – bad systems engineering)

6. Introduction: Caveats Digital IF: a digital waveform interface format we spec out function external interfaces performance quality assurance provisions vendor chooses “implementation” Digital IF is the interface, the standardized digital intermediate -format waveform-interface. The modem can be an SDR – a “Software Defined Radio” or otherwise. But the interface is the enabler. Digital IF is the interface, the standardized digital intermediate -format waveform-interface. The modem can be an SDR – a “Software Defined Radio” or otherwise. But the interface is the enabler.

7. Introduction: Motivators Traffic Demand Link Count Transmission BW (BandWidth) Cost & Schedule Production Development Deployment Operations Floor Space SWAP (Size, Weight And Power) VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminals) COTM (Comm[unications] On The Move Operational Complexity RF Performance In 2010, how do we need to improve? These are our technical challenges. All our development programs address one or more of these challenges. Digital IF is unique in that it addresses all of these challenges. In 2010, how do we need to improve? These are our technical challenges. All our development programs address one or more of these challenges. Digital IF is unique in that it addresses all of these challenges.

8. Introduction: Four Pillars No new technology Engineering, NOT development Open Commercial Standardization Stakeholder buy-in Plug & play interoperability Unified Systems Engineering Solve ALL Engineering problems together – RF, CMA, RMC, test, SWaP, capacity Staying Power Clear growth path Leveraging other more pervasive standards Simplified development of new capabilities Take away: these four pillars make Digital IF a good investment. Take away: Digital IF: aligns with PD-SCS mission. - “No New Technology” – we are not technology developers per se. Digital IF is technology insensitive. Implementation is up to the vendor. - “Open Commercial Standardization” – PD-SCS has participated in open commercial standards committees in the past; example: ATM Forum membership. - “Unifies Systems Engineering” – PD-SCS is concerned with improving and enhancing all aspects of terminal operations. - “Staying Power” – PD-SDS is interested in long term solutions. Take away: these four pillars make Digital IF a good investment. Take away: Digital IF: aligns with PD-SCS mission. - “No New Technology” – we are not technology developers per se. Digital IF is technology insensitive. Implementation is up to the vendor. - “Open Commercial Standardization” – PD-SCS has participated in open commercial standards committees in the past; example: ATM Forum membership. - “Unifies Systems Engineering” – PD-SCS is concerned with improving and enhancing all aspects of terminal operations. - “Staying Power” – PD-SDS is interested in long term solutions.

9. Digital IF: Architecture Introduction Architecture Feasibility Migration Alternate Architectures CONOPS Standard Way Forward Conclusions

