1. Meteosat Data Collection Systems
Nicholas Coyne

2. EUMETSAT – Who are they ?
EUMETSAT is the European operational satellite agency for monitoring weather, climate and the environment.
The head quarters are located in Darmstadt Germany.
EUMETSAT operates a system of meteorological satellites monitoring the atmosphere, ocean and land surfaces which deliver weather and climate-related satellite data, images and products – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This information is supplied to the National Meteorological Services of the organisation's Member and Cooperating States in Europe, as well as other users worldwide.
EUMETSAT is a the European operational satellite agency for monitoring weather, climate and the environment. Head quarters Germany. Currently operating 6 satellites. 4 geostationary and 2 polar orbiters. 24/7

3. EUMETSAT – Who are they ? Protecting human life and property
The frequent, highly reliable and superb-quality data and images delivered by the EUMETSAT system of meteorological satellites help to enhance and safeguard the daily lives of European citizens. They aid meteorologists in identifying and monitoring the development of potentially dangerous weather situations and in issuing timely forecasts and warnings to emergency services and local authorities, helping to mitigate the effects of severe weather and protecting human life and property.
This information is also critical to the safety of air travel, shipping and road traffic, and to the daily business of farming, construction and many other industries.
Protecting human life and property. Shipping HRDCP

4. Data Collection Platforms
EUMETSAT has 2 types of DCP
Standard Rate
High Rate
2 DCP types

5. HRDCP characteristics
Standard DCP
High-Rate DCP
Baud rate
100
1,200
Current slot allocation
1 minute, 30 seconds
15 seconds minimum
Timing accuracy
+/- 15 seconds
+/- 0.5 seconds
Data per DCP message
649 bytes maximum
653 bytes for 10 second time slot
Channel bandwidth
MTP
3 KHz
3KHz assigned 2.25 KHz used
MSG
1.5 KHz
Maximum number of messages per channel per day
960
5.760
Maximum message size of single message
649 bytes
65535 bytes
This diagram shows the direct comparison between the standard and high rate dcps. It can easily be seen that the high rate can either support more messages within an equivalent time slot or larger data size up to the current 60 second cap. This coupled to the new DCP facility allows us to remain very flexible to support the users needs. Use of new coding and modulation schemes have contributed to attaining high data rates and has also made the transmission more robust e.g. Error correct and less prone to interference. More on that in a minute. Although we calculated the required bandwidth of 2.25KHz for HRDCP we have actually arrive at a 3KHz assignment to maintain future flexibility.
Convolution and Reed Solomon Coding provide more robustness against interference
Modulation scheme: OQPSK

6. Table 1. Comparison of characteristics of current standard DCPs with high-rate DCPs
The capability for receiving, processing, and disseminating High Rate DCPs, 1200 bps, has now been fully implemented
Changes have been implemented to the Ground Stations and the DCP Facility in EUMETSAT to support the new Service – New Digital Receivers, Flexible allocation scheme
Both Standard and High Rate will be supported for the foreseeable future
Signal Engineering have a certified HRDCP transmitter
Sutron are in the process of certification.
Several other manufacturers are interested in producing HRDCPs
ESA have funded a European study on the design of HRDCP to allow European manufacturers to compete in the DCP market
ESA also funded a study on the new DCP specification that would optimise the DCP performance from a moving platform
We have defined the High Rate DCPs requirements and published them in our document TD 16 .This introduces DCP with a baud rate of 1200 over the standard rate of 100 baud. We will continue to support the 100 baud into the foreseeable future. We have completed the upgrade of our infrastructure to handle HRDCPs.

7. DCP Comparison Parameter EUMETSAT 100 Baud GOES 300/1200
EUMETSAT HRDCP
Preamble length
Long (7.5s)
Short (0.62s or 0.28s)
Medium (2.0s)
Sync Word
15-bit
64-bit
Modulation
Bi-phase-L/PSK
8-PSK
Offset QPSK
FEC
None
Trellis code
Concatenated RS(255,223) & R=1/2 Viterbi
End of Transmission detection
31-bit marker
8-bit marker
Message length in FEC protected header.
Error Detection
Parity bits & limited alphabet
Parity (optional)
32-bit CRC
Required EB/N0 (approximate)
10dB
11-12dB
5dB
User throughput (bit/sec)
87.5
262.5 or 1050 (parity)
300 or 1200 (no parity)
1049
This table shows a comparison between SRDCP, GOES DCP and HRDCP

8. HRDCP Advantages
Use of Offset QPSK modulation for good bandwidth efficiency and phase noise tolerance.
Concatenated FEC system using CCSDS-recommended convolution & Reed-Solomon codes, good with pulsed interference.
Binary message system with very robust error checking using a 32-bit CRC, suited to compressed or uncompressed data of any type.
Tests showed good operation at an EB/N0 of 5dB, around 6dB better in practice than the GOES 1200 Baud system (i.e. only 25% TX power needed).
The advantages of the HRDCP are quite apparent, having a better modulation better forward error correction, error checking with 32 bit CRC and less output power is needed.

9. HRDCP Mobile Platforms
For mobile transmitters the extra EIRP minimises with the effects of platform movement (Doppler due to path length change, AM fade due to antenna angle and multi-path cancellation of signal). One key advantage for such situations is the use of the message code block and an option for compression to send the current and previous message each time, therefore no more power or extra transmission slots, but get the benefits of retransmission along with the advantage of the FEC on message reliability.

