In June 2021, ETL Systems took a major step forward in ground-segment technology by launching its next generation Genus RF distribution modular chassis. This versatile, compact piece of equipment has been designed to make the leap to medium earth orbit (MEO) and lower earth orbit (LEO) constellations possible – something for which there is increasing demand as the ‘new space race’ heats up.
Genus’ unique design enables ETL’s products, including Falcon Frequency Converters, Alto Amplifiers and Stingray RF over Fibre, to be mixed and matched into a single compact chassis. Having interchangeable, hot-swappable elements is critical for comms centres full of power-hungry devices, where requirements are constantly changing and where any equipment failure needs to be dealt with immediately. The resilience and flexibility offered by the modular Genus helps operators to future-proof their ground segments, running multiple RF services from within a single chassis.
The design of Genus allows for satellite operators to improve link budgets, decreases rack space requirements, delivers scalability and improves flexibility. This combination of innovative, reliable design and flexibility ultimately delivers a lower cost customers, a critical factor in the emerging LEO market.
Other Advantages to Genus include:
- – Easy cabling
- – Low power usage
- – Greater rack density
- – Plug and play functionality
- – SNMPv3 remote control
More about the product:
ETL have been able to condense the product range to fit a new chassis, reducing existing module sizes down, maintaining or improving RF performance and adding new functionality with SNMPv3 and HTTPS secure protocols. It has been critical throughout the design and implementation that the pillars of resilience and redundancy can translate in this new era for satellite. The modular design, with multi-function mix and match RF equipment, frequency converters, amplifiers, switch matrices and RF over fibre technologies in the same chassis, means common spares provisioning and resilience. At the end of life, modules can be renewed without the need to replace entire units. This is especially important where low-cost units such as power supplies and fans can be easily replaced, becoming serviceable parts, whilst the RF system modules remain operational and software upgradeable. The chassis also tracks which modules are installed and records the operational history of the unit alongside other factors like heat, humidity, operational cycles and other important environmental and functional data.
Esen Bayar, ETL Systems Chief Executive Officer, describes Genus as: “A blueprint for the industry“.