10. ICs, memory & CPU 2 years 2x memory capacity 2x processing speed ½ x cost 20 years = 1000 x 10 years = 10 to 100x Feasibility: Moore’s Law Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel, formulated “Moore’s Law” back in the 1950’s. “Moore’s Law” is one of the most enduring observations in semiconductors. Not only does it still hold true today, but also 1) Moore’s Law transcends the memory chips to which it was originally applied; think PC. 2) Moore’s Law applies as much to military technology as it does to commercial. 3) Moore’s Law can be extrapolated to every MILSATCOM terminal value metric. BOTTOM LINE: Moore’s Law - Moore’s Law tells us where we need to go - Moore’s Law QUANTIFIES it for us! Tells us exactly HOW FAR! - Moore’s Law tells us exactly how fast we need to get there. As we look at technology, Moore’s Law - puts past progress into perspective - shows us that aggressive forward growth is achievable and manageable - shows us what we have to do to stay in the lead - shows us that new seemingly “pie in the sky” user demands are actually reasonable BOTTOM LINE: “Yes we can” do this! Rich Williams, Director, Gig Engineering Directorate on “DISA Perspective” - “... witnessing the largest increase in capability, capacity and access in the history of MILSATCOM ...” - this should NOT be “news” nor “prophetic” nor “surprising;” - this SHOULD instead be always true, year after year, like clockwork, EXPECTED, ANTICIPATED. There is ALWAYS new game-changing technology. Stakeholders – companies in industry AND groups within Government – come and go; start-ups, going-out-of-business, grow, downsize, survive. We wish them all the best. But the one thing that does NOT change, will NEVER change, is that technology moves forward. Moore’s Law shows you exactly how and when. Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel, formulated “Moore’s Law” back in the 1950’s. “Moore’s Law” is one of the most enduring observations in semiconductors. Not only does it still hold true today, but also 1) Moore’s Law transcends the memory chips to which it was originally applied; think PC. 2) Moore’s Law applies as much to military technology as it does to commercial. 3) Moore’s Law can be extrapolated to every MILSATCOM terminal value metric. BOTTOM LINE: Moore’s Law - Moore’s Law tells us where we need to go - Moore’s Law QUANTIFIES it for us! Tells us exactly HOW FAR! - Moore’s Law tells us exactly how fast we need to get there. As we look at technology, Moore’s Law - puts past progress into perspective - shows us that aggressive forward growth is achievable and manageable - shows us what we have to do to stay in the lead - shows us that new seemingly “pie in the sky” user demands are actually reasonable BOTTOM LINE: “Yes we can” do this! Rich Williams, Director, Gig Engineering Directorate on “DISA Perspective” - “... witnessing the largest increase in capability, capacity and access in the history of MILSATCOM ...” - this should NOT be “news” nor “prophetic” nor “surprising;” - this SHOULD instead be always true, year after year, like clockwork, EXPECTED, ANTICIPATED. There is ALWAYS new game-changing technology. Stakeholders – companies in industry AND groups within Government – come and go; start-ups, going-out-of-business, grow, downsize, survive. We wish them all the best. But the one thing that does NOT change, will NEVER change, is that technology moves forward. Moore’s Law shows you exactly how and when.

11. system Feasibility: DSP Is MILSATCOM Digital IF feasible from a DSP perspective? Over time, A/D & D/A capabilities have grown, enabling conversion of ever-higher-fidelity systems from analog formats to digital formats. The DSP feasibility target for Digital IF is the 125 MHz WGS transponder. Today, - The required sampling rate is feasible - The required sampling accuracy is feasible - 125 MHz WGS transponder aggregate, digitized, is easily conveyed over 10 Gig Ethernet. The technology is here. Take away: Digital IF is feasible w.r.t. digital sampling. Is MILSATCOM Digital IF feasible from a DSP perspective? Over time, A/D & D/A capabilities have grown, enabling conversion of ever-higher-fidelity systems from analog formats to digital formats. The DSP feasibility target for Digital IF is the 125 MHz WGS transponder. Today, - The required sampling rate is feasible - The required sampling accuracy is feasible - 125 MHz WGS transponder aggregate, digitized, is easily conveyed over 10 Gig Ethernet. The technology is here. Take away: Digital IF is feasible w.r.t. digital sampling.

12. Feasibility: Backplanes Is MILSATCOM Digital IF feasible from a backplane or switching perspective? Here we look at backplane technology and what commercial backplanes do for our terminals. MIDAS (Multiplexer Integration & DSCS Automated Switching) is based on a 1 Gbps backplane ideally suited for baseband-side switching. This 1990’s technology revolutionized baseband-side terminal integration beginning in 1999 and continues to be central to our baseband-side terminal architecture. Ethernet switches today have become viable for switching waveforms (10 Gig Ethernet) suitable for switching IF-side signals in digital format (Digital IF). This would be the configurable “cross-point switch” central to a fully automated digital terminal-side architecture. We already run CAT6 now, which is 10 Gig Ethernet capable, as the standard in our terminals for IP-baseband. Take away: Adequate switching technology is here now, COTS today. Is MILSATCOM Digital IF feasible from a backplane or switching perspective? Here we look at backplane technology and what commercial backplanes do for our terminals. MIDAS (Multiplexer Integration & DSCS Automated Switching) is based on a 1 Gbps backplane ideally suited for baseband-side switching. This 1990’s technology revolutionized baseband-side terminal integration beginning in 1999 and continues to be central to our baseband-side terminal architecture. Ethernet switches today have become viable for switching waveforms (10 Gig Ethernet) suitable for switching IF-side signals in digital format (Digital IF). This would be the configurable “cross-point switch” central to a fully automated digital terminal-side architecture. We already run CAT6 now, which is 10 Gig Ethernet capable, as the standard in our terminals for IP-baseband. Take away: Adequate switching technology is here now, COTS today.

