Heights Networking

Platform

Elevating Your Services with Unparalleled

Horsepower, Efficiency & Intelligence

June 2019

© 2019 Comtech EF Data Corp.

 Heights™ Introduction

The Heights Networking Platform is designed

with Govt. customers, MNOs, service
providers and multi-user environments in
mind, engineered to raise service quality and
performance

Heights delivers the horsepower, efficiency

and intelligence required to differentiate your
services today and well into the next decade

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 2

 Heights Construction
We combined our…
• Most efficient waveforms
• Multi core-processor with high packet per second
• Header compression and hardware-based payload
compression engines
• GTP optimization
• Dynamic bandwidth and power management
• Bi-directional ACM capability fully integrated with QoS
• Dynamic Power Control capability

…to produce the highest user throughput,

highest availability, and most optimal resource
utilization available in the industry

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 3

 Highly Scalable Platform
With Seamless Integration
True layer 2
Competitive operation provides
CAPEX combined Lowest Total seamless
Intelligent
with industry- Cost of integration with
Network &
leading bandwidth Ownership over service provider
Bandwidth
efficiencies and the life of the network – the
Management
network network platform functions
optimization as an Ethernet
switch in the sky

Unmatched, Quantifiable Performance

Industry leading Throughput and
Industry leading Industry leading user IP
Packets per Second to support the
user IP bits / Hz bits / Amplifier Watt
most demanding applications

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 4

Highest Efficiency VSAT
Platform

© 2019 Comtech EF Data Corp.

 Unparalleled Bandwidth & Power Efficiency
Highest User IP Bits / Hz
• Satellite Bandwidth is the single largest operating
expense for a satellite network
– Higher bandwidth (and power) efficiency and utilization
has a direct impact on performance & profitability
• Heights incorporates industry leading optimization to
deliver
– Highest user IP bits / Hz
▪ Achieves 2-3+ times higher throughput for same bandwidth
compared to TDMA platforms
– Highest user IP bits / Amplifier Watt
▪ Achieves significantly higher throughput for same antenna /
BUC compared to TDMA platforms

Reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Increase Profitability
Provide Superior Service
Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 6
Factors Affecting User IP Efficiency
• Heights – Dynamic Network Access (H-DNA)
– Advanced Waveforms
▪ VersaFEC-2 High Performance LDPC Return
– Adaptive Coding & Modulation (ACM)
– 5% Rolloff
– Low overhead IP Encapsulation / Framing Efficiency
▪ TDMA return could use up 25% or more bandwidth in framing
and other overhead
• IP optimization
– IP Header Compression (Lossless)
▪ Ethernet, IP/UDP/RTP, TCP/IP, IP/UDP, etc.
– 2nd Generation Lossless Payload Compression
• GTP optimization

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 7

 Industry Leading Performance
• Large MNO in South America conducted side by side
test of Heights and TDMA VSAT
• Ka-band
• 0.98m remote antenna with 3W BUC
• Heights remote achieved 39 Mbps return throughput
with IP optimization off (would have been higher with
optimization enabled)
• TDMA VSAT barely achieved 4 Mbps

10 time higher return throughput

under identical conditions

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 8

Highest Performance VSAT
Focus On
Hubs and Remotes

© 2019 Comtech EF Data Corp.

