Testing and maintenance of Intelsat TDMA traffic terminals - A manufacturer's perspective

The tests performed on Intelsat TDMA traffic terminals to assure their proper functioning prior to operation in the TDMA network are discussed. Application testing is conducted in order to verify that the traffic terminal fulfills all of the Intelsat requirements; it can be performed at the subsystem or terminal level and utilizes a variety of instrumentation techniques. Examples of application testing at the subsystem and terminal level are presented. Manufacturing testing utilizes: (1) circuit card testing to locate circuitry faults; (2) subsystem testing to verify the proper functioning of the entire unit; and (3) terminal testing to assure data continuity and acquisition and synchronization protocols. Maintenance testing is responsible for fault-finding and repair and is performed at three levels: test and maintenance center level, subsystem test set level, and card test level.