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ATSI provides satellite communications and VSAT training courses that address the technologies, applications and services available world wide. Listed below are courses currently on offer, either directly by ATSI or through universities. Any of these can be tailored to the particular needs of an organization and provided on a customized and confidential basis, if desired. Requests, comments and suggestions should be provided through the contact form at the bottom of this page.

We have been involved with technical training in satellite communications, telecommunications and wireless for over 30 years. The specific related fields covered in our education and training programs include:

  • Satellite communications networks - broadband and mobile
  • Spacecraft communications payload and systems
  • Ground segments, earth stations and user terminals
  • Telecommunications systems (wired and wireless)
  • IT and Data Communications (local area and wide area networks)
  • E-business and the Internet
  • Network Management (centralized and distributed)
  • Engineering collaboration and virtual project management using new software and network tools and technology

Through an appropriate blending of technical concepts with vital issues in management, operations and business, our training has helped professionals contribute to their own career development and the advancement of their respective enterprises and departmentsOrganizations that have benefited include:

  • Northrop Grumman
  • Boeing
  • SES
  • Intelsat
  • Measat
  • US Army Signal Corps
  • US Air Force
  • US Navy
  • NASA
  • NOAA

Upcoming Courses at the Hawaii Satellite Center

SatCom Essentials - Kapolei, Hawaii, 14 April 2008. Hawaii Pacific Teleport

The course will be conducted over a two-day weekend at the newly refurbished training center at the Hawaii Pacific Teleport complex in Kapolei, Hawaii. The first course is scheduled for the weekend of May 31st, 2008 and will be limited to 60 participants on a first come, first served basis.

The “Satcom Essentials” course offers an innovative training methodology by mixing hands-on experience in a working teleport and technical and marketing sessions provided by leading industry authors and resource persons that include Bruce Elbert, President of Application Technology Strategy,Inc., Bill Allen of Allen Communications, Vince Waterson, Vice-President of Hawaii Satellite Center and Virgil Labrador, Editor-in-Chief of Satellite Markets and Research. The course content features sessions on satellite theory and regulation, satellite services marketing and business opportunities, among others.

For more information about the courses and the Hawaii Satellite Center download this brochure.

Upcoming Courses at UCLA Extension

On-The-Move Broadband Satellite Communications, July 14 - 16 2008 at UCLA Extension, Westwood, CA.  This course is being updated to focus on broadband satellite systems that serve all forms of moving platforms. These include vehicles, vessels and aircraft. The growing demand for communications bandwidth over all wireless media is a powerful motivator for the introduction of new satellite systems that exploit the frequency spectrum above 10 GHz. Broadband satellite networks can address the two primary telecommunications segments – access services to provide high-speed connectivity from various locations, and backbone services to expand the national, regional and global infrastructure. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of how such systems and networks can be developed and introduced to the full range of applications in commercial, government and international arenas. Building upon the fundamentals of satellite communications technology and systems, the specific approaches for designing a modern satellite network using Ku, Ka and higher frequencies are covered in sufficient detail so attendees can configure the major elements (space and ground), evaluate sources of equipment, and select the most appropriate satellite architecture and bandwidth. Applications in the commercial, government and international areas are detailed. New among this is the delivery of broadband communications to aeronautical platforms, including various aircraft and Unmanned Aeronautical Vehicles (UAVs). 

Among the principles to be reviewed in detail include:

·        Design of microwave, millimeter-wave and optical satellite links, including radio wave propagation (influenced heavily by rain attenuation) and system level approaches for dealing with it.

·        Architecture of the space segment, applying multi-beam antenna systems, wideband transponder channels, medium and high power electronics, and application of on-board processing and switching technology.

·        Definition and design of Ku and Ka-band access applications that may compete with broadband services such as DSL and cable modems.

·       Evaluation of wide area telecommunications for regional and international services to augment the fiber optic links already dominant in developed regions of the world.

