Showing posts with label Satellites. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Satellites. Show all posts
...Teseo II single-chip satellite-tracking ICs were successful in the first ground location test using Europe’s own independent navigation system, Galileo. The tests were conducted in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA).
Last month, the first position fix of longitude, latitude and altitude using the four Galileo satellites currently in orbit was performed by the ESA at its Technology Centre in the Netherlands and by ST at its GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) software development labs in Naples, Italy. ST and ESA conducted the historic static and dynamic tests using a rooftop antenna with a clear view of the satellites (static) and from a mobile test-bed unit travelling in a normal user environment (dynamic). The Teseo II receiver was able to track and produce a 3D fix over the entire path of the mobile unit, using only the 4 Galileo IOV (In-Orbit Validation) satellites.
ST and ESA plan to continue the joint tests, initially as a combined multi-constellation fix with GPS and/or Glonass satellites, then later in the year, when more Galileo satellites are available, they also plan Galileo-only tests in a hostile environment. ESA and ST have been cooperating on a project to evaluate the performance of low-cost consumer and automotive GNSS receivers with the Galileo signals, combining ESA’s expertise in knowledge of the signals, both theoretical and from monitoring, with ST’s 20 years of experience in producing chips to process satellite navigation signals. Low-cost receivers have narrower bandwidth and less-capable antennas, but in the real world must operate in much more hostile situations than professional test receivers. As the consumer receiver must operate in urban-canyon situations when many of the signals are reflections, greatly weakened and significantly distorted, ST’s Teseo II, with its multi-constellation capability and outstanding sensitivity, makes a perfect fit for many different consumer navigation applications.
Leading British-based global designer and manufacturer of RF distribution equipment, ETL Systems, is displaying its latest V-series RF Matrix for the first time at NAB 2013 in Las Vegas, 6 – 11 April.
ETL has a long history of designing equipment and is recognised internationally for superior quality and a very personal one-to-one service offering. The new series of products can be used in all sectors including broadcast.
All new products and innovations are developed and built by ETL’s growing team of R&D experts in the UK. The company has won multiple awards for its designs, benefiting from more than a quarter of a century of experience in the RF distribution sector.
New V-series RF Matrix launched at NAB 2013
On display will be the latest addition to the V-series at NAB. The family of products, designed and built at ETL’s base in the UK, includes the 128x128 Vulcan Matrix Router, the 64x64 Vortex Matrix Router, the NEW 16x32 Valiant Matrix and the 16x16 Victor Matrix. All are capable of remote control via serial or Ethernet port with SNMP and web browser interface.
US Headquarters Launched
ETL has recently expanded with the launch of its new North American headquarters in Washington DC to cope with a real surge in demand. More than 60 per cent of the company’s total annualised revenues now originate in North America. Former Intelsat and Harris Caprock satcom specialist, Susan Saadat has been appointed Vice President to lead the regional headquarters in Washington DC.
The expansion will support ETL’s already strong presence in the US market which accounts for almost two thirds of its total annualised broadcast, satellite communication, system integration and government orders.
V-Series Demo Units Shown at NAB 2013:
64x64 Vortex Matrix – Model VTX-10 – The Vortex is a high performance solution for frequent signal routing changes and designed for busy teleports and master control rooms (MCR) where rack space is short. With 64x64 inputs and outputs it is able to work as a distributive switch matrix or router for downlinking L-band signals or combining multiple technologies into one product.
16x32 Valiant Matrix – Model VLT-10 – The Valiant is ideal for smaller broadcast and satellite ground stations, providing the flexibility of dependable RF Routing. It is perfect for use by teleports with limited rack space for occasional use satcom traffic. The Valiant has recently been delivered for use in compact marine applications.
16x16 Victor Matrix – Model VTR-10 – The Victor is designed for television receive-only (TVRO), smaller teleports and satellite ground stations, providing the flexibility of RF routing. The matrix can be used for L-band, IF, and broadband applications.