13. Baseband TDMA PCM ADPCM CVSD T1 E1 FCC-100 TD-1337 TD-1389 Baseband Packet ATM IP Ethernet Feasibility: Standards Communications standards – military and commercial – have always been part of our business. Digital IF is no different. - Commercial Digital IF standards are in place for cellular base stations - military Digital IF standards are observed in the signal intelligence (SIGINT) community - these are strong precedents for a MILSATCOM terminal standard. “DIGITAL IF” HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE !!! This is NOT the FIRST ONE! OBSAI “Open Base Station Architecture Initiative” 2002 LG Electronics, Nokia, Samsung Electronics Today: >100 members CPRI “Common Public Radio Interface” 2003 Ericsson, Huawei, NEC, Nortel Networks, Siemens E2R “End-to-End Reconfigurability Project VITA-49 2004 Targets DoD COTS industry Emphasizes SIGINT SBC-DTF-OMG Software Based Communications of the Domain Task Force of the Object Management Group Began as the Software Radio Domain Special Interest Group ATO-D FAST Govt Group “IF’s” are “necessary moving … signals between the radio frequency (RF) front-end and the signal processing subsystem” Lee Pucker, “Does the Wireless Industry Really Need All These Digital IF Standards?” IEEE Radio Communications, March 2005, p S4 “OPEN STANDARDS” are ALL OVER in the electronics industry. DRIVES: - COST (down) - COMPLEXITY (down) - INTEROPERABILITY / COMPATIBILITY (up) - FLEXIBILITY (up) FIRST 3 – COMMERCIAL LAST 3 – DoD !! We can LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE (we have links) Communications standards – military and commercial – have always been part of our business. Digital IF is no different. - Commercial Digital IF standards are in place for cellular base stations - military Digital IF standards are observed in the signal intelligence (SIGINT) community - these are strong precedents for a MILSATCOM terminal standard. “DIGITAL IF” HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE !!! This is NOT the FIRST ONE! OBSAI “Open Base Station Architecture Initiative” 2002 LG Electronics, Nokia, Samsung Electronics Today: >100 members CPRI “Common Public Radio Interface” 2003 Ericsson, Huawei, NEC, Nortel Networks, Siemens E2R “End-to-End Reconfigurability Project VITA-49 2004 Targets DoD COTS industry Emphasizes SIGINT SBC-DTF-OMG Software Based Communications of the Domain Task Force of the Object Management Group Began as the Software Radio Domain Special Interest Group ATO-D FAST Govt Group “IF’s” are “necessary moving … signals between the radio frequency (RF) front-end and the signal processing subsystem” Lee Pucker, “Does the Wireless Industry Really Need All These Digital IF Standards?” IEEE Radio Communications, March 2005, p S4 “OPEN STANDARDS” are ALL OVER in the electronics industry. DRIVES: - COST (down) - COMPLEXITY (down) - INTEROPERABILITY / COMPATIBILITY (up) - FLEXIBILITY (up) FIRST 3 – COMMERCIAL LAST 3 – DoD !! We can LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE (we have links)

14. terminal paradigm Feasibility: Terminal Capabilities Growth: Over the years, we have adapted to successfully provide - bigger wider carriers - wider bandwidth terminals - higher terminal counts - ever lower cost per carrier - ever faster carrier setup times Growth is natural. We’re not doing our job unless we’re improving! We still need to grow, we can’t stop. We need something to enable the next growth spurt. Growth: Over the years, we have adapted to successfully provide - bigger wider carriers - wider bandwidth terminals - higher terminal counts - ever lower cost per carrier - ever faster carrier setup times Growth is natural. We’re not doing our job unless we’re improving! We still need to grow, we can’t stop. We need something to enable the next growth spurt.