·       Special characteristics of mobile platforms on commercial aircraft, ships and vehicles

·        Configuration of the ground segment using Ku, Ka and higher frequencies, taking into account the unique aspects of these bands and likely requirements for broadband services.

Broadband Satellite Course Description

Mobile Satellite Communications. With nearly 30 years of experience, mobile satellite service (MSS) has become a facet of the international telecommunications scene. The applications range from the first uses in maritime and aeronautical, to the development of a strong following on land.

This course builds on the early foundation and extends beyond the systems introduced prior to 2000. One must understand how we got here and what works before delving into what the new generation of MSS systems must look like. We review all of the applications, technology and operational issues in MSS, considering geostationary earth orbit (GEO) and non-GEO concepts and systems alike. The orbit strategy is only part of the equation – the course examines the elements of the overall architecture so that attendees will understand just what constitutes a working MSS network. This considers the all important air interface, the systems for processing and completing telephone and data calls across a wide region or the globe, and the regulatory issues that hamper the creation of a viable business.

In four days, we go in depth into the major aspects of a state-of-the-are MSS network – no important area is left uncovered. From this basic foundation, the course will identify how a new system can conceive and direct itself toward a success strategy; consideration of how any of the existing systems might expand their application base is also given. At all times, attendees are encouraged to ask questions and offer their own views and ideas throughout the course.

Download description of Mobile Satellite Communications

Satellite Communications VSAT Networks - Planning and Implementation. This is a new course intended for network engineers and planners who need cutting-edge information on how to plan and implement a satellite communications VSAT network. It provides the fundamentals and planning tools for a successful project. Included in the program is a full one-day workshop that would produce a workable project plan.

Download description of VSAT Networks course

Satellite and Terrestrial Communications - Achieving an Integrated Network. Satellite communications networks offer many possibilities and opportunities in bridging the digital divide and extending broadband services to remote sites. This course takes the next step in the process by defining, describing, and resolving critical issues related to making data and multimedia applications work through the geostationary satellite environment. Each day is dedicated to an important area of investigation and set of solutions to current-day and evolving problems that hamper the integration of satellite and terrestrial networks. Technical and operational aspects of interfacing application data from the user to the satellite network are detailed. How to properly employ key standards also is reviewed, such as TCP/IP, Gigabit Ethernet, Digital Video Broadcast, Asynchronous Transfer Mode, and IP Sec.

Detailed brochure for Satellite and Terrestrial Communications course

Satellite Communications Payload Design and System Architecture. Current and planned satellite systems for fixed and mobile use now demand an array of advanced design/analysis techniques and architecture strategies. Developed for communications engineers, satellite designers and systems architects, this popular course provides a practical understanding of how modern satellite payloads (repeater and antennas) and end-to-end systems are designed and assembled to meet the most demanding service requirements of the private and government sectors. Design objectives and principles for both analog “bent-pipe” and digital on-board processing repeaters are investigated. This is extended to the overall system regarding its architecture, conceptual design, and ground segment engineering. With a focus on digital narrowband and broadband applications, the course considers operations in all of the current frequency allocations: UHF, L, S, C, X, Ku, and Ka bands. The lectures are broken down into major areas of investigation that allow participants to focus on elements of a communications satellite payload, satellite constellation and ground segment, and how they combine into the overall system.

The course begins from a systems engineering standpoint by identifying the requirements for the satellite payload, constellation and end-to-end system using current applications in digital video and broadband media, the Internet protocols and services, optimized voice communication, and mobile services to land, sea, and airborne platforms. Requirements of the satellite payload are derived and specifications reviewed at the input/output and subsystem level. Performance of all major building blocks is assessed: the repeater and its components, and the antenna system. Design principles and performance budgets are reviewed for each element, such as receivers, multiplexers, power amplifiers, analog and digital processors, reflector and feeds, and phased-array antennas. Critical analysis concepts, such as loss budgeting, group delay, intermodulation distortion, digital impairments, cross-polarization, adjacent satellite, and adjacent channel interference, are covered for the subsystem and system designer. Also presented are strategies to compile requirements and pursue the spectrum/orbit resource needed for success.

