HiSeasNet Policy and Organization Above and around all of the technical stuff: Organization and policies that hold HiSeasNet together Above and around all of the technical stuff: Organization and policies that hold HiSeasNet together

Overview  Business topics  Maintenance  Satellite bandwidth  Coverage area  Earth station structure  Other resources  What next?  Business topics  Maintenance  Satellite bandwidth  Coverage area  Earth station structure  Other resources  What next?

Business Topics The interactions of HiSeasNet, satellite operators, NSF, ships, etc.

The Business of HiSeasNet  Think of HiSeasNet as an integrator. We do the following so that ships can have a network drop:  Lease satellite space segment on a yearly basis  Operate a US satellite earth station  Act as a friendly and flexible ISP to provide IP connectivity to stations  Maintain satellite hardware on ships and shore  Make changes based on ship requirements  Provide technical and operational support to ships at sea  Most of the limitations you will find are related to funding or come from entities we are integrating  Think of HiSeasNet as an integrator. We do the following so that ships can have a network drop:  Lease satellite space segment on a yearly basis  Operate a US satellite earth station  Act as a friendly and flexible ISP to provide IP connectivity to stations  Maintain satellite hardware on ships and shore  Make changes based on ship requirements  Provide technical and operational support to ships at sea  Most of the limitations you will find are related to funding or come from entities we are integrating

Who HiSeasNet works with  Funding is largely via NSF  Satellite operations and leases through Intelsat (C- band), Loral (SatMex5b2), and CommSystems (SatMex5b1)  Maintenance and Integration with CommSystems  Stations operated by oceanographic institutions  Equipment supplied by Comtech, SeaTel, Codan, Vertex, Prodelin, Cisco, Digi, Hameg, ServerTech  Funding is largely via NSF  Satellite operations and leases through Intelsat (C- band), Loral (SatMex5b2), and CommSystems (SatMex5b1)  Maintenance and Integration with CommSystems  Stations operated by oceanographic institutions  Equipment supplied by Comtech, SeaTel, Codan, Vertex, Prodelin, Cisco, Digi, Hameg, ServerTech

Maintenance Issues related to care and feeding of your equipment

Routine maintenance  Routine maintenance performed roughly every 6 months, takes 1-2 days (see online calendar)  We try to combine ships in single visits to keep costs down so we can handle emergencies  CommSystems sends someone to the ship to walk through a checklist of items and record latest settings  Helps to have a ship tech available…is a great chance to refresh or ask new questions  Maintenance report is archived at SIOand sent to institution representatives. Please read and print this report!  Report is used in future troubleshooting  Routine maintenance performed roughly every 6 months, takes 1-2 days (see online calendar)  We try to combine ships in single visits to keep costs down so we can handle emergencies  CommSystems sends someone to the ship to walk through a checklist of items and record latest settings  Helps to have a ship tech available…is a great chance to refresh or ask new questions  Maintenance report is archived at SIOand sent to institution representatives. Please read and print this report!  Report is used in future troubleshooting

Emergency maintenance  We try to avoid emergency maintenance, but failures do happen  What we can do:  Work with you to troubleshoot and resolve problems based on our experience and resources (we need your help and answers to do this!)  Get in touch with manufacturer to work out details  Get parts to the ship (from our pool or factory)  Send someone to meet the ship, cost/problem dependent  We try to avoid emergency maintenance, but failures do happen  What we can do:  Work with you to troubleshoot and resolve problems based on our experience and resources (we need your help and answers to do this!)  Get in touch with manufacturer to work out details  Get parts to the ship (from our pool or factory)  Send someone to meet the ship, cost/problem dependent

Other maintenance  There may be times you want to have other non- routine maintenance done on your gear (upgrading equipment, want an additional look, moving antenna, etc.)  We expect you to be competent doing basic adjustments to the equipment parameters and able to read manuals  You are welcome to contract with CommSystems directly and pay for work that is not part of HiSeasNet operational responsibility.  There may be times you want to have other non- routine maintenance done on your gear (upgrading equipment, want an additional look, moving antenna, etc.)  We expect you to be competent doing basic adjustments to the equipment parameters and able to read manuals  You are welcome to contract with CommSystems directly and pay for work that is not part of HiSeasNet operational responsibility.