Latest US Projects
ETL has been involved in a major US Government satellite downlink project to provide expansion and redundancy RF matrix systems for routing satellite signals. The heart of the systems were based on ETL’s proven Enigma Matrix modules. ETL’s 25-strong team of R&D experts also created a newly designed NGM-32 especially for the project, to handle a higher 1dB gain compression point of greater than 8dBm.
The NGM-33 (950-2450MHz) matrix has also recently been put into service with CP Communications to offer a unique solution to outside broadcasts. Along with newly developed matrix control software, multiple radio camera antennas can be seamlessly switched to diversity receivers and maintain coverage.
Other Demo Units Shown at NAB:
Dual Redundant Amplifier – Model 2570 – Also on display for the first time at NAB is ETL’s dual redundant amplifier unit which is typically used in the front end of the RF chain, providing cable loss for teleports, TVRO and head-ends. This amplifier unit contains dual redundant hot-swap L-band variable gain amplifier modules and is housed in a compact 1U high 19” rack mountable shelf. It operates over the 850-2150MHz frequency range, with up to 36dB gain and up to 8dB positive slope compensation.
2x1 Redundancy Switch – Model 23206 – This new switch may be used to provide redundancy for a main feed in the event of failure. It includes a modem alarm input for automatic switching and operates in the extended L-band (850-2450MHz) range. The shelf can be operated in manual, auto or remote mode with dual redundant power supplies for reliability in service. It is a non-latching coaxial relay often used as a failsafe to the standby feed and switches to standby if no power is applied.
The natural-color images show the intersection of the United States Great Plains and the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming and Colorado. In the images, green coniferous forests in the mountains stretch down to the brown plains with Denver and other cities strung south to north.
LDCM acquired the images at about 1:40 p.m. EDT March 18. The satellite's Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) instruments observed the scene simultaneously. The USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., processed the data.
"We are very excited about this first collection of simultaneous imagery," said Jim Irons, LDCM project scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. "These images confirm we have two healthy, functioning sensors that survived the rigors of launch and insertion into Earth orbit."
Since launch, LDCM has been going through on-orbit testing. The mission operations team has completed its review of all major spacecraft and instrument subsystems, and performed multiple spacecraft attitude maneuvers to verify the ability to accurately point the instruments.
The two LDCM sensors collect data simultaneously over the same ground path. OLI collects light reflected off the surface of Earth in nine different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, including bands of visible light and near-infrared and short-wave-infrared bands, which are beyond human vision. TIRS collects data at two longer wavelength thermal infrared bands that measure heat emitted from the surface.
By looking at different band combinations, scientists can distinguish features on the land surface. These features include forests and how they respond to natural and human-caused disturbances, and the health of agricultural crops and how much water they use. Data from LDCM will extend a continuous, 40-year-long data record of Earth's surface from previous Landsat satellites, an unmatched, impartial perspective that allows scientists to study how landscapes all across the world change through time.
"These first scenes from the new Landsat satellite continue the remarkable output from the Landsat program with better, more useful imagery and information," said Matthew C. Larsen, associate director for climate and land use change at the U.S. Geological Survey in Reston, Va. "We are gratified that this productive partnership between USGS and NASA has maintained the continuity and utility of this essential satellite tool, providing the foundation for land and water management around the globe."
As planned, LDCM currently is flying in an orbit slightly lower than its operational orbit of 438 miles (705 kilometers) above Earth's surface. As the spacecraft's thrusters raise its orbit, the NASA-USGS team will take the opportunity to collect imagery while LDCM is flying under Landsat 7, also operating in orbit. Measurements collected simultaneously from both satellites will allow the team to cross-calibrate the LDCM sensors with Landsat 7's Enhanced Thematic Mapper-Plus instrument.
"So far, our checkout activities have gone extremely well," said Ken Schwer, LDCM project manager at Goddard. "The mission operations team has done a tremendous job getting us to the point of imaging Earth." During the next few weeks, this team will calibrate the instruments and verify they meet performance specifications.