This course helps participants to:

·         Understand how system requirements are transformed into design elements and specifications for the satellite communications payload

·         Acquire design skills for configuring a bent-pipe repeater subsystem and the associated shaped beam antenna

·         Understand the specific capabilities of different repeater components—low-noise amplifiers, filters, channel and power amplifiers, and power combiners—that are critical to meeting overall payload performance requirements

·         Gain familiarity with the capabilities of digital on-board processing repeaters and the applications to which they are best suited

·         Understand overall system architecture and the capabilities of ground segment elements—earth stations and user terminals—to integrate with the communications payload on an end-to-end system basis

·         Be able to describe an overall system that addresses the service requirements and can be developed using currently available components in space and on the ground

·         Create and pursue an effective spectrum/orbit acquisition strategy

In addition to a thorough review of the satellite payload design process, the ground segment and overall system are investigated, including requirements for major earth stations and user terminals to deliver one-way receive services, such as digital Direct-to-Home (DTH) TV, Digital Audio Radio Service via Satellite (DARS), and data broadcasting or two-way interactive services using VSAT and mobile communications technologies. Design tools for link budgets and end-to-end performance assessment are presented and demonstrated. The course concludes by considering a practical methodology for evaluating and optimizing the performance of the overall system. Throughout the course, emphasis is on design principles using classical mathematical techniques, along with modern software tools for personal computers. Examples are used extensively and participants are encouraged to bring along their particular design problems for consideration in class.

Detailed information about Payload Design and System Architecture course

Ground Segment and Earth Station Engineering for Satellite Communications. This course presents a comprehensive, up-to-date development of ground segment engineering principles and techniques for satellite communications engineers, earth station developers and operators, and providers of the wide array of voice, data, video, and Internet services with GEO and non-GEO satellites. Instruction addresses earth station design, user terminal configuration and production, and facility design and operation, providing a detailed and integrated understanding of how to proceed with large complex projects as well as small tasks to upgrade facilities or add remote sites. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on the latest technologies and techniques, particularly in the areas of digital communications, RF and wireless design through modern procedures, and production of a workable ground-based facility that meets both current needs and that can be adapted to future requirements. A detailed tour of a working earth station under our lead provides attendees with a view of the practical implementation and operation of this type of facility. (A copy of The Satellite Communication Ground Segment and Earth Station Handbook, by Bruce Elbert, is distributed to each attendee along with course notes.)

Description of Ground Segment course

Satellite Link Budget Training using SatMaster Pro/Plus software for the personal computer, to be scheduled in 2008, at UCLA Extension, Westwood, CA. This acclaimed course consists of guidelines and intensive hands-on training in the preparation and evaluation of satellite link budgets using the popular PC software tool, SatMaster Pro (available from Arrowe Technical Services of the UK at nominal cost). Engineers and technical managers who are already familiar with satellite communications principles can profit from this two day hands-on program which explains the use of the software tool, its strengths and multiplicity of built in features. Attendees with learn to perform link budget analyses for one way (broadcast) and two way (interactive) communications applications in L, S, C, Ku and Ka bands. Features of the most recent version of SatMaster Pro will be covered as well as the latest software module, MultiLink, which facilitates link budget preparation for large tables of locations.

The first day covers the technical details within the link budget (modulation and coding properties, propagation for fixed links at microwave frequencies, relevant RF design principles, and the functionality of SatMaster Pro). The second day allows attendees to gain hands-on experience performing link budgets in the UCLA computer laboratory according to instructor-led exercises. Amongst the examples are link budgets for digital video using the DVB-S transmission standard, bi-directional VSAT services based on TDMA, point-to-point high data rate services, and mobile satellite communications. Attendees will gain proficiency with both the process of preparing link budgets and the most effective use of this powerful but inexpensive software tool.