15. How do we grow with Digital IF? 2000’s - baseline – what we’re building today - significant investment – painful to walk away from 2010’s - introducing digital IF – first insertion - solves Tx uplink noise problem you can’t solve at L-band - solves physical L-Band switch limitation of 192 carriers, enabling disproportionately more 2020’s - moves Digital-to-L-band converters to antenna shack - solves IFL (Inter-Facility-Link) dynamic range problem that you can’t solve at L-band 2030’s - migrates to direct RF conversion as it matures (L-band conversion is mature today) 2040’s - integrates direct RF conversion into HPA & LNA as direct RF conversion further matures - Ethernet all the way to LNA & HPA Migration is gradual & sensible - leverages L-Band investment rather than discarding it - today’s equipment remains compatible with the architecture, indefinitely if necessary How do we grow with Digital IF? 2000’s - baseline – what we’re building today - significant investment – painful to walk away from 2010’s - introducing digital IF – first insertion - solves Tx uplink noise problem you can’t solve at L-band - solves physical L-Band switch limitation of 192 carriers, enabling disproportionately more 2020’s - moves Digital-to-L-band converters to antenna shack - solves IFL (Inter-Facility-Link) dynamic range problem that you can’t solve at L-band 2030’s - migrates to direct RF conversion as it matures (L-band conversion is mature today) 2040’s - integrates direct RF conversion into HPA & LNA as direct RF conversion further matures - Ethernet all the way to LNA & HPA Migration is gradual & sensible - leverages L-Band investment rather than discarding it - today’s equipment remains compatible with the architecture, indefinitely if necessary

16. Digital IF is flexible. Prototypes are under development at CERDEC S&TCD, Aberdeen, MD, with OSAT prototype testing anticipated for early 2012. This will be a proof-of-concept prototype test, not a “Digital IF” standard test, per se, nor a production-ready equipment test. We don’t control this, but we are working with CERDEC on it. We expect this to - demonstrate the feasibility of a digital IF terminal - offer “lessons learned” that feed into the open commercial standardization process. Medium terminal – illustrates redundant failover configuration Digital IF is flexible. Prototypes are under development at CERDEC S&TCD, Aberdeen, MD, with OSAT prototype testing anticipated for early 2012. This will be a proof-of-concept prototype test, not a “Digital IF” standard test, per se, nor a production-ready equipment test. We don’t control this, but we are working with CERDEC on it. We expect this to - demonstrate the feasibility of a digital IF terminal - offer “lessons learned” that feed into the open commercial standardization process. Medium terminal – illustrates redundant failover configuration

17. Small terminal – simpler configuration, simpler migration. Here, a single modem offers enough multiple modem functions so that a dedicated combiner/divider is not required. VSAT & COTM – Digital IF offers a huge SWAP advantage Take away: Digital IF is for terminals of all sizes. Small terminal – simpler configuration, simpler migration. Here, a single modem offers enough multiple modem functions so that a dedicated combiner/divider is not required. VSAT & COTM – Digital IF offers a huge SWAP advantage Take away: Digital IF is for terminals of all sizes.

18. Feasible now The time has come Migration path Minimizes disruption Leverages existing architecture Flexibility All terminals All sizes Digital IF Architecture: Summary

19. Digital IF: CONOPS Introduction Architecture CONOPS Equipment Complement Terminal Installation CMA (Control, Monitoring & Alarm) Network Planning & Monitoring RF Performance (RF = Radio Frequency) Test Certification Equipment Development Future Growth Standard Way Forward Conclusions CONOPS: - There is a lot to it . - Let’s think about it now - so we can write a standard that supports what we want to do with Digital IF. CONOPS: - There is a lot to it . - Let’s think about it now - so we can write a standard that supports what we want to do with Digital IF.