After its checkout and commissioning phase is complete, LDCM will begin its normal operations in May. At that time, NASA will hand over control of the satellite to the USGS, which will operate it throughout its planned five-year mission life. The satellite will be renamed Landsat 8. USGS will process data from OLI and TIRS and add it to the Landsat Data Archive at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science Center, where it will be distributed for free via the Internet.
A NASA astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts opened the hatches of their Soyuz-TMA spaceship and floated into the ISS to a warm welcome from the three incumbent crew, live pictures broadcast on Russian television showed.
Russia's Pavel Vinogradov and Alexander Misurkin and American Chris Cassidy are now expected to spend the next five months aboard the station after their hitch-free launch and docking.
Their record-breaking trip from blast-off at Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to docking with the ISS lasted less than six hours, slashing the usual travel time by some 45 hours.
Previously, trips to the ISS had taken over two full days as spaceships orbited the Earth 30 times before docking with the space station.
However, under a new technique now employed by the Russian space agency with the help of new technology, the Soyuz capsule this time only orbited Earth four times before docking.
After blast-off at 2043 GMT Thursday, the Soyuz capsule docked with the ISS at 0228 GMT with the hatches opening just over two hours later.
The quick journey -- dubbed by NASA's official television commentator as a "chase into space" -- has been made possible by launching the Soyuz just after the ISS passes overhead in orbit.
After reaching orbit, the Soyuz capsule then had just over 1,600 kilometres (1,000 miles) to make up to catch up with the ISS, which the Soyuz achieved with newly-improved thrusters and manoeuvring.
The manned "express" flight comes after Russia successfully sent three unmanned Progress supply capsules in August, October and February to the station via the short six hour route rather than two days.
The successful fast-track voyage is a huge boost for the embattled Russian space programme, whose reputation has been battered by several failed satellite launches in the last year.
However, there have been no problems to date with the manned spaceflight programme.
After the retirement of the US space shuttle, Russia is now the sole nation capable of transporting humans to the ISS.
Ahead of the launch, the crew expressed satisfaction with the new fast-track schedule, including Vinogradov who at 59 is one of Russia's most experienced cosmonauts.
Vinogradov, who spent 197 days on board Russia's now defunct Mir space station in 1997-1998 and also flew to the ISS in 2006, said the shortened flight time has several advantages for the crew.
Firstly, as the crew only start to experience the tough effects of weightlessness after 4-5 hours of flight they will be in better shape when they arrive at the station for the docking procedure.
"During the initial time the crew feels completely normal and works normally," he said at the pre-flight news conference at Baikonur in televised remarks.
Also, the reduced time means that the Soyuz capsule will be able to deliver biological materials for experiments aboard the ISS in time before they spoil, something that would not have been possible with a two-day trip.
"With such a short time the crew could even take an ice cream -- it would not be able to melt," said Vinogradov.
On board the three spacemen are joining incumbent crew of station commander Chris Hadfield of Canada, Tom Marshburn of NASA and Russia's Roman Romanenko.
Hadfield has over the last months built up a huge following online with spectacular photographs on Twitter and managed to photograph from space the fiery moment of ignition of the Soyuz-FG rocket at the nighttime launch in Kazakhstan.
"Good morning, Earth! We've been up all night, getting the Soyuz safed and crew settled in. A long, great day. Six of us now here, together," he said on Twitter.
Cassidy is a veteran of US special forces who has served in Afghanistan and recorded a 15-day mission to the ISS aboard the shuttle in 2009. Misurkin is making his first space flight.
“ILS is honored to be selected by Intelsat for these future missions. We are pleased to have Intelsat’s confidence and commitment to support their plans for growth and expansion of their business,” said ILS President Phil Slack.
ILS recently conducted its successful ILS Proton return to flight mission on March 27 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, with the Satmex 8 satellite for Satélites Mexicanos S.A. de C.V. (Satmex) of Mexico City, Mexico.