Detailed brochure for SatMaster course

ATSI can provide on-site  training in SatMaster Pro and other software offered by Arrowe Technical Services. Courses last from 2 to 4 days, based on the particular needs of the client. As part of the program, we can provide the latest version of SatMaster Pro for use in the class and subsequently by the student on the job. Training is priced based on the amount of time spent in the classroom and computer lab.

Please indicate your interest in an on-site course by completing the input form at the bottom of this page.

Satellite Communications Networks and Applications: Creating Next-Generation Systems in Commercial and Government Environments, to be scheduled in 2008, UCLA in Westwood, CA. This course provides an intensive state-of-the-art review of satellite communications networks and applications from a system development perspective. Intended for technical, operations, and business professionals as well as newcomers to satellite technology, the course details the fundamentals, architecture, and development of modern satellite networks, with emphasis on cutting-edge broadcast, interactive, and mobile applications. Topics include satellite and ground station principles, digital image and full-motion video for broadcast distribution using the MPEG 2 and 4, DVB-S and S2 standards, and IP Video; Internet Protocol (IP)-based data networks using Ku- and Ka-band Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) applied to fixed networks as well as those having location flexibility; L- and S-band mobile satellite services and propagation (GEO and non-GEO); mobile broadcasting using Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS) systems; and advanced broadband capabilities of Ka-band satellite systems currently under development. Emphasis is placed on the proper selection of requirements, technologies and their providers (space and ground), and on the most effective ways to architect the associated satellite networks.

Led by satellite industry expert Bruce Elbert, the course provides background in the fundamentals of, a detailed review of current applications and implementations for, and a unique approach to the selection and development of advanced satellite networks for use in commercial and government environments. It is appropriate for engineers and managers new to the field as well as experienced professionals wishing to update and round out their understanding of current systems and solutions.

(A copy of The Satellite Communication Application Handbook, 2nd edition (2004) by Bruce Elbert, is distributed to each attendee along with course notes).

Course description

SATCOM Networks - Broadband, mobility and innovation for government services. Washington D.C. - To be scheduled in 2008. Bruce Elbert, President ASTI, Instructor and Coordinator, and Andrew C. Oak, Chief Engineer, Communications and Network Systems Engineering Group, The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Invited Expert.

Satellite networks are a core telecommunications resource for military forces and homeland security teams that must locate anywhere and anytime. Because of greater needs for bandwidth and portability, the large fixed earth stations of the past no longer meet demanding requirements of critical units as they deploy throughout the US and worldwide. This course reviews the current framework for using modern communications satellites and looks to the coming years regarding the potential for even more innovation. The approach to the course is at a system level and delves into sufficient technical detail to demonstrate what is feasible and likely to be applied in practice. A fundamental requirement is that broadband services be delivered to end points of demand, and that the service is up and running reliably when and where needed. Accomplishing this, while not trivial, is much easier today than ever before because there are more satellites and more options for ground-based systems that can be architected to meet many of these requirements.

The course reviews critical issues concerning cutting-edge SATCOM technology and services. Principle among these is the selection of the appropriate space segment in terms of the orbit and constellation, satellite architecture, and owner/provider. In achieving broadband access and mobility, the different frequency bands and supporting systems are compared – X, SHF, UHF and Optical wavelengths on the government side, and L, S, C and Ku on the commercial side. Applying satellite technology also requires that the potential user consider the security aspects of interception and harmful interference, both unintentional and intentional.

The enabling and emerging SATCOM technologies that we review assure that points of presence are served regardless of their location whether fixed, temporary or mobile. In the case of the latter, we address portable (including manpack) systems, vehicular mounted terminals, which may offer broadband access on the move, Blue Force asset tracking, and aeronautical platforms that can be either manned or unmanned (i.e., UAVs). These platforms must match the particular application, and the satellites involved with providing domestic coverage for homeland security or internationally for operations in a far-flung theatre.