Maintenance process  We like to have you make the changes to your ship if possible, so you know what changed.  With this training, we hope that you can do significant diagnostic work to minimize ship and shore interaction for a faster resolution  When hardware or a site visit is required:  Arranged through HiSeasNet staff, not directly with CommSystems.  We can work out schedule, priority, trouble ticket tracking, parts, etc. and keep all the necessary people in the loop.  We like to have you make the changes to your ship if possible, so you know what changed.  With this training, we hope that you can do significant diagnostic work to minimize ship and shore interaction for a faster resolution  When hardware or a site visit is required:  Arranged through HiSeasNet staff, not directly with CommSystems.  We can work out schedule, priority, trouble ticket tracking, parts, etc. and keep all the necessary people in the loop.

Spares pool  We maintain a pool of spares in San Diego, CA that we can usually ship immediately. They include:  Spare RF gear for C-band and Ku-band antennas  SeaTel “premium” spares kit for C-band gear  SeaTel level cage and PCU for “xx06” antennas  SeaTel rotary joint  Comtech modems  Some Cisco router and networking parts  Misc RF connectors, cables, combiners, etc.  Marine Air air conditioner (for C-band antennas)  These usually cover both earth station gear and ship gear. They can also be borrowed for testing.  This is not everything that can go wrong.  We maintain a pool of spares in San Diego, CA that we can usually ship immediately. They include:  Spare RF gear for C-band and Ku-band antennas  SeaTel “premium” spares kit for C-band gear  SeaTel level cage and PCU for “xx06” antennas  SeaTel rotary joint  Comtech modems  Some Cisco router and networking parts  Misc RF connectors, cables, combiners, etc.  Marine Air air conditioner (for C-band antennas)  These usually cover both earth station gear and ship gear. They can also be borrowed for testing.  This is not everything that can go wrong.

Satellite bandwidth What bandwidth we have and the concept of “more”

Satellite bandwidth  HiSeasNet has the following space segment leased for ships:  IS-701: 5 slots (96kbps), 160kbps shared outroute  IS-707: 3 slots (96kbps), 180kbps shared outroute, expanding to 4 slots in March 08 (240kbps outroute)  IS-906: 1 slot (96kbps), 88kbps outroute (until 3/30/08)  SatMex5b1: 2 slots (64kbps), 128kbps shared outroute  SatMex5b2: 4 slots (64kbps), 256kbps shared outroute  Cost /mo/slot is ~$3k (C-band), $750 (Ku-band)  IP services for IS-906 ship provided by Intelsat (tunnel from ship to earth station through Internet)  Leases are preemptible. If the operator needs to move our signal, we are required to move.  HiSeasNet has the following space segment leased for ships:  IS-701: 5 slots (96kbps), 160kbps shared outroute  IS-707: 3 slots (96kbps), 180kbps shared outroute, expanding to 4 slots in March 08 (240kbps outroute)  IS-906: 1 slot (96kbps), 88kbps outroute (until 3/30/08)  SatMex5b1: 2 slots (64kbps), 128kbps shared outroute  SatMex5b2: 4 slots (64kbps), 256kbps shared outroute  Cost /mo/slot is ~$3k (C-band), $750 (Ku-band)  IP services for IS-906 ship provided by Intelsat (tunnel from ship to earth station through Internet)  Leases are preemptible. If the operator needs to move our signal, we are required to move.

Expanding bandwidth  Can be done a number of ways depending on how much you want, ship position, number of ships online, and bandwidth availability  Hardware  Modems and routers top out at 2 Mbit in any direction  C-band ship-to-shore power limits top out at 400kbps  Ku-band ship-to-shore power limits at 400kbps to 2Mbit depending on the ship configuration  Bandwidth  May already have bandwidth if not all slots are used  May need to be leased from satellite provider, will pay a premium for short term leases  May need to buy 3rd party downlink/ISP services  Must coordinate with HiSeasNet early!  Can be done a number of ways depending on how much you want, ship position, number of ships online, and bandwidth availability  Hardware  Modems and routers top out at 2 Mbit in any direction  C-band ship-to-shore power limits top out at 400kbps  Ku-band ship-to-shore power limits at 400kbps to 2Mbit depending on the ship configuration  Bandwidth  May already have bandwidth if not all slots are used  May need to be leased from satellite provider, will pay a premium for short term leases  May need to buy 3rd party downlink/ISP services  Must coordinate with HiSeasNet early!