History and Description
The Linux-based production software originally used by Dreambox was originally developed for DBox2, by the Tuxbox project. The Dbox2 was a proprietary design distributed by KirchMedia for their pay TV services. The bankruptcy of KirchMedia flooded the market with unsold boxes available for Linux enthusiasts. The Dreambox shares the basic design of the DBox2, including the Ethernet port and the PowerPC processor.Its firmware is officially user-upgradable, since it is a Linux-based computer, as opposed to third-party "patching" of alternate receivers. All units support Dream's own DreamCrypt conditional access (CA) system, with software-emulated CA Modules (CAMs) available for many alternate CA systems. The built-in Ethernet interface allows networked computers to access the recordings on the internal hard disks on some Dreambox models. It also enables the receiver to store digital copies of DVB MPEG transport streams on Network file systems or broadcast the streams as IPTV to VideoLAN and XBMC Media Center clients. Unlike many PC based PVR systems that use free-to-air type of DVB receiver cards, the built-in conditional access allows receiving and storing encrypted content.
In 2007, Dream Multimedia also introduced a non-Linux based Dreambox receiver, the DM100, their sole to date, still featuring an Ethernet port. It has a USB-B port for service instead of the RS232 or mini-USB connectors found on other models.[1] Unlike all other Dreamboxes, it features an STMicroelectronics CPU instead of PowerPC or MIPS.
Dreambox Models
There have been a number of different models of Dreambox available. The numbers are suffixed with -S for Satellite, -T for Terrestrial and -C for Cable:Table
| DM | 56x0 | 7000 | 7020 | 7025(+) | 500(+) | 100 | 600 PVR | 800HD | 8000 | 500HD | 800HD se | 7020HD[2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued | Available | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued | Available | Available | Available |
| Life cycle | 2003-? | 2003–? | 2005–? | 2006– | 2006– | 2007–? | 2007–? | 2008–2012 | 2009–2012 | 2010– | 2010- | 2011- |
| SoC | STB04500 | STB04500 | STB04500 | Xilleon 226 | STBx25xx | ST510x | STBx25xx | BCM7401 | BCM7400 | BCM7405 | BCM7405 | BCM7405 |
| CPU type | PPC | PPC | PPC | MIPS | PPC | ? | PPC | MIPS | MIPS | MIPS | MIPS | MIPS |
| CPU (MHz) | 252 | 252 | 252 | 300 | 252 | ? | 252 | 300 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 |
| RAM (MiB) | 64 | 64 | 96 | 128 | 32 (96) | 256 | 96 | 256 | 256 | 256 | 256 | 512 |
| Flash (MiB) | 8 | 8 | 32 | 32 | 8 (32) | 64 | 32 | 64 | 128 | 64 | 64 | 1024 |
| Flash type | NOR | NOR | NAND | NAND | NOR (NAND) | ? | NAND | NAND | NAND | NAND | NAND | NAND |
| Default OS | Enigma1 | Enigma1 | Enigma1 Enigma2 (beta) |
Enigma2 | Enigma1 | ST OS | Enigma1 Enigma2 (beta) |
Enigma2 | Enigma2 | Enigma2 | Enigma2 | Enigma2 |
| DVB | 1 × S | 1 × S | 1 × S | 2 × S/C/T | 1 × S/C/T | 1 × S | 1 × S/C/T | S+S2/C/T | 2 × S+S2 (2 × S/C/T optional) |
1 × S2 | 1 × S/C/T | 1 × S2, 1 x C+T (in total 2x DVB-S/C/T optional) |
| HDTV | No | No | No | yes[3] | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Common Interface | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| CompactFlash | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Yes | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Smart card | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Host USB | No | 1 x 1.1 | 1 x 1.1 | 1 x 1.1 | No | No | No | 2 x 2.0 | 3 x 2.0 | No | 2 x 2.0 | 3 x 2.0 |
| Service | No | RS232 | RS232 | RS232 | RS232 | USB-B | RS232 | RS232 | RS232 | MiniUSB | MiniUSB | MiniUSB |
| LAN (Mbit/s) | 100 (DM5620) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 10/100 |
| HDD | No | 3.5 in | 3.5 in | 3.5 in | No | No | 2.5 in | 2.5 in, eSATA | 3.5 in and DVD | eSATA | 2.5 in, eSATA | 3.5 in + eSATA |
| ATA | No | parallel | parallel | parallel | No | No | parallel | serial | serial | serial | serial | serial |
| RF mod. | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| SCART | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| HDMI / HDCP | 0 / - | 0 / - | 0 / - | 0 / - | 0 / - | 0 / - | 0 / - | 0 / - | 0 / - | 1 / - | 1 / - | 1 / - |
| DVI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1** | 1** | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Display | LCD | LCD | LCD | OLED | No | No | No | OLED | OLED | No | multi-colour OLED | OLED |
| LNB pass-thru | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| S/PDIF Optical | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes +RCA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Modem | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Other connectors | S-Video | S-Video | Component, S-Video |
- **HDMI via DVI to HDMI adapter.