10. DCS System Coverage Until January 2017
Meteosat-10 (0° Longitude)
Meteosat-7 (57.5° E)
EUMETSATs current DCS coverage is supported by Meteosat-10 and Meteosat-7. This diagram shows the area of coverage for the two spacecraft. Meteosat-7 will be de-orbited in 2017
60 S 80
160
140
120
100 80 60 40 20 20 40 60
100
120
140
160
180

11. DCS System Coverage From January 2017
Meteosat-10 (0° Longitude)
Meteosat-8 (41.5° E)
EUMETSATs current DCS coverage is supported by Meteosat-10 and Meteosat-8. This diagram shows the area of coverage for the two spacecraft.
60 S 80
160
140
120
100 80 60 40 20 20 40 60
100
120
140
160
180

12. DCS System Comparison 41.5 and 57.5
Meteosat-8 (41.5° E)
Meteosat-7 (57.5° E)
This slide shows the difference between Meteosat-8 and Meteosat-7 DCP coverage. Those no longer in the coverage of Meteosat-8 should relocate to the DCS service provided by JMA. EUMETSAT has identified these users and advised them of the need to relocate.
60 S 80
160
140
120
100 80 60 40 20 20 40 60
100
120
140
160
180

13. HRDCPs on IODC
HRDCPs will also be able to utilise the Meteosat satellites supporting IODC .
Meteosat-7 will be replaced by Meteosat-8 in January 2017
Meteosat-8 is now located at 41.5 East
User outside the coverage of Meteosat-8 on the eastern edge need to relocate to the JMA DCS service
We are in the initial stages of a study for Met-7 to support HRDCP from the Indian ocean. The tasks are listed on the slide.

14. DCS System Overview - DCP Data Flow
DCPF
DCP messages
MSG Direct Dissemination
DCP messages
LRIT DCP messages
DCP messages
DCP messages
DCP messages & auxdata
LRIT
DCP messages
DCP messages & auxdata
Internet
DCP messages
EUMETCast
DCP messages
This diagram displays the DCP data flow.
DCP messages
MTP Fucino
MSG Usingen
DCP Bulletins
DWD Offenbach
DCP Bulletins

15. DCS System Overview – Bandwidth
IDCS
11 channels
@ 3kHz
Regional
44 channels
@ 3kHz
Regional
144 channels
@ 1.5kHz
HRDCP
10 channels
@ 3kHz
MHz
MHz
MHz
MHz
We have also recently revised out DCP channel allocation. We have regained some of the original international channels for use as regional. We have also introduced the HRDCP at the top end of the DCP bandwidth with a bandwidth allocation of 3KHz. This will allow future expansion into the currently unused high 1.5kHz Regional channels as more HRDCP are introduced.
Notes:
39 out of 44 3kHz Regional Channels are in Operational (3 reserved for the beacon and 2 are noisy)
14 of the kHz Regional Channels are in use
10 out of 11 3kHz International Channels are in use

16. DCS System Overview – EUMETCast Coverage
EUMETCAST AMERICAS
NSS-806, C-BAND
EUMETCAST EUROPE
EB-10, KU-BAND
Currently on EUMETCast we have three beams available. This diagram shows their respective coverage.
EUMETCAST AFRICA
AB-3, C-BAND

17. EUMETCast Transponder Satellite Location
Ku-band Transponder EUTELSAT™ 10a (10° E), Europe
C-band Transponder EUTELSAT™ 5 (5° W)
For further information on EUMETCast the document
TD 15 – EUMETCast - EUMETSAT's Broadcast System for Environmental Data
Doc.No.EUM/OPS/DOC/06/0118 v5B 8 February 2010.

18. DCS – Users Number of Operators – 125
Number of Countries – 66 (Europe, Africa, Asia)
Number of allocated Regional DCPs – 1066
Number of DCPs transmitting – 633
Currently there is only one truly International DCP
Read Slide

19. DCS – Users Numbers
Read Slide

20. EUMETSAT DCP User by country
Meteosat-7 is purely used for Tsunami Warning System over the Indian Ocean
Meteosat-9
Meteosat-7

21. DCS Applications
Other Photon AIRONET AGRO Climatologically

22. DCS Data Policy
Meteosat DCP Channels are available at no cost to NMSs of Member States for their Official Duty use, provided their messages are also made available through the Global Telecommunication System and discoverable in the WMO Information System (WIS).
Meteosat DCP Channels are also available at no cost for meteorological, geophysical and hydrological messages by NMSs of non-Member States, WMO and ECMWF provided they are also made available through the Global Telecommunications System (GTS) and discoverable in the WMO Information System (WIS).
Other Photon AIRONET AGRO Climatologically

23. The future of HRDCP
Currently there are no operational HRDCP using the Meteosat DCS. There are several reasons for this.
Lack of awareness of HRDCP availability
Low number of manufacturers
No European manufacturers
No established HRDCP users
The HRDCP from Signal Engineering is a comparable price to the existing SRDCP. (There are currently no European manufacturers producing SRDCP or HRDCP)
This means for no additional costs operators can benefit from the advantages of HRDCPs. Operators and system providers are the ones that need to be encouraged to request and propose systems that incorporate HRDCPs
EUMETSAT and manufacturers are actively publishing HRDCPs