Hiltron Communications has successfully completed a major project for Algeria's state broadcaster,Télédiffusion d'Algérie (TDA).

"This contract forms a key element of TDA's transition to digital satellite transmission," explains Michael Schiestl, Managing Director of Hiltron Communications. "It includes the design, installation and implementation of a VSAT network with a 2.4 metre two-way antenna at numerous sites plus corresponding equipment at the Bouchaoui teleport near the capital city of Algiers. In addition to the antennas, we have supplied 4 W block upconverters, satellite modems and encoders/decoders including power supply units, RF accessories and signal monitors. Overall system control is based on the Hiltron HCS3 platform in conjunction with Visionic network management system. Algeria is a huge country, the second largest in Africa, so linking the various sites by satellite was by far the most practical and economical solution."

A modular system based on a 2 U chassis, Hiltron's HCS3 platform can be operated remotely or via an optional touch-sensitive LCD display mounted on the front panel for local control. It has two communication card slots (A1 and A13), one of which is normally equipped with a network interface card module providing an Ethernet interface. The remaining 11 interface connection slots (A2 to A12) can be equipped with hot-pluggable card modules currently comprising: Monitoring, control and power supply for fibre optic modules; fibre optic N:1 switchover systems; LNB redundancy systems for C-band and Ku-band; HPA redundancy systems; Redundancy systems for DVB MPEG encoders/modulators/IRDs; Other applications for monitor and control. The HCS3 can be equipped with single or dual AC or DC power supplies.