DM 7000
Because the boot loader resides in flash memory, this model may require the use of a JTAG in case of bad flashing which destroyed the boot loader. However, a bad flash will occur under rare scenarios, and rarely, almost never, will you need a JTAG.
DM 5600, DM 5620
DM 500, DM 500+, DM500HD
It has the standard features of a free-to-air (FTA) satellite receiver, plus extensive Fast Ethernet networking connectivity and a single smart card reader. It does not feature a 7-segment LED display, normally found in other FTA decoders.
Also has the ability to be used on Digital satellite, cable and terrestrial broadcasts (also known as DVB-S, DVB-C, DVB-T).
The DM500+ model has 96 MB of RAM instead of 32, and 32 MB of NAND flash instead of 8 MB of NOR flash. This makes it similar to the DM600 PVR model. It is only available in DVB-S versions.
The new DM500HD was announced in Cologne on May 26, 2009. The price will be between € 350 and € 400.
DM 7020
The DM 7020 is essentially an updated DM 7000 with 96 MiB of RAM, 32 MiB of NAND flash (disk-like) and an RF modulator. Changes were also made on the software side, utilizing Open Embedded for the base Linux operating system.Because the flash memory of this model is not directly executable, the primary boot loader resides in ROM and can recover corrupted secondary boot loader in flash by loading from the serial port.
There are some Enigma 2 (beta) images already available for this model.
DM 7025, DM 7025+
The DM 7025 is similar to the DM7020 but with the ability to add a second "snap-in" tuner that makes it possible to watch one program while recording another. It is possible to change the tuner module, selecting between any two of Satellite, Terrestrial or Cable versions.Internally, it features a Xilleon 226 system-on-a-chip from ATI, integrating a 300 MHz MIPS CPU core instead of the traditional PowerPC found in other models, and has 128 MiB of RAM. It uses Enigma 2, this is a complete rewrite of the original Enigma GUI, and is still going through growing pains as features that were present in Enigma are added to Enigma2. Enigma2 is Python-based instead of C code.
The DM 7025 has the ability to decode MPEG-2 HD as well. Unfortunately, it must downconvert this to 480i or 576i to display it. The DM 7025+ model features an Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display instead of an LCD one, an eject button on the Common Interface slot and improved power supply.
