Microwave Journal
www.microwavejournal.com/articles/18170-em-solutions--ka-band-sotm-terminal-completes-wgs-phase-2-certification

EM Solutions’ Ka-Band SOTM terminal completes WGS Phase 2 certification

August 30, 2012

EM Solutions’ Ka-Band satcom on the move (SOTM) terminal has successfully completed WGS Phase 2 certification testing in Brisbane, passing all tests.

EM Solutions’ systems engineering and testing team spent two months working through the rigorous WGS testing procedure using a six-axis motion table to simulate vehicle and vessel motion while connected to the Optus C1 Ka-Band transponder managed by the Australian Defence Force.

The EM Solutions Ka-Band SOTM terminal met all of the WGS SOTM performance requirements and is now ready for final WGS Phase #3 testing in the USA towards certification.

EM Solutions’ CEO Dr. Rowan Gilmore said "This milestone proves that our terminal is the leading mobile satellite terminal for broadband communications on the move. With typical pointing errors less than 0.1 degree and full availability even in tough off-road conditions, our SOTM terminal delivers same Ka-band broadband connectivity to mobile users in remote locations as that currently available through the cellular network but with the coverage area of a satellite".

EM Solutions’ Ka-Band Satellite on the move terminal was purpose designed and built to exacting Australian Defence Force requirement specifications for use on Bushmaster vehicles accessing the WGS satellite constellation. The terminal provides a very high level of continuous availability broadband connection with the satellite even while traveling at 100km/hour on the highway or 40km/hour off-road.

The Australian made system makes use of EM Solutions’ unique proprietary ‘closed-loop’ satellite beacon signal tracking system which guarantees the antenna stays pointing at the satellite while the vehicle or vessel on which it is mounted is in constant motion.

Tests consistently show the system stays pointing in the right direction for more than 99.7% of the time as well as achieving unbeatable satellite re-acquisition times of under a second. The system uses EM Solutions’ own powerful and lightweight Ka-Band RF transmitters and receivers, built and proven to meet demanding Mil-Std specifications.