 Heights Network
Entry
Channel
OutBound 64 kbps

dSCPC Pool
DVB-S2 Outbound
(All carrier sizes shown as example o

VersaFEC-2
H-DNA
Return with ACM
H-Pro Remote GW

H-Pro Remote GW

Heights Hub
H-Pro Remote GW

Internet

H-Pro Remote GW

NetVue Network
Management System
Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 10
 Hub Key Elements
Hub Element Function
HTO-1 Heights Traffic Packet processing, IP optimization, Multi-tier outbound QoS,
Optimizer ACM control
HTX-450 Heights Hub DVB-S2-EB Modulator supporting up to 150 Msps / 700 Mbps IP
Modulator throughput subject to symbol rate, MODCOD and optimization
HRX Multi-channel Receiver Multi-channel receiver for H-DNA return
Multiple user selectable profiles:
- 24 demods, up to 5 Msps / demod, 70 MHz aggregate BW
- 12 demods, up to 15 Msps / demod, 70 MHz aggregate BW
- 1 high speed demod up to 45 Msps, 8 demods up to 15 Msps
each, 70 MHz aggregate BW
HDC-1 / HDC-2 Distributes frequency and timing reference from HTX to HRX
Bandwidth Manager Bandwidth Manager & Server
(HSV.BWM)
NetVue NMS Network Management System & Server
(HSV.NV)
DUO Combined NMS and NMS and BW manager on a common server
BW Manager (HSV.DUO)
SpectrumVue-8 8-port spectrum analyzer
FX 5010c Application WAN Optimization and GTP Optimization Server (Optional)
Delivery Controller (ADC)

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 11

 Heights Hub Configurations
HEI – VNO /
HEI – Solo HEI – Solo-Mini
HEI – CUSTOM
Multi-network / multi-satellite support √ Single network Single network
Up to 150 Msps shared outbound per network
• Up to 700 Mbps IP throughput with
optimization
• Comtech EF Data’s Efficiency Boost √ √ √
Waveform
• QPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK, 32APSK
• 5% rolloff
Heights Dynamic Network Access (H-DNA) return
with up to 200 Mbps user IP throughput per
terminal
√ √ √
• VersaFEC-2
• BPSK, QPSK, 8-ARY, 16-ARY, 32-ARY
• 5% rolloff
Highly scalable with ability to support thousands
√
of terminals
Redundancy
Carrier grade platform with high availability √ No Redundancy
Options
Intelligent network and bandwidth management √ √ √
VNO capability √ Limited capability Single network
Bi-directional ACM √ √ √
Hardware-based payload compression √ √ √
L2/L3/L4 Header compression √ √ √
Factory integrated rack √ √ √
Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 12
 Heights Hub
Number of beams / Networks VNO / Custom Hub can support multiple
Supported beams / multiple networks, no set limit
Outbound (OB)
Max IP throughput (Each OB) 700 Mbps
Max Symbol Rate (Each OB) 150 Msps
Waveform Comtech Efficiency Boost (DVB-S2X performance)
Modulation QPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK, 32APSK
Optimized Rolloff 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 35%
Adaptive Coding & Modulation Yes
Return
Heights-Dynamic Network Access (H-DNA) or
Dynamic Bandwidth on Demand
Dynamic SCPC (dSCPC)
Max Throughput (Each Return)* 192 Mbps * = WAN rate not including WAN Op
Max Symbol Rate (Each Return) 45 Msps
Waveform Comtech VersaFEC-2 HR & VersaFEC-2
Modulation BPSK, QPSK, 8-ARY, 16-ARY, 32-ARY
Optimized Rolloff 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 35%
Adaptive Coding & Modulation Yes
Dynamic Power Control Yes
Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 13
 Remote Gateways
H-Pro H-Plus H-Pico

Max IP Receive / terminal 250 Mbps 100 Mbps 20Mbps

Max IP Transmit / terminal 200 Mbps 10 Mbps 10Mbps

Packets per second > 75,000 > 35,000 >30,000

Receive - FEC Comtech EB1, DVB-S2X Comtech EB1, DVB-S2X DVB-S2X

Max Receive – Symbol Rate 150 Msps 150 Msps

VersaFEC-2 HR VersaFEC-2 HR VersaFEC-2 HR

Transmit - FEC
VersaFEC-2 VersaFEC-2 VersaFEC-2

Max Transmit – Symbol Rate 45 Msps 8 Msps 5 Msps

Gigabit Ethernet Ports (Traffic) 4 4 3

Centrally Managed SW Tiers ✓ ✓ ✓

ROF Selectable (5% to 35%) ✓ ✓ ✓

H-DNA Remote Access
✓ ✓ ✓
Operation
dSCPC Remote Access
✓
Operation
SCPC Mode Operation ✓

