Safety and security testing is important, especially when working with sensitive information or important missions. Traditionally, testing of satellite communication systems has been both expensive and time-consuming. Nevertheless, it is essential to have an extensive test setup that represents real-life conditions closely to ensure safety and security.
GateHouse SatCom offers a setup for test of how a system using a BGAN terminal to provide connectivity will work in different situations and under different circumstances. Spectra Group is a customer that has incorporated BAT into a wider SatCom package. With their setup, it is possible to facilitate cost-efficient security testing to improve stability with no expensive airtime for test purposes.
"As a SATCOM solution provider, it is important to be able to offer the ability to test the robustness of solutions. Being able to do so without incurring the cost of airtime is a major advantage for our customers," says Shaun Barry from Spectra Group.
The GateHouse BGAN Application Tester is connected via an antenna connector placed on a stand in a container to the vehicle mounted terminal via the roof mounted antenna. This setup allows for complete control of the signal to test what happens to the satellite link and connected applications when exposed to noise and interference.
The BGAN based system transmits and receives signals inside the container. Other antennas create distortions to the signals to and from the terminal, and a BGAN Application Tester from GateHouse emulates the BGAN core system to set up a connection.
The BGAN Application Tester setup brings the BGAN satellite network into a test bench, allowing clients to simulate a satellite connection for a BGAN, FBB, or SBB terminal. This results in the ability to do end-to-end test of a connected terminal under difficult radio link conditions.
Distortion and interference constitute a major problem, and it might be necessary to test the system’s robustness. The Satcom package developed by Spectra Group which includes the BAT can be used preventively to emulate impairments to discover how much noise and interference the signal can endure until it becomes insufficient for its purpose. It is already in use by defence organisations in Europe.
Testing of connected applications and terminals is of utmost importance for improving stability and safety. To be able to test how robust the system is, the antennas in the GateHouse BAT and Spectra setup creates a toxic radio environment, breaking down the connection. To discover how much distortion and interference the system is capable of enduring while still maintaining a secure connection is especially important, as it could mean life or death in a hostile environment, where reliable and resilient voice and data communication is essential.
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