20. CONOPS: Equipment Complement EQUIPMENT: Mixed-signal equipment becomes purely digital SIZE: 4x to 40x size reductions IFL: Goes away CONVERTERS: Technology gradually pushes digital conversion point, over time, from the modem to the HPA/LNA. EQUIPMENT: Mixed-signal equipment becomes purely digital SIZE: 4x to 40x size reductions IFL: Goes away CONVERTERS: Technology gradually pushes digital conversion point, over time, from the modem to the HPA/LNA.

21. Equipment Complement: MODEM ADVANTAGE: MODEMS TODAY’S MODEM is a DSP SIGNAL PROCESSING ENGINE! ALREADY USES a DIGITAL IF !!! EXAMPLE: I & Q processing & interface, 12-14 bits, 75 MSamples/s HARD PART: High-Performance L-Band conversion DIGITAL is EASY It’s the MIXED SIGNAL DESIGN that KILLS you ENABLING DEVELOPMENT: Digital IF Standard – STANDARD is KEY !!! SUPPOSE we specked out a Digital IF Standard we could plug & play against; Would modems be less expensive? Could you fit more modems into the same 1 RU? Maybe 4? Would a significant “barrier to entry” come down? Could more manufacturers build modems? Would more competition be good for us as a User Community? “IF you STANDARDIZE IT – THEY will BUILD it !!” ADVANTAGE: MODEMS TODAY’S MODEM is a DSP SIGNAL PROCESSING ENGINE! ALREADY USES a DIGITAL IF !!! EXAMPLE: I & Q processing & interface, 12-14 bits, 75 MSamples/s HARD PART: High-Performance L-Band conversion DIGITAL is EASY It’s the MIXED SIGNAL DESIGN that KILLS you ENABLING DEVELOPMENT: Digital IF Standard – STANDARD is KEY !!! SUPPOSE we specked out a Digital IF Standard we could plug & play against; Would modems be less expensive? Could you fit more modems into the same 1 RU? Maybe 4? Would a significant “barrier to entry” come down? Could more manufacturers build modems? Would more competition be good for us as a User Community? “IF you STANDARDIZE IT – THEY will BUILD it !!”

22. Equipment Complement: Distribution PERSPECTIVE: L-Band STATE OF THE ART today: 192 x 24 $ millions of dollars 16 RACKS ETHERNET LAYER 2 SWITCH 10 G Ethernet 3-4 RU < $100,000 PERFORMANCE ADVANTAGE arbitrary connectivity arbitrary fan-in & fan-out arbitrary monitoring, non-blocking, non-interrupting GUI & Telnet / SNMP ICD BIT ALL COTS Take aways: immediate value here is amazing business case is compelling. PERSPECTIVE: L-Band STATE OF THE ART today: 192 x 24 $ millions of dollars 16 RACKS ETHERNET LAYER 2 SWITCH 10 G Ethernet 3-4 RU < $100,000 PERFORMANCE ADVANTAGE arbitrary connectivity arbitrary fan-in & fan-out arbitrary monitoring, non-blocking, non-interrupting GUI & Telnet / SNMP ICD BIT ALL COTS Take aways: immediate value here is amazing business case is compelling.