COM (Computer on Module) ✓

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 14

 H-Pro and H-Plus
• Advanced waveforms delivering industry leading user
bits / Hz and user bits / Amplifier Watt
• H-DNA dynamic network return access
• Embedded Roaming
• Bi Directional ACM (Adaptive Coding & Modulation)
• AUPC (Automatic Uplink Power Control)
• Multi-core processors with highest PPS to support
higher throughput
• Header Compression and Payload Compression
• IP and GTP optimization

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 15

 Outdoor (H-Plus / H-Pro)
• An outdoor version available for H-Pro & H-Plus later
this year (single Ethernet Data port)

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 16

 H-Pico

• The newest
member of the
Heights family of
Remote
Gateways is still
a very capable
remote with our
lowest price
point.
 Point-to-Point Mode (H-Plus)
• H-Plus also supports a Point-to-Point (P2P) SCPC
mode
– A pair of H-Plus can be used to setup a point-to-point link
• Supports
– Carrier-in-Carrier
– Adaptive Coding & Modulation
– IP Optimization
– QoS
• Allows users to start a small network with one or
more P2P links that can be converted to Hub-Spoke
topology as needed
– Over the air conversion of remote to Hub-Spoke mode saves
travel to remote locations
– CAPEX savings

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 18

 H-Plus Point to Point
Compatibility (VersaFEC II only)
H-Plus (Routed Mode) H-Plus (Bridge Mode)
With Carrier-in-Carrier

CDM-625 without PP N/A No

CDM-625 with PP Future Future

CDM-625A/CDM-425 without PP N/A No

CDM-625A/CDM-425 with PP Yes Yes

Without Carrier-in-Carrier

CDM-625 without PP N/A Future

CDM-625 with PP Future Future
CDM-625A/CDM-425 without PP N/A Future
CDM-625A/CDM-425 with PP Yes Yes

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 19

 Heights Networking
Platform:
Key Features & Technology

© 2019 Comtech EF Data Corp.

NetVue Network Management System
• Unified NMS for Heights & other
Comtech EF Data & select third party
equipment
– Integrate your existing CEFD products
• Dynamically presents the managed
network in multiple views
• Offers advanced applications for use by
management and network operations
– Protected, hierarchical, recorded access
– Real-time data traffic statistics
– Trend analysis, Event correlation
– Dashboard reporting & analysis
– Alarm management & Notification
– Customized Applications, e.g.,
Automation

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 23

 NetVue Network Management System
• Improves QoE and QoS for increased customer
satisfaction
• Provides overall Network visibility on a single screen
• Maximizes resource utilization
• Increased automation
• Monitors KPIs in real-time
• Detailed traffic and status monitoring with current and
historical information
– Enforce SLAs
– Identify traffic trends and address potential congestion
proactively
• VNO support

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 22

Heights Dynamic Network
Access (H-DNA)
and TDMA access (future)

© 2019 Comtech EF Data Corp.

 H-DNA
• Comtech’s 3rd gen dynamic bandwidth, hub-spoke
networking platform
– Intelligence to maximize QoE
– Efficiency to minimize OPEX
– Horsepower to support end user traffic demand
• Designed to support traditional and High Throughput
satellites (HTS)
• Highest performance in class
– Highest forward and return capacity in class
– Highest bandwidth efficiency
– Highest remote packets per second (PPS)
• Superior Quality of Experience (QoE)
– Lowest jitter & latency

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 24

 H-DNA Advantages

• H-DNA: Height’s Dynamic Network Access

technology for the return path

– Rapidly adapts to changing environments

– Delivers superior efficiency & Quality of Experience

– Instantly assigns capacity based on network-wide demand

– Intelligently utilizes total network bandwidth at all times

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 25

 H-DNA Performace
• DVB-S2X like coding performance with 80-90% lower latency
DVB-S2X (Pilot ON) H-DNA VersaFEC-2 TDMA H-DNA VersaFEC-2
6.0 5.0
Spectral Efficiency