Satellite operations  Contract limits bandwidth and power for all carriers.  Sat operator is the one that measures signal levels and characteristics  When a signal is too loud, we must turn it down quickly to continue to operate. If we cannot turn it down quickly, we may need to turn it off.  When we make major changes, we need to check with the operator to verify the level is okay. To make adjustments, we usually the ship, then re-verify when we see a change is made.  Contract limits bandwidth and power for all carriers.  Sat operator is the one that measures signal levels and characteristics  When a signal is too loud, we must turn it down quickly to continue to operate. If we cannot turn it down quickly, we may need to turn it off.  When we make major changes, we need to check with the operator to verify the level is okay. To make adjustments, we usually the ship, then re-verify when we see a change is made.

Coverage Areas Ships move and satellites do not

Switching coverage areas  Ships can often move from one region to another.  This is possible via empty frequency slots on some satellites.  This requires scheduling which ships can transmit at what times.  We sometimes need to ask a ship to not transmit during an in-port or other down period. Please help us out with that.  We try to be as fair as possible if there is a conflict. Generally science mission has priority.  Ships can often move from one region to another.  This is possible via empty frequency slots on some satellites.  This requires scheduling which ships can transmit at what times.  We sometimes need to ask a ship to not transmit during an in-port or other down period. Please help us out with that.  We try to be as fair as possible if there is a conflict. Generally science mission has priority.

Procedures for changing coverage areas  Keep an eye on the slot chart. We update it when we notice the schedules changing, but you know your schedule better than we do  If you see a need to move from one region to another, please let us know ASAP so we don’t over look it.  We will try to contact you well in advance of a region move to make sure you are aware.  We will develop a “change document” in PDF format that will list the changes to be made. With it will be a suggested time to make the changes. Please proof the document and ask questions before the scheduled time.  Keep an eye on the slot chart. We update it when we notice the schedules changing, but you know your schedule better than we do  If you see a need to move from one region to another, please let us know ASAP so we don’t over look it.  We will try to contact you well in advance of a region move to make sure you are aware.  We will develop a “change document” in PDF format that will list the changes to be made. With it will be a suggested time to make the changes. Please proof the document and ask questions before the scheduled time.

Current coverage maps POR AOR SatMex5 beam 1SatMex5 beam 2

Coverage areas  The HiSeasNet earth station currently operates with satellites in the POR, AOR, and North America regions  Additional coverage areas (Med, IOR, etc.) are available through independent contracts (NewSkies, Intelsat, etc.) since the HiSeasNet earth station cannot see the satellites in those areas  Changes required:  New configuration of equipment for space segment  New routing for a new ISP (may give static IPs?)  Sometimes new hardware to decode different frequencies  Bandwidth sharing advantage disappears  The HiSeasNet earth station currently operates with satellites in the POR, AOR, and North America regions  Additional coverage areas (Med, IOR, etc.) are available through independent contracts (NewSkies, Intelsat, etc.) since the HiSeasNet earth station cannot see the satellites in those areas  Changes required:  New configuration of equipment for space segment  New routing for a new ISP (may give static IPs?)  Sometimes new hardware to decode different frequencies  Bandwidth sharing advantage disappears

Earth Station What the stationary side looks like

Earth station setup  Very similar to a ship setup (antenna, RF, modem, router) but with a more complicated router setup and a lot more modems (mostly receive)  Infrastructure additions include:  Climate control and monitoring  Remote access to modem configuration  Remote access to a SpecAn  Building-wide UPS power  Antennas move slowly if at all  Maintenance done every year  Very similar to a ship setup (antenna, RF, modem, router) but with a more complicated router setup and a lot more modems (mostly receive)  Infrastructure additions include:  Climate control and monitoring  Remote access to modem configuration  Remote access to a SpecAn  Building-wide UPS power  Antennas move slowly if at all  Maintenance done every year