23. CONOPS: Terminal Installation INSTALLATION EQUIPMENT: 4x to 40x smaller COAX: becomes CAT6 twisted-pair Ethernet CMA: leverages same-same Ethernet network IFL: abandoned in favor of digital fiber ANTENNAS: same INSTALLATION EQUIPMENT: 4x to 40x smaller COAX: becomes CAT6 twisted-pair Ethernet CMA: leverages same-same Ethernet network IFL: abandoned in favor of digital fiber ANTENNAS: same

24. CONOPS: CMA CMA = Control, Monitoring and Alarm NETWORK: same shared network OTA (Over-The-Air) CONFIGURATION PARAMETERS: - Link frequency at link band rather than L-Band or IF-band - EIRP power rather than IF-band power ADVERTISE TERMINAL CONFIGURATION & APPLIANCES: Terminal heads to modems & vice-versa. Auto-discovery enables self-populating drop-down configuration selection. NETWORK SECURITY: require SNMPv3 from day one as part of the Digital IF standard. CMA = Control, Monitoring and Alarm NETWORK: same shared network OTA (Over-The-Air) CONFIGURATION PARAMETERS: - Link frequency at link band rather than L-Band or IF-band - EIRP power rather than IF-band power ADVERTISE TERMINAL CONFIGURATION & APPLIANCES: Terminal heads to modems & vice-versa. Auto-discovery enables self-populating drop-down configuration selection. NETWORK SECURITY: require SNMPv3 from day one as part of the Digital IF standard.

25. CONOPS: Network Operations NETWORK OPERATIONS requires - spectrum monitoring - remote monitoring - remote control Take away: properly standardized Digital IF architecture makes NETOPS provisions 10 times easier to accommodate. NETWORK OPERATIONS requires - spectrum monitoring - remote monitoring - remote control Take away: properly standardized Digital IF architecture makes NETOPS provisions 10 times easier to accommodate.

26. CONOPS: RF Performance Take away: The 3 major & most significant impediments to RF performance, suffered by L-Band terminals, are eliminated using a properly standardized Digital IF architecture. Take away: The 3 major & most significant impediments to RF performance, suffered by L-Band terminals, are eliminated using a properly standardized Digital IF architecture.

27. CONOPS: Test Testing involves - test signal insertion - test signal measurement - test networking All can be accommodated, using Digital IF, with - digital precision - digital convenience Testing involves - test signal insertion - test signal measurement - test networking All can be accommodated, using Digital IF, with - digital precision - digital convenience

28. CONOPS: Certification Certification, to Digital IF, is just another set of tests. - same advantages - make the most of it by accommodating modem & terminal certification in the Digital IF standard Certification, to Digital IF, is just another set of tests. - same advantages - make the most of it by accommodating modem & terminal certification in the Digital IF standard

29. CONOPS: Equipment Development Today, equipment developers are faced with developing w.r.t. - multiple IF & RF bands - mixed-signal solutions - resulting in long development cycles Digital IF offers a path towards commonly standardized all-digital solutions; - vast majority of development becomes software - hardware is comparatively easy Take away: Digital IF is a MILSATCOM developer’s dream Today, equipment developers are faced with developing w.r.t. - multiple IF & RF bands - mixed-signal solutions - resulting in long development cycles Digital IF offers a path towards commonly standardized all-digital solutions; - vast majority of development becomes software - hardware is comparatively easy Take away: Digital IF is a MILSATCOM developer’s dream

30. CONOPS: Future Growth Digital IF can - grow with Ethernet - follow the Ethernet migration plan - leverage computer networking industry growth L-Band can grow linearly, but, Digital IF can grow exponentially in the same time. Take-away: there are no foreseeable obstacles to growth in the future of a properly standardized Digital IF MILSATCOM terminal architecture. Digital IF can - grow with Ethernet - follow the Ethernet migration plan - leverage computer networking industry growth L-Band can grow linearly, but, Digital IF can grow exponentially in the same time. Take-away: there are no foreseeable obstacles to growth in the future of a properly standardized Digital IF MILSATCOM terminal architecture.

31. Advantage to every aspect of operations Cost Resource User experience Planning is required to realize every advantage! Open commercial standardization is key Digital IF CONOPS: Summary

32. Digital IF: Standardization Introduction Architecture CONOPS Standard Waveform Content Frequency Bins vs Time Samples CMA Provisions Test Provisions Way Forward Conclusions Challenge: How do we write a standard – an open commercial standard – that fulfills the dream CONOPS and deliver what Digital IF promises? Challenge: How do we write a standard – an open commercial standard – that fulfills the dream CONOPS and deliver what Digital IF promises?

