A field demonstration plan for the MSAT program

After many years of development, a range of mobile satellite communications equipment has become available. Voice terminals, both transportable and mobile are in use and are being field tested in specific remote environments; they are now available in sufficient quantities for field demonstrations and trials. Specific equipment for data terminal trials is also presently being field tested. This equipment, which presently operates via an available space segment, is the forerunner of the MSAT family of equipment which will be available when the MSAT spacecraft is launched. This paper describes the planning and user interfaces of a series of early communications trials across Canada. The specific hardware for the trials is described. A lightweight transportable unit with built-in signalling systems has been designed for a wide range of applications. A data communications systems, using store and forward and sophisticated forward error correction techniques will be used for some of the trials.