Currently, SATCOM is the domain of the geostationary earth orbit (GEO) which contains more than 250 operating satellites. With most of these capable of broadband services, it is the primary focus of both users in general and this course in particular. Programs to be reviewed include the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS), Global Broadcast System (GBS), Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), and the Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT). TSAT is particularly interesting as it has as its goal the exploitation of the optical spectrum for use in various defense scenarios.

Also reviewed are purchase of bulk commercial satellite capacity by the US government, notably the GSA Satcom II program and various efforts of the Defense Information Systems Administration (DISA). So that we cover all possibilities, a topic to be addressed is the potential for small, low cost satellites in a variety of orbits which could offer value on the battlefield and home-front of the future.

We discuss three areas that are likely to be very important for broadband SATCOM acceptance throughout commercial and government sectors; the fact that a majority of broadband use is via the TCP/IP Internet protocol family, we see that acceptable latency and throughput over a GEO or non-GEO satellite link is of prime importance. Topics such as TCP/IP acceleration and advanced protocol gateways, routing in space, and possible structural modifications will be covered in the current context. Greater throughput and higher speed are the promise of bandwidth-efficient modulation (BEM) and related waveforms and error-correcting coding schemes. Also, digital on-board processing will provide compact user devices with more flexibility and bandwidth.

To bring these topics together and to life, the course will examine a complete SATCOM requirement and solution involving a mobile broadband application. We will review the need, identify alternatives that can address those needs, and recommend the most suitable and cost-effective approach. The conclusion of the course will embody a review of future trends that will shape SATCOM in the next five to ten years. Central among these is the direction of technology and application at the higher (SHF) frequencies as compared to the opportunities in the optical realm. Also to be addressed is the extent that government users and commercial providers can share risk at a time when demands are great. Underlying the technical foundation is the question of which standards will continue and what new standards are likely to appear and take hold. Future innovations are certainly likely on the ground and so we address hybrid networks that integrate SATCOM with terrestrial wired and wireless systems

Andrew Oak is a member of the Principal Professional Staff at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, where he serves as the Chief Engineer for the Communications and Network Systems Engineering Group.  In this role, Mr. Oak has assisted in the architecture definition and development of satellite communications and other wireless systems for DoD and other U.S. Government customers.  He recently supported the U.S. Navy in the development of the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS).  Mr. Oak provided support from early MUOS architecture definition through the recent critical design phase, providing system performance assessments to help the community continually refine and improve the architecture as it progressed through development phases.  Mr. Oak received a B.S.E.E. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and an M.S.E.E. from the University of Virginia.

Courses at the University of Wisconsin – Madison

The University of Wisconsin – Madison (UW Mad) offers an innovative masters degree program for practicing engineers of all kinds. It is the Master of Engineering in Professional Practice (MEPP), and it is offered to masters students using the Internet and voice teleconferencing. The link to this program is as follows:

http://mepp.engr.wisc.edu/

Engineering/Business Data Communications - Engineering project teams are often separated geographically or work on different time schedules. These teams may also represent more than one company, agency or division, which means that they can be using different application software and be tied to different networks.

Working effectively across these boundaries requires an understanding of how engineering and business data is created, stored, transformed and communicated.

Technology in data communications and telecommunications is changing rapidly and this course provides a fundamental understanding of engineering and business data and relates this understanding to practical issues facing engineering groups today.

The eleven lesson modules of EBDC are as follows:

  1. Engineering Situations and the Data They Entail

  2. Data Communication Fundamentals

  3. Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) Remote Access and Management

  4. Local and Wide Area Networking

  5. Internet Technology and Its Evolving Role

  6. Network Applications and Data Types in Concurrent Engineering

  7. Virtual Project Management

  8. Wireless Data Communications: Cellular, 3G and W-LANs

  9. Enterprise Integration Software:  ERP, Supply Chain Management and Customer Relationship Management

  10. Project development

  11. Project presentation

The last two lessons involve class projects, which are prepared