33. Standard: Waveform Content Waveform standardization is the easy part. - no new technology it’s engineering, not research or any new science - many existing standards can be leveraged Waveform standardization is the easy part. - no new technology it’s engineering, not research or any new science - many existing standards can be leveraged

34. Frequency Bins vs Time Samples EXAMPLE - Why frequency bins are better than time samples: Imagine a 125 MHz WGS-transponder aggregate with 40 carriers, each 2 MHz BW. In the time domain, - each carrier is sampled at 250+ Msps. - sampling noise adds - 40 additions must each take place at a rate of 250 million+ times per second - the sampling rate must be re-engineered to grow beyond 125 MHz - time domain compensation for cable tilt & phase distortion is extremely difficult In the frequency domain, using frequency bins instead of time samples, - each carrier is conveyed accurately & completely using only the frequency bins relevant to its BW, or less than 1/40th - sampling noise is non-additive from carrier to carrier - aggregation is done using bin assignment rather than addition - BW scales arbitrarily by adding bins - frequency domain compensation for cable tilt & phase distortion is trivial FFT – Fast Fourier Transform - is - well known - computationally efficient - scales trivially - compensates trivially for linear distortion EXAMPLE - Why frequency bins are better than time samples: Imagine a 125 MHz WGS-transponder aggregate with 40 carriers, each 2 MHz BW. In the time domain, - each carrier is sampled at 250+ Msps. - sampling noise adds - 40 additions must each take place at a rate of 250 million+ times per second - the sampling rate must be re-engineered to grow beyond 125 MHz - time domain compensation for cable tilt & phase distortion is extremely difficult In the frequency domain, using frequency bins instead of time samples, - each carrier is conveyed accurately & completely using only the frequency bins relevant to its BW, or less than 1/40th - sampling noise is non-additive from carrier to carrier - aggregation is done using bin assignment rather than addition - BW scales arbitrarily by adding bins - frequency domain compensation for cable tilt & phase distortion is trivial FFT – Fast Fourier Transform - is - well known - computationally efficient - scales trivially - compensates trivially for linear distortion

35. Standard: IP vs Ethernet Why standardize at IP when you can standardize straight to Ethernet? One would standardize at Ethernet for the sake of one single system for one-time deployment. This is the quick solution. However, we don’t want a one-time deployment. We want a standard with staying power and clear growth potential. Standardizing at IP is - Ethernet insensitive; 10 Gig Ethernet, 100 Gig Ethernet, twisted pair, fiber, etc. - scales naturally as Ethernet grows - is the correct application of the OSI layer model Why standardize at IP when you can standardize straight to Ethernet? One would standardize at Ethernet for the sake of one single system for one-time deployment. This is the quick solution. However, we don’t want a one-time deployment. We want a standard with staying power and clear growth potential. Standardizing at IP is - Ethernet insensitive; 10 Gig Ethernet, 100 Gig Ethernet, twisted pair, fiber, etc. - scales naturally as Ethernet grows - is the correct application of the OSI layer model

36. Standard: CMA Provisions CMA: - same single network (rather than separate dedicated CMA network) - standardize from day 1 - secure from day 1 - remote-able from day 1 - easy spectrum monitoring - easy remote monitoring - easy remote control - easy configuration & network situational awareness via advertising CMA: - same single network (rather than separate dedicated CMA network) - standardize from day 1 - secure from day 1 - remote-able from day 1 - easy spectrum monitoring - easy remote monitoring - easy remote control - easy configuration & network situational awareness via advertising

37. Standard: Test Provisions TESTING: We can standardize against known test requirements, including - certification - operational integrity - maintenance - BIT ++ Digital IF standard conformance ++ modem & terminal standards conformance Take away: Proper standardization includes a test component that addresses & simplifies all areas of test. TESTING: We can standardize against known test requirements, including - certification - operational integrity - maintenance - BIT ++ Digital IF standard conformance ++ modem & terminal standards conformance Take away: Proper standardization includes a test component that addresses & simplifies all areas of test.