DM 600 PVR
The DM 600 PVR is the same small size as the DM 500 but includes an IDE interface allowing to add an internal 2.5 in laptop-type hard disk drive, the box will only recognise 5600rpm drives. On the outside it adds an S-Video output connector and an analog modem port. It is built around the same IBM STBx25xx integrated controller, but features 32 MiB of flash and 96 MiB of RAM, of which 64 MiB are user-accessible. It is possible to change the tuner module, selecting between Satellite, Terrestrial and Cable versions. There is still just one SCART connector and no 7-segment LED display, just 2 status LEDs. The provided remote control unit is the same one supplied with the 7000, 7020 and 7025 and allows one to control the TV set as well.DM 800HD PVR / DM 800 HD se
This is essentially a high definition version of the DM 600 PVR, featuring a single pluggable DVB tuner (S/S2, C or T), a 300 MHz MIPS processor, 64 MiB of Flash memory, 256 MiB of RAM and room for an internal SATA 2.5 in disk. It also features one DVI to HDMi Cable, two USB 2.0, one eSATA and one 10/100 Mbit/s Ethernet interfaces. It has an OLED display.DM 800HD se was introduced in late 2010. The main differences of the DM800HD se compared to the DM 800HD are a 400 MHz MIPS processor, a HDMI connector and a color OLED display.
DM 8000 HD PVR
Originally announced to become available in the beginning of 2007, its release date was pushed back. The product then began shipping on 12.12.2008. The planned features were revised as well. Originally, this model was supposed to have 128 MiB of RAM (now 256), 32 MiB of flash (now 256 MiB) and a 300 MHz processor (now 400 MHz Broadcom 7400).[5] Other Linux-based HD receivers became available in the meantime.[citation needed]
In June 2012, Dream Multimedia announced the discontinuation of the DM 8000 HD PVR because several electronic components are no longer available.[6] It was also announced, that no direct successor will be developed since Dream Multimedia is already working at "Project Goliath".
"Project Goliath"
"Project Goliath", announced in June 2012, is supposed to be a possible successor of several Dreambox models. According to Dream Multimedia, it is a "totally new hardware and software product, combining all the features of the successful Dreambox series, and indeed will go beyond that".[7]Alternative firmware and plug-ins
The factory-installed distribution on the Dreambox is mostly available under the GNU General Public License (GPL) and uses standard Linux API's, including Linux DVB API and Linux Infrared Remote Control (LIRC). Several models (7025, 800 and 8000) use GStreamer as a multimedia framework. This configuration encourages enthusiasts to modify its functions, particularly in the form of so-called images.Plug-ins
There are also many 3rd party addons & plugins available that will extend the functionality of the Dreambox too. Some plugins are model specific, while others run all boxes. Plugins such as Jukebox and SHOUTcast playback, also external XMLTV guides, a web browser are available, and a VLC media player interface for on demand streaming media. Games are also abundant like Pac-Man and Tetris.In addition, unofficial third-party conditional access software modules (CAMs or emulators) are widely circulated on the Internet that emulate the CA systems developed by NDS (VideoGuard), Irdeto, Conax, Nagravision, Viaccess and other proprietary vendors. Some Dreambox owners use these softcams in conjunction with card sharing software to access pay TV services without a subscription card inserted in every connected box. This practice may be illegal in some jurisdictions and third-party software for this purpose is neither officially endorsed nor supported by Dream Multimedia and voids the official warranty.
Clones
Clones of the DM500-S are wide spread.[8] As a result, Dream Multimedia introduced the DM500+, with changes to try to prevent further counterfeiting.Clones also exist of DM500 and DM800, built around the same commodity IBM SoC chip and hence having identical or slightly superior features but not sold under the Dreambox brand name (e.g., the Envision 500S, with 48 megabytes of RAM instead of 32, also available in a 500C cable version, the Eagle box or the Linbox 5558). They have a retail price approaching that of non-Linux receivers, generally a fraction of the Dreambox 500 price. Since they contain a copy of the copyrighted original DM500 bootloader program, the legality of these devices is questionable.
In April 2008, Dream Multimedia allegedly introduced a time bomb into their latest flash to disable the boot loader on counterfeit models. An unofficial firmware group called Gemini who used the latest flash drivers in their firmware, found that flash corruption would be caused on clone DM500-S receivers. Other developers of unofficial firmware groups would find boxes to be affected by this if they use the latest drivers, providing another time bomb is to be introduced.
