FAST Digital IF Architecture and Open Standard Digital IF Interfaces

In expanding the vision of an all-digital SATCOM terminal, the CERDEC Space & Terrestrial Communications Directorate (S&TCD) sponsored a digital-IF working group focused on creating a core digital IF architecture for strategic SATCOM terminals and defining a series of modular open standard digital interfaces (OSDI). This paper describes that Future Advanced SATCOM Technology (FAST) architectural framework, consisting of a front-end Digital Conversion Subsystem (DCS) that performs real-time data conversion of 1 GHz of bandwidth, a Wideband Signal Processor (WSP) that performs real-time channelization / signal synthesis to a zero-IF signal, and finally a bank of Digital Modems (DM) that modulate/demodulate the base band I/Q samples. It also outlines the framework for the FAST OSDI objects and classes defining both the VITA 49-based digital IF signal transport between subsystems and the supporting control infrastructure. Finally, the paper highlights trades for digital IF architecture extensions anticipated for strategic SATCOM terminals.