Satellite Interference The Causes, Effects and Mitigation Steve Good Global Director, Customer Solutions Engineering
Agenda The Causes The Effects Tools Overview of I³ and Satellite Operator Initiative How can you help
Causes RFI Metrics Interference Trending - By Type 60 50 40 Oct-09 Nov-09 Dec-09 Jan-10 30 20 10 0 Adjacent Satellite Interference Unauthorized Carrier Cross-pol / Copol Sw eeper Retransmit / FM Rebroadcast Transponder Compression All Others Adjacent Satellite Interference Unauthorized Carrier Oct-09 8 42 Nov-09 13 32 Dec-09 9 36 Jan-10 19 56 Note: Metrics reflect interference events affecting the Intelsat network between Oct. 2009 and Jan. 2010. Cross-pol / Co-pol 26 31 44 38 Sweeper 8 3 5 10 Retransmit / FM Rebroadcast 5 5 3 1 Transponder Compression 5 0 6 1 All Others TTL 0 94 0 84 0 103 0 125
Sweeper Plot
Radar Interference Plot
Effects of Interference Degradation of service IP latency, video tiling, drop outs Loss of service Loss of revenue ($millions/year) customer cancellations and credits, ad revenue, loss of bandwidth to sell Manpower costs satellite operator ops centers, customer ops centers to isolate and remove offending signal, escalations Tools costs monitoring systems, geolocation systems
Carrier Management Center RFI checks Cross-pole Interference Adjacent Satellite Interference High Power Carrier Weather Conditions Transponder Saturation / Compression Satellite Flyby Sun Interference
Global Monitoring System (GMS) Supports a variety of Operator activities including Satellite accesses Power spectrums Carrier and transponder measurements Cross-pol support Diagnostics Carrier characterizations Interference analysis (Signal Under Carrier) Transponder compression (TOP) Background monitoring
GMS Digital Signal Processor Primary monitoring engine Performs data acquisition Power spectrum generation Transponder measurements TOP, transponder EIRP Carrier measurements Spectral Characterization Signal Under Carrier measurements Generates out-of-tolerance alarms For carriers and transponders Makes fast, accurate carrier and transponder measurements
GMS Interference Detection and Characterization The Signal Under Carrier (SunCar) detects, measures and characterizes in-band carrier interference Measurement occurs while carrier remains in service Simultaneous display of carrier and underlying interference In-Band noise extraction and display
What is Geolocation? Both the Transmitter Locator System (TLS) and the Glowlink Systems are passive systems that identify the geographic location of ground based satellite transmitters. TLS has been in use for approximately 10 years. Glowlink has been in use for approximately 3 years. Both systems have been used effectively to locate the source of many interferences. Solutions from the TLS and Glowlink, when possible, helps significantly to reduce the time to identify the offenders.
Geolocation View An adjacent satellite with comparable uplink beam coverage, frequency usage, and polarization Antenna connected to the system within the downlink beam for each satellite Carriers with known locations on the beam to be used for calibration Ephemerides for both spacecraft
Geolocation results Geolocation operator must evaluate the results to determine if the system is indicating any errors such as inaccurate ephemeris or incorrect geographic locations on reference carriers. The errors would then be corrected and the results would be reproduced.
Geolocation results Operator would continue to evaluate to possibly fine tune the results. More reference carriers can be added from the region initially indicated to provide a much smaller and accurate ellipse in some cases. In other cases the measurements may need to be made over a longer period of time to provide the most accurate results.
Intelsat Interference Management Initiative (I³) What Is I³? Internal and External Initiatives Monitoring Tool Improvements Close gaps Planning and Processes Loading, equipment, and escalation Metrics Who is doing it, how are they doing Data Sharing With customers, other operators Training/Certification Less human error Carrier ID Who is it and how do I contact you
Rallying the Satellite Operators Satellite Operators Interference Reduction Working Group - Formed March 2009 19 satellite operators have joined Operator endorsement of I 3 program goals Meeting monthly Subcommittees Operator RFI Alert Network Carrier ID
Data Sharing Assists in minimizing duration of events Formalize communications between operators RFI Alert network Spacecraft information in the Data Center geolocation tool information RFI information in the Data Center history of events
Training and Certification Intelsat has established a 3-year training initiative Intelsat will provide on-line training for up to 400 students annually, free of charge Intelsat will provide customers access to a negotiated group rate for installer certification Intelsat will be a credentialed trainer for certification of customers in the field Year 1 regions of focus: Americas and Africa Intelsat has reviewed two programs and endorses both
Carrier ID Minimize time of event by quickly identifying offending uplink SUIRG sponsored meeting with manufacturers, integrators, satellite operators to discuss requirements. Agreed video, data, and VSAT applications technical solution different Contact information, equipment information to help identify uplinker and be able to contact Video part of MPEG stream Data TBD VSAT TBD Government customer information - TBD
Tackling Interference: Goals for 2010 Data sharing More eyes = quicker resolution Better information = quicker identification of offender Training/Certification sign em up & certify em Require certified operators only to access? Carrier ID... Customers need to speak up Manufacturers skeptical unless their customers push Video manufacturers implement ID in their systems Data and VSAT agree on how to implement Create a realistic timeline for implementation
Tackling Interference: How can you help Access properly Use quality and correct sized equipment Maintain approved carrier parameters Correct issues in a timely manner when they are the cause Train and certify your installers and operators Use certified installers and operators Vendors implement carrier ID Use equipment that has carrier ID capability
Thank You Steve Good Global Director, Customer Solutions Engineering steve.good@intelsat.com