38. Waveform standardization is easy Engineering only - no new technology Fill in the detail Plug & play interoperability Planning is required to realize every advantage! CMA, RC, test, clear growth path, etc. That’s where the work is. Digital IF Standardization: Summary

39. Digital IF: Way Forward Introduction Architecture CONOPS Standard Way Forward Government Stakeholder Endorsement Industry Stakeholder Endorsement Open Commercial Standardization COTS Procurement (COTS = Commercial Off The Shelf) Migration Conclusions Government procurement cycle includes - RFI - procurement docs – spec, SOW, etc. - solicitation - source selection - negotiation - development - schedule slips - FAT (First Article Test) - standardization (last!) + Sometimes equipment can be obsolete before it is fielded. + This process also discourages multiple vendors. Open commercial standardization, on the other hand, is - public - interactive - industry-wide - as fast as the business case makes it - standards can be revised to accommodate growth and add features + costs the Government precious little compared to the alternative + offers each Government stakeholder any level of participation it chooses + likewise each industry shareholder Government procurement cycle includes - RFI - procurement docs – spec, SOW, etc. - solicitation - source selection - negotiation - development - schedule slips - FAT (First Article Test) - standardization (last!) + Sometimes equipment can be obsolete before it is fielded. + This process also discourages multiple vendors. Open commercial standardization, on the other hand, is - public - interactive - industry-wide - as fast as the business case makes it - standards can be revised to accommodate growth and add features + costs the Government precious little compared to the alternative + offers each Government stakeholder any level of participation it chooses + likewise each industry shareholder

40. Digital IF: Conclusions Introduction Architecture CONOPS Standard Way Forward Conclusions Four Pillars Return on Investment (ROI)

41. Conclusions: Four Pillars No new technology Engineering, NOT development Open Commercial Standardization Stakeholder buy-in Plug & play interoperability Unified Systems Engineering Solve ALL Engineering problems – RF, CMA, RMC, SWaP, capacity Staying Power Clear growth path Leveraging other more pervasive standards Simplified development of new capabilities Take away: these four pillars make Digital IF a good investment. Take away: Digital IF: aligns with PD-SCS mission. - “No New Technology” – we are not technology developers per se. Digital IF is technology insensitive. Implementation is up to the vendor. - “Open Commercial Standardization” – PD-SCS has participated in open commercial standards committees in the past; example: ATM Forum membership. - “Unifies Systems Engineering” – PD-SCS is concerned with improving and enhancing all aspects of terminal operations. - “Staying Power” – PD-SDS is interested in long term solutions. Take away: these four pillars make Digital IF a good investment. Take away: Digital IF: aligns with PD-SCS mission. - “No New Technology” – we are not technology developers per se. Digital IF is technology insensitive. Implementation is up to the vendor. - “Open Commercial Standardization” – PD-SCS has participated in open commercial standards committees in the past; example: ATM Forum membership. - “Unifies Systems Engineering” – PD-SCS is concerned with improving and enhancing all aspects of terminal operations. - “Staying Power” – PD-SDS is interested in long term solutions.

42. Conclusions: ROI The investment is precious little. The payoff, on the other hand, is huge. All we need is the courage to think outside the box and try things a little differently. ACTION: - Government stakeholder endorsement - industry stakeholder endorsement - cooperative lively open commercial standardization - COTS procurement - migration FIRST ACTION: Government stakeholder endorsement. The investment is precious little. The payoff, on the other hand, is huge. All we need is the courage to think outside the box and try things a little differently. ACTION: - Government stakeholder endorsement - industry stakeholder endorsement - cooperative lively open commercial standardization - COTS procurement - migration FIRST ACTION: Government stakeholder endorsement.