Earth station layout

HiSeasNet Resources A network of people and resources, not just modems and routers

HiSeasNet self-serve resources  Website (  Wiki (FAQ, organizational info, science info, wish list, etc.)  Slot scheduler  Calendar  FAQ  File archive  Ship schedules  Network diagrams  Traffic plots  Satellite footprints  Mailing lists (subscribe at website)  Operations (mostly announcements re: service)  Users (more for chatter among HiSeasNet end users)  Website (  Wiki (FAQ, organizational info, science info, wish list, etc.)  Slot scheduler  Calendar  FAQ  File archive  Ship schedules  Network diagrams  Traffic plots  Satellite footprints  Mailing lists (subscribe at website)  Operations (mostly announcements re: service)  Users (more for chatter among HiSeasNet end users)

Getting help  Look at the self-serve resources first  Contact the tech team via the alias if possible This gets the quickest written response. Contact technical team by phone if you need  Send details of your problem. Include ADMC values/plots, specific behavior, info we can use to isolate the problem, requests for what we can do for you  Tell us what you have already done and what the results were.  Answer all of our questions. Really.  Consider AIM if you are online enough  Look at the self-serve resources first  Contact the tech team via the alias if possible This gets the quickest written response. Contact technical team by phone if you need  Send details of your problem. Include ADMC values/plots, specific behavior, info we can use to isolate the problem, requests for what we can do for you  Tell us what you have already done and what the results were.  Answer all of our questions. Really.  Consider AIM if you are online enough

HiSeasNet staff  PI: Dr. Jon Berger  Carolyn Keen, Laura Cravens-Wertz (business)  Technical team  Steve Foley (primary contact, , AIM: floatingsteve)  Geoff Davis (backup, )  Brian Battistuz (backup, )  Systems integrators (contracted to CommSystems)  Karl Kapusta (tech), Ron Nitz (business)  We are not staffed 24/7, 8/5, or even regular hours. We try to accommodate and respond as best we can.  Steve is half-time, working usually , PST, but often taking calls whenever  PI: Dr. Jon Berger  Carolyn Keen, Laura Cravens-Wertz (business)  Technical team  Steve Foley (primary contact, , AIM: floatingsteve)  Geoff Davis (backup, )  Brian Battistuz (backup, )  Systems integrators (contracted to CommSystems)  Karl Kapusta (tech), Ron Nitz (business)  We are not staffed 24/7, 8/5, or even regular hours. We try to accommodate and respond as best we can.  Steve is half-time, working usually , PST, but often taking calls whenever

How you can help HiSeasNet  Learn about the gear and how to troubleshoot  Use the resources we provide (manuals, web, etc.)  Be patient if we don’t get back to you right away  Humor us if we ask you a dumb question…we have reasons for asking seemingly strange questions  Tell us about your successes and cool projects you have seen that use HiSeasNet  Install a terminal server for your ACU and modem  We need feedback, too!  Tell us what you need. Tell us what you want.  Help us collect the resources you need to work well with HiSeasNet  Learn about the gear and how to troubleshoot  Use the resources we provide (manuals, web, etc.)  Be patient if we don’t get back to you right away  Humor us if we ask you a dumb question…we have reasons for asking seemingly strange questions  Tell us about your successes and cool projects you have seen that use HiSeasNet  Install a terminal server for your ACU and modem  We need feedback, too!  Tell us what you need. Tell us what you want.  Help us collect the resources you need to work well with HiSeasNet

HiSeasNet future  Get the rest of the ships online (for those where it makes sense)  Build a better user community  Offer better training so users are more successful operating their gear and minimizing downtime  Offer more coverage areas  Encourage more real-time data returns  What are we missing?  Get the rest of the ships online (for those where it makes sense)  Build a better user community  Offer better training so users are more successful operating their gear and minimizing downtime  Offer more coverage areas  Encourage more real-time data returns  What are we missing?