Libra II VSAT System

Libra II is a fully integrated satellite communication system specifically designed for seismic and environmental studies.  Libra II is an IP communication system capable of collecting continuous data and transmitting from the remote station directly to the central hub via geostationary satellite.
 
Because Libra II was specifically designed for seismic and environmental applications, the system provides economical operating costs and low power requirements. Each remote station is equipped with a Cygnus Transceiver, consuming a mere 6W of power; making it ideal for remote, solar powered sites.  Data can be transmitted from any number of remote sites simultaneously to more than one Carina 105 central hub with no additional satellite lease costs.  Continuous seismic or environmental data can be transmitted from a 15-station network for only $5,800 per year.
 
Comprehensive state-of-health and diagnostic information are continuously acquired, monitored and presented via a series of web pages.  Additional software is provided to support multicast firmware uploads via the satellite connection.

  • Proven technology with over 1200 remote sites and 40 hubs in operation around the world

  • Stations can be placed in any location regardless of terrain, infrastructure or distance from central hub

  • Continuous data communication to user’s central processing facility

  • Total station power as low as 6 watts significantly reduces solar system costs and minimizes remote station footprint.

  • Use-case design provides economical satellite bandwidth rental costs

CYGNUS 205 TRANSCEIVER

USER PORTS

  

NMX bus port:
Serial Ports:
SOH:
Ethernet Port:

Supports up to two Trident 305 24-bit digitisers (6 channels total)
Two RS232 ports with SLIP interface software
Two general purpose SOH voltage inputs (12-bit)
10/100 Base-T, Supports TCP/IP, UDP/IP (unicast and multicast) and HTTP communications

ANTENNA

  

Antenna Size:
Mount Option:
Transmit Gain:
Polar Discrimination on Axis:
Polarization:
Receiver G/T for 20°Elevation:

1.2m diameter typical. 0.6m,0.98m,1.8m and 2.4m available
Penetrating kingpost mount or non-penetrating mount with ballast trays
43 ‘43dBi@ 14.125Ghz
>30 dB
Linear
>22 dB/K

CYGNUS MODEM

Operational Band:

Transmit Frequency:


Receive Frequency:


Transmit Power:
                                                              
Occupied Bandwidth:
Data Rate (Modulation):


 
Remote Site Transmission Buffer:

All standard satellite bands supported: (Ku-band, Extended
Ku-band and C-Band
14.0-14.5 GHz (Ku-band)
13.75-14.25 GHz (Ext. Ku-band)
5.925-6.425 GHz (C-band)
10.95-11.45 GHz (Ku-band)
11.7-12.2 GHz (Ku-band)
12.25-12.75 GHz (Ku-band)
0.5W typical operating, adjustable in 0.1 dB steps
High power options available
90KHz typical, -26 dB at f0 +/- 50KHz
Software Selectable:
    112Kbps (QPSK rate 7/8 FEC)
    64 Kbps (QPSK rate 1/2 FEC)
    32 Kbps (BPSK rate 1/2 FEC)
2GB standard (~6 weeks, 3-Channel, 100 sps)
4GB (~3 months), 16GB (~1-year)
other options available

TIMING

  

Timing System:
Time Accuracy:
GPS Receiver:
GPS Antenna:

Internal DCXO clock disciplined to GPS
<100ms
Internal 12 Channel Receiver
External active antenna supplied with cable

CONFIGURATION

 

Web-based Interface:

Configured using Mozilla® Firefox® 3.6 or later via HTTP connection either remotely via satellite or locally via Ethernet

ENVIRONMENTAL

  

Operating Temperature:
Humidity:
Environment:

Electromagnetic Compatibility:

-20o to +60o C
0 to 100%
Self-contained, all-outdoor unit Meets IP-67 standard
Based on 12V operation Power consumption varies with data rate and duty cycle; consult factory for more information.
Complies with FCC Part15, EN55022 and EN55024

LIBRA TRANSMISSION PROTOCOL

Satellite:

Remotes per Carrier:
Hub Redundancy:
 Carrier Access:
Remote Transmission:

Remote Transmission Modulation:
Outbound Traffic:
TDMA Frame Duration:
Error Correction:

Threshold, Eb/No:

Data Transport Protocol:

Compatible with standard and extended Ku-band satellites as well as C-band satellites Complies with INTELSAT GX standard
Configurable via TDMA table.Typically 16-stations per 100 kHz carrier
Supports multiple central hub configuration with automatic backup transition capability
Centrally configured, fixed assignment TDMA.
Transmission slots referenced to UTC and indepen- dently configurable for each station within TDMA frame
Independently configurable for each station

Transmitted within allocated TDMA time slot
1 to 10 seconds
LDPC FEC for reduced power and antenna size; Selective retransmission requests: missing data packets are requested until received or are no longer available in the remote buffer
FEC rate 1/2: 3 dB (BER <= 10-5)
FEC rate 7/8: 5 dB (BER <= 10-5)
UDP/IP protocol

POWER

  
Power Voltage:
Modem Power Consumption:		 10-36 VDC
3.1W
 

CARINA 105 HUB

  

ANTENNA

  

Antenna Size:
Mount Options:
IFL Cables:

2.4 or 3.8 m standard 4.5 m also available
King post, pedestal, non-penetrating, tripod roof mount
35m transmit and receive cable set

CARINA MODEM

  

Tx Power:
Transceiver:

Data Rate (Modulation):



Hub Site Data Buffer:
Data Output:
Equipment Mounting:
Operating Temp.:
Electromagnetic Compatibility:

5 W max, 0.5 W typical operating Adjustable in 0.1 dB steps
Complies with INTELSAT GX standard
Compatible with standard and extended Ku-band as well as C-band satellites
Software selectable:
   112 Kbps (QPSK rate 7/8 FEC)
    64 Kbps (QPSK rate 1/2 FEC)
    32 Kbps (BPSK rate 1/2 FEC)
4 GB standard
10/100 Base-T Ethernet port
1U 19" rack-mount chassis
 -20°C to +60°C
 Complies with FCC Part 15, EN55022 and EN55024

RF SPLITTER/COMBINER 

 (Used in networks where more than one carrier is necessary.)

Modems Supported:
Mounting:

Supports 2 to 4 Carina 105 transceivers operating from a single BUC.   
2U 19" rack-mount chassis

WAVEGUIDE COMBINER

  
BUCs Supported:
Port Options:		 Supports 2 to 4 BUCs sharing a single antenna
2 or 4 Port
 

NETWORK MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL

CONFIGURATION AND REAL-TIME MONITORING (CYGNUS 205,CARINA 105)

Software:

Firmware:

Web interface for modem configuration, monitoring and SOH data display. Data accessible to local web browser or via VSAT connection to central site.
Upgradeable locally or over satellite. Firmware load may be deployed to multiple units concurrently via Antares network management software.

DATA ACQUISITION (CYGNUS 205, CARINA 105)

Software:

Protocols:

Modem includes Apollo data acquisition software with multicast communications and application level error correction. Requires central site Apollo Server software.
UDP/IP unicast and multicast with application level retransmission error correction.

SUPPORTING PRODUCT INFORMATION

Data Acquisition:
Network Management:

Apollo Server central data acquisition software.
Antares central site network management software