Hiltron Communications' project has reached completion resulting in a major systems integration for a leading European satellite network operator. The new Hiltron HSC-4-based satellite communication control systems have been delivered to 50 sites around the world where they are being used for continuous quality of service monitoring of high-throughput satellites. 
 

Hiltron has supplied each of the 50 sites with a compact 12U rack populated with the monitoring equipment. The systems delivered are located at monitoring sites across North America, South and Central America, Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Each system includes a Hiltron HCS-4 satellite communication controller which is designed to form the central control element for a wide range of satcom applications. These include switchover between devices such as downconverters, high power amplifiers, waveguides, MPEG digital video broadcast encoders and integrated receiver/decoders.

The HCS-4 can also be used to control and monitor optical-fiber transceivers and antenna heaters. Other features include an N-1 redundancy switch and BUC/HPA controller, an LNB supply, a 2-1 LNB redundancy switch controller, plus a GPS-synchronized fully redundant low-noise 10 MHz reference generator.

Hiltron's HCS-4 satellite communication controller is available as a 2U high 19-inch rack mount unit with main and backup power supplies plus 13 slots for active modules. Also available are two chassis mountable frames accommodating up to 6 or up to 14 active modules.

All three versions can be powered from 24 volts DC and are operated via an intuitive HTML-based graphic interface. Modules are hot-pluggable to allow easy exchange. Any new or replaced module is automatically sensed and its address registered. All units in the family have SNMP remote control, hot-swappable dual redundant power supply and an internal data bus.