Low rate VSAT SCADA Network Development

Status

Completed
Status date

2018-01-19
Activity Code

7A.035

Objectives

The project objective has been to develop key technology for a low data rate VSAT network specifically targeting the SCADA market segment, based on DVB-S2/RCS2 standards, comprising a dedicated, low cost hub station and a robust remote terminal capable of receiving low rate data on the forward link.

TSAT 4000 indoor unit

TSAT 4000 hub front end 4

Challenges

The key challenge in the project has been to develop a low rate forward link channel, where the most challenging issue was to develop the low rate reception technology in the terminal.

Benefits

The most important technology achievement in this project is the development of the low data rate forward link, which has a particular advantage in private networks for the SCADA / utility market segment, where focus is on data collection and monitoring, and with limited requirement for outbound capacity. Standard broadband VSAT systems have typically 1 Msps as the minimum forward link symbol rate. This is too high symbol rate for small and mid-sized SCADA networks. Development of a low rate DVB-S2 forward link solution has therefore been a key enabling technology for the next generation TSAT system, allowing operation between ~100 ksps and 1 Msps. TSAT 4000 will thereby cover the gap in the forward link rate between the current TSAT systems and traditional broadband VSAT systems, giving a competitive advantage.

In addition, TSAT 4000 is a dedicated system developed for utility and SCADA applications, complying with the particular requirements in the industry with respect to ruggedness, reliability and the challenge of making SCADA protocols work over a satellite link.

Features

The key features of TSAT 4000 are:

A low cost, private single user and dedicated hub which can be located on the customers control centre premises.
Effective use of space segmented adapted to SCADA traffic patterns, with emphasis on a low data rate, cost effective forward link
A simple, dedicated, single user Network Management System (NMS).
A rugged. cost-effective terminal providing SCADA-specific user interfaces and protocol adaptions.

System Architecture

The basic network architecture is a standard VSAT star network architecture, which is very suitable for typical SCADA traffic patterns, with data collection from remote sites to a centrally located operational control centre.

The Network Management System (NMS) is connected to the central hub station. The hub will typically be co-located and connected to the application SCADA front end processor in the users operational control centre, while the remote terminals will be connected to the sensor equipment at the remote sites.