2BCOM Space Modem

Running under Linux on standard hardware and making use of modern multicore-processors, 2BCOM Space Modem delivers high throughput even on reasonably priced hardware, making it a cost-effecive alternative to hardware modems.

Requirements and Performance

2BCOM Space Modem requires Ubuntu 22.04 Operating system or derivate and standard PC hardware with x64 architecture, SSE2 and AVX2 extension. We recommend using a modern CPU with 4 cores minimum.

Unlike a hardware modem, the data rates a software modem can handle depend heavily on the computer used to process the signals as well as on flowgraph settings. Almost every algorithm was parallelized by our team, so the Space Modem speed scales very well with current and upcoming multi-core CPU. Please consult our team regarding possible data rates and system requirements for your specific project.

The table below shows measured data rates using a laptop computer with CPU i5-11400H @4.0 GHz and 16GB RAM, doing full signal processing, including filtering, doppler correction and synchronization if necessary. Recorded samples in IQ format were used as input, the output is made of synchronized, derandomized and FEC corrected CCSDS TM/AOS frames ready to be processed by MCS/downstream applications:

Signal	Modulation	Samples/Symbol	FEC	Sample Processing Rate	Data Rate (post FEC)
Generic BPSK	BPSK	1	CC + RS	67 MS/s	30 MBit/s
Generic QPSK	QPSK	1	RS	63 MS/s	110 MBit/s
Generic OQPSK	OQPSK	1.25	CC	67 MS/s	53 MBit/s
Proba 1	BPSK	2.6	CC + RS	90 MS/s	15 MBit/s
Cryosat	DQPSK	1.12	RS	67 MS/s	105 MBit/s
Syrlinks EWC-28	OQPSK	2	CC	68 MS/s	34 MBit/s

The User Interface

The SDR Runtime can be controlled from any browser using the Web-Based UI. It is a pure JavaScript application build upon our own UI-framework. It is fast and responsive and does not require external ressources.

The Dashboard provides information about system ressources and quick info about all running flowgraphs and ongoing transmissions.

The Flowgraph Editor allows configuration of signal processing chains and signal inspection.

The Flowgraph Library manages and orders the flowgraphs on the system.

Dashboard

The Dashboard is your control center to monitor system load and all running flowgraphs.

From here, you can tap into every ongoing transmission and send it to the Flowgraph Editor, where you can live monitor the signal currently being received at every processing stage without interruption!

Flowgraph Editor

Our flowgraph editor allows you to easily build, test, tune and inspect signal processing chains. You can change almost every parameter while the flowgraph is running! Use the various visualization tools and FEC blocks to find the best settings for your signal!

Live Signal Inspection and Analyzer

The flowgraph editor also serves as signal analyzer. Inspect the signal as it’s being processed by the different blocks!

Various build-in visualizations help to check the block settings, fine-tune parameters and track down issues with the signal.

This also works with already running flowgraphs, allowing you to inspect the signal of every ongoing transmission and manually adjust settings if necessary.

Flowgraph Library

New customers and satellites to support, backups, variants, testing or just the regular work – the numbers of flowgraphs on a system can increase fast!

Put them in custom groups to keep track of flowgraphs belonging to a specific satellite, modem type or project, or separate production-ready flowgraphs from those still in development.

Use the import- and export functionality to keep all your ground station setups in sync and share work with your colleagues or our support team.

System Integration and Control

We’ve designed the system architecture to be easy to use and to integrate into existing environments. It provides different interfaces to read and write signals and data as well as multiple ways to control the software. You can even set almost every parameter of every block while the flowgraph is running – change frequencies, filter parameters and streaming sources and targets dynamically!

Security

The 2BCOM Space’s software development team is always aware of potential security risks, especially on networked systems. Next to testing, a key strategy is to eliminate potential attack vectors in the first place, for example:

• The runtime does not use software libraries that are not developed by us OR provided by the Operating System Distribution OR provided by a hardware vendor (e.g. device drivers).
• The Web-UI is HTTPS-only and does not require any 3rd party code, neither libraries or frameworks. It simply does not load things from the internet.
• JSON API calls require HTTPS and authentication.
• Flowgraphs can read files and send data over the internet. That’s why we made them block access to system files and folders plus you can further restrict access to specific folders.
• If running as a deamon, the software can be configured to execute flowgraphs as non-privileged user.
• It is possible to install, register and update the software on restricted networks and even on air-gapped systems for maximum security. It does not require a permanent internet connection.

Service and Support

1st level support only – qualified answers from our aerospace engineers and software developers.

We support our customers with consulting and services to integrate the 2BCOM Space Modem into their Ground Station Setup.

On request, we are happy to extend the Space Modem software with new functionality, interfaces and signal processing blocks through the plug-in system to support your specific project.

How to buy a software license – the 2BCOM Space onboarding docking sequence

Setting up a ground station and establishing a com link with a satellite in low earth orbit is not an easy task. By chosing 2BCOM as supplier, you have made the right decision, because we don’t just sell software licenses and leave you alone – we help you to set it up perfectly!

• Feel free to contact our sales team. Tell us about you, your company and your project and ask any questions you might have.
• Both our teams will then interview and exchange all necessary info you need to make a decision. For sensitive information, we can provide an PGP encrypted e-mail channel.
• We might need to check back with the German / EU Export Control Authorities.
• You will receive a quote from us.
• Upon acceptance, the delivery process starts according to contract, which usually means that you get access to the software repository for installation and we will provide further services as agreed.

Welcome aboard!

2BCOM Space and Space Modem are trademarks of 2BCOM Space GmbH, Berlin.

Syrlinks and EWC-28 is a trademark of Syrlinks, France.