Spectral Efficiency
5.0
(bits/symbol, no

(bits/symbol, no
4.0
Optimization)

Optimization)
4.0
3.0
3.0
2.0
2.0
1.0 1.0

0.0 0.0
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Es/No (dB) Es/No (dB)

Efficiency vs. DVB-S2X Efficiency vs. TDMA

Waveform ModCod Data Rate Coding Latency VersaFEC-2 Advantage
QPSK Rate 0.5
DVB-S2 / S2X 512 kbps 275 ms
Normal Frame 85% lower latency compared
QPSK Rate 0.489 to equivalent DVB-S2 / S2X
VersaFEC-2 512 kbps 41 ms
Long Block
QPSK Rate 0.5
DVB-S2 / S2X 512 kbps 72 ms
Short Frame 91% lower latency compared
QPSK Rate 0.489 to equivalent DVB-S2 / S2X
VersaFEC-2 512Data
Comtech EF kbps 7 ms
Proprietary & Confidential 26
Short Block
H-DNA

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 27

 Comtech TDMA

• Comtech is now adding a revolutionary TDMA return

waveform to the Heights portfolio with many industry
firsts
– Support for high order modulation including 32-ARY
– True ACM within same TDMA carrier where MODCOD can
change burst to burst
– Ability to switch dynamically on a sub-second basis from H-
DNA to TDMA and vice-versa based on traffic and other
conditions with zero packet loss or out of sequence packets
 Why TDMA ?

• H-DNA was primarily designed to support higher data

rate return
• H-DNA combined with TDMA waveform will enable
Heights to address the entire range – sites with few
kbps return to sites with up to 200 Mbps return, in the
most efficient manner
• Enhanced network scalability
– H-DNA requires one demod per remote at the hub
▪ TDMA will allow multiple remotes to share one demod at hub
– H-DNA requires a separate return carrier from every remote
even if the remote is mostly idle
▪ TDMA will remove this need
 Heights TDMA
2nd TDMA Carrier
Created Dynamically

Time = tn+1

Return Frequency Pool

Time = tn

Return Frequency Pool

Time = tn-1

Return Frequency Pool

Comtech EF Data Proprietary 30

 Layer 2 or Layer 3 Operation
• Operational Modes
– Routed mode (Layer 3)
– Bridge Point-to-Multi-point (BPM) mode (Layer 2)
• BPM Mode
– True layer 2 operation provides seamless integration with
service provider network – the platform functions as an
intelligent Ethernet switch in the sky
▪ MAC learning
▪ Extensive VLAN support
▪ MPLS support
• Fully integrated with QoS
– Traffic classification by DSCP, source or destination IP
subnet / address, VLAN ID / range, MPLS Traffic Class field
(EXP bits)
• Jumbo frame support
Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 31
 Header Compression - VoIP
• Header compression eliminates Ethernet, IP, UDP, TCP, RTP
header overhead, providing significant bandwidth savings
• E.g. for VoIP Layer 2, 3 & 4 Header Compression
• Supported Layer 2 Headers
82 bytes – Ethernet 2.0
– Ethernet 2.0 + VLAN-tag
4B 4B
14B 20B 8B 12B 20B – Ethernet 2.0 + VLAN-tag + VLAN-tag
– Ethernet 2.0 + MPLS
VLAN

Ethernet UDP RTP Voice Payload

FCS
IP Header – Ethernet 2.0 + MPLS + MPLS
Header Header Header (G.729) – Ethernet 2.0 + VLAN-tag + MPLS
– Ethernet 2.0 + VLAN-tag + VLAN-tag + MPLS
– Ethernet 2.0 + VLAN-tag + MPLS + MPLS
– Ethernet 2.0 + VLAN-tag + VLAN-tag + MPLS + MPLS
– 802.3-raw
– 802.3-raw + VLAN-tag
– 802.3-raw + VLAN-tag + VLAN-tag
Voice Payload – 802.3-raw + MPLS
(G.729) – 802.3-raw + MPLS + MPLS
– 802.3-raw + VLAN-tag + MPLS
20B – 802.3-raw + VLAN-tag + VLAN-tag + MPLS
~2B – 802.3-raw + VLAN-tag + MPLS + MPLS
~22 Bytes – 802.3-raw + VLAN-tag + VLAN-tag + MPLS + MPLS
– 802.3 +802.2
~73% BW – 802.3 +802.2 +VLAN-tag
Savings – 802.3 +802.2 + SNAP
– 802.3 +802.2 + SNAP + VLAN-tag + VLAN-tag
– 802.3 +802.2 +VLAN-tag +VLAN-tag
– 802.3 +802.2 + SNAP + VLAN-tag
– 802.3 +802.2 + SNAP + MPLS

62 byte Ethernet, IP, UDP, RTP header • Supported Layer 3/4 Headers:
– IP

overhead reduced to an average of 2 bytes –

–
TCP
UDP
– RTP (Codec Independent)

Comtech EF Data Proprietary 32

 Lossless Payload Compression
• Most real world data has statistical redundancy
• Lossless data compression works by encoding source
information using fewer bits
– E.g. a repeating pattern is replaced with a pointer
• H-Pro remote gateway feature a HW based compression
engine for maximum speed and efficiency

11 bytes of data
is replaced by 3
bytes

60%+ BW
savings for
Calgary test
suite

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 33

 Multi-Layer Optimization
User IP Throughput (kbps) to BW (kHz) for Voice

Header & Payload Compression

Framing & Adaptation

Transmit Filtering
FEC & Modulation
100 VoIP
Calls
(G.729) Optimized Symbol
WAN Rate Occupied
Rate Rate
BW ~0.23
LAN ~0.22
~0.9 Mbps MHz
Rate ~0.9 Mbps Msps
~3.28
Mbps
32-ARY 5% Rolloff
~73% 0.831
Reduction

Comtech EF Data Proprietary 34

 Need for WAN Optimization
• High bandwidth alone is not sufficient for better
Quality of Experience (QoE)
• TCP (underlying protocol of the Internet) performs
poorly over high delay links like VSAT. Even with
enhancements to TCP in modern operating systems,
TCP throughput is still limited.
• Webpages have rich multimedia content
– Average size increased from a few hundred kbytes to many
Mbytes in last few years
– Grown from average 25 objects to to almost 200 objects (80
kbyte average per object)
– A webpage could link to multiple hosts for advertising and
content requiring multiple DNS Host resolution

Comtech EF Data Proprietary 35

 Embedded WAN Optimization
• To mitigate TCP deficiencies over long latency links,
Heights remotes incorporate embedded WAN Op
– TCP / http acceleration (Turbostreaming)
▪ Persistent TCP aconnection
– Reduces time to first byte
– Faster download of web pages and files
– Significant improvement in user experience
– TCP Connection Caching
▪ Speeds up multiple object retrieval on a typical webpage
– Objects are fetched in parallel
– One round trip required compared to two without
– HTTP Jpeg Compression
▪ Reduces size of JPEG images without perceptible change in quality
– Saves Bandwidth
– Faster download => improves user QoE
– Compression ratio is configurable

Comtech EF Data Proprietary 36

 Embedded WAN Optimization
• Embedded WAN Optimization in the Heights Remote
– HTTP Content Caching with Validation
▪ 100 MB onboard cache for small pictures, icons, javascript
– Speeds up web browsing => improves user QoE
– DNS (Domain Name Service) Caching
▪ A typical webpage could require multiple DNS queries, e.g.,
cnn.com home page has close to 100 DNS queries, each
requiring a satellite roundtrip
▪ With DNS caching, remote can immediately respond to DNS
queries for cached entries
▪ Significant improved in QoE by reducing time to download web
pages
– Deployment notes
▪ Requires Heights ADC (Application Delivery Controller) at the
Hub

Comtech EF Data Proprietary 37

 Heights WANOP Advantage
• Other vendors use SCPS implementation without
TCP multiplexing where each object has to go
through end to end TCP 3-way handshake
• SCPS is good for single long file transfers but not
designed for todays “busy” web where there are
many short transfers

Comtech EF Data Proprietary 38

 TurboStreaming vs SCPS
• TurboStreaming also outperforms SCPS in case of
VSAT packet loss… important in the case of
supporting LTE over Ku and Ka band.

Comtech EF Data Proprietary 39

 Multi-Tier QoS to Enable
Differentiated Services
• Multi-tier QoS enables multiple services in a multi-
user environment
– VoIP
– Video
– Corporate and business applications
– Internet traffic
– 2G / 3G / 4G Backhaul
• Manage SLAs, while minimizing BW costs
• Industry standard DiffServ and user defined Service
rules

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 40

 Multi Tier QoS
• 3-tier Group QoS for the Outbound
– Enables seamless sharing of outbound among
Outbound
100 Mbps

multiple users for differentiated services Customer A

CIR – 12 Mbps
MIR – 20 Mbps
Customer B
CIR – 40 Mbps
MIR – 100 Mbps
Customer C
CIR – 48 Mbps
MIR – 100 Mbps

• 3-tier Group QoS for Return Link with H-DNA Vessel A

C – 5 Mbps
M – 20 Mbps

P1 – Mgmt
No MIR
Vessel B
C – 2.5 Mbps
M – 20 Mbps

P1 – Mgmt
No MIR
Vessel C
C – 2.5 Mbps
M – 20 Mbps

P1 – Mgmt
No MIR
Vessel D
C – 2 Mbps
M – 20 Mbps

P1 – Mgmt
No MIR

– Support for multi-user networks

P2 – VoIP P2 – VoIP P2 – VoIP P2 – VoIP
M – 1 Mbps M – 512 kbps M – 512 kbps M – 512 kbps

P3 – Cell P3 – Cell P3 – Cell P3 - PAX

M – 2 Mbps M – 1 Mbps M – 1 Mbps C – 1 Mbps

P4 - Corp P4 - Corp P4 - Corp P3 - Corp

W = 5, C – 2 Mbps M – 512 kbps M – 512 kbps C – 512 kbps

• Powerful traffic classifier

P4 - PAX P5 – PAX P5 – PAX P3 - Crew
W = 3, C – 2 Mbps W=5 W=5 C – 512 kbps

P4 - Crew P5 - Crew P5 - Crew

W = 2, C – 1 Mbps W=1 W=1

• DiffServ
• Ability to define service (QoS) rules with
priority and weights for maximum flexibility

Use least amount of BW to meet SLAs and service

best effort users; Maximize profitability

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 41

 Service Differentiation – By Application

Corp Video
Conf

Corp. Email Corp Video Network Mgmt

Conf

Prioritization & Shaping

ACM BW Management
Oracle
Mission critical
Oracle traffic is protected
Corp. Email
Classification

Corp Video

Optimization
Conf during fade

Voice Oracle

User IP Voice
Voice
Youtube
Traffic
Web
Corp. Email
Web
Web Web
Corp Email
Voice
Network Mgmt Corp Video Conf
Oracle
Network Mgmt
Youtube Youtube Network Mgmt

Youtube

Comtech EF Data Proprietary 42

 Bi-directional ACM
• Heights supports ACM in both directions
– Hub to Remote / Remote to Hub
– Most competing VSATs don’t support real return ACM
• Converts link margin into increased capacity
• Improves availability under degraded conditions
• Enables remotes with different antenna size, footprint
location, fade profile to optimally share the same
outbound
• Tightly integrated with QoS to maintain mission
critical services even under deep fade

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 43

 Dynamic Uplink Power Control
• Automatically adjusts transmit power to compensate
for fade caused due to rain, roaming to beam edge or
other factors
• Ability to determine hub fade versus remote fade on a
loopback transponder with additional receiver at hub
• Integrated with return ACM and dSCPC for maximum
return link performance

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 44

 Dynamic MESH Connectivity
(dSCPC Mode Only)
• MESH connectivity enables direct connection
between remotes eliminating the need for remote-to-
remote traffic to be routed though a hub, thus
eliminating a double hop scenario
– Reduces Round Trip Latency by 50%
▪ Critical for real time applications such as voice and video over
GEO satellite
▪ Critical for delay sensitive business applications such as Citrix
over a GEO satellite
– Reduces Bandwidth required by 50%
▪ OPEX reduction
– Single transmit carrier from Remote to Hub and the MESH
remotes
▪ CAPEX reduction by eliminating multi-carrier backoff

Comtech EF Data Proprietary 45

 Dynamic MESH

• Additional demods are added to each remote that

needs to setup MESH connection
• NetVue and BW Manager control the setup,
monitoring and teardown of MESH connection
– Dynamically based on Type of Service (ToS) detection, or
– Pre-configured Distribution List
• Dynamic MESH is supported for dSCPC Router
Mode Only
– Not available with Layer 2 operation (BPM)

Comtech EF Data Proprietary 46

 Dynamic MESH

• Remote Y directly receiving f1 transmitted by Remote X (Hub is also receiving f1)

• Remote X directly receiving f2 transmitted by Remote Y (Hub is also receiving f2)
• Destination Packet Filter at Hub HRX-16 prevent packet duplication

Comtech EF Data Proprietary 47

 Dynamic MESH - ACM and DPC

• Heights supports ACM and Dynamic Power Control

(DPC) for MESH connections
• During a MESH connection a Remote receives Link
Quality Report (based on Es/No) from every demod
receiving the carrier
• It uses the lowest Es/No reported during the interval
to adjust MODCOD and/or transmit power

Comtech EF Data Proprietary 48

 Heights Roaming

• Heights incorporates an embedded mobility controller

in the remote modem
• Embedded Mobility controller
– Built on Comtech’s ROSS mobility solution
– Monitors GEO location and direction
– Automatically selects satellite, beam and gateway
– Performs beam look-up and outage area checks
– Commands antenna and ACU re-pointing
– Performs coordinated switchover and fallback

Comtech EF Data Proprietary 49

Embedded Mobility Controller

GPS location and antenna

/ ACU status and faults

Heights Remote
ACU
with Embedded Mobility Controller
Central repository of
satellite / beam / gateway
databases, manages
automatic beam switching
including beam selection
Command ACU / and fallback process,
Beam selection modem and ACU control,

Comtech EF Data Proprietary 50

Satellite, Beam, Contour and
Gateway Aware

Comtech EF Data Proprietary 51

 ROAM Protocol
• Comtech’s ROAM protocol is used for ACU
communication
• The protocol includes messages to perform satellite
handoffs and monitor status
• Supported by major antenna and ACU vendors

Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 52

 Heights Networking Platform
• Industry leading performance
– Capable of supporting most demanding applications
– Designed to maximize performance for current satellites and
new HTS satellites
• Industry leading remote throughput
– Future proof hardware
– Supports current services, ready for future growth & new
services
– Start with capacity you need, increase with a software
license as the traffic grows
• Industry leading efficiency
– Lowest Total Cost of Ownership
• Engineering Support Services for pre and post-sales
support
Comtech EF Data Proprietary & Confidential 53
 Comtech EF Data
2114 West 7th Street
Tempe, AZ 85281
USA
Tel +1.480.333.2200
FAX +1.480.333.2540
sales@comtechefdata.com
www.comtechefdata.com

© 2019 Comtech EF Data Corp.