Arinc Performs Air Force Weather Sensor Upgrade

Arinc Engineering Services installed its Nexion digital solid-state sensor technology at 29 locations of the U.S. Air Force’s Ionospheric Data Network. The task order was placed under the Air Force’s F2AST program in December and will allow Arinc to install and sustain 29 unmanned sites worldwide.

Ionospheric activity determines how far and where high frequency (HF) signals travel — a critical factor in military and aviation communications. The Nexion sensor upgrade, which will be managed remotely, replaces 20-year-old equipment and adds new HF antennas.
 

Integral Systems Targets Ku-band SSPA to TWTA Customers

Integral Systems has unveiled a 100-watt Ku-band solid state power amplifier (SSPA) through its Satcom Solutions division.

At just 10 pounds in component form or 15 pounds with the optional cooling system, Integral Systems said it would target the SSPA to customers looking to replace or retrofit traveling wave tube amplifiers (TWTA) nearing the end of operating life.
 

Intorel Upgrades visionic Professional

Intorel launched Visionic 5, a new edition of its Visionic Professional, to the broadband, broadcasting and telecoms market.

Visionic 5 is designed to monitor and control telecom systems locally or over the Internet through a Web-based graphical user interface. The commercial off-the-shelf solution aims to conveniently store files in a central repository without requiring users to have programming experience.

Visionic 5 can be downloaded to a local computer and executed as a real time system on a local network as part of a beta-testing period scheduled through June 1.
 

NASA Unveils Wallops integration Facility

NASA unveiled its rocket integration facility at the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The horizontal integration facility’s first customer will be Orbital Sciences, which will conduct Taurus 2 rocket missions for NASA under the agency’s COTS and Commercial Resupply Services programs.

The first stage for the Taurus 2 arrived at Wallops in December. Integration of the first Taurus 2 at Wallops began in February with launch expected later this year. The vehicle will carry a cargo ship to the International Space Station.
 

Northrop Grumman Demonstrates STSS Crosslink Capability

The U.S. Air Force has expanded Northrop Grumman’s Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstration satellite program after its communications crosslink was activated and tested by the prime contractor and its sensor payload subcontractor, Raytheon.

The demonstration showed that STSS’ radio frequency relay between the missile defense satellites could establish communications between a spacecraft that is out of view of a ground station through another satellite in range.
 

Orange To Build Customized Maritime VSAT Solution

Crest Subsea contracted Orange Business Services to improve communication infrastructure of its diving support vessels by developing and managing a customized VSAT marine communication system.

The VSAT system will connect vessels to the Pacific Radiance network through antennas linked to satellites. The deployment of the solution will integrate the vessels into the corporate network and allow crews on Crest Subsea vessels to access voice, video and data services.
 

Streambox Enhances Capabilities for Verizon 4G LTE Network

Streambox has enhanced the capability of its hybrid HD/SD software encoder to include HD video transportation using a single cellular modem on Verizon’s 4G LTE mobile broadband network.

Laptops equipped with the software encoder will be able to stream live HD video from remote locations, highly urban areas and other settings traditional newsgathering or streaming workflows could not achieve. The solution can stream live or stored SD video at 1.5 to 2 megabits per second (Mbps) and HD video at 2 to 5 Mbps. Streambox’s mobile broadcast encoder Avenir also will be compatible with Verizon’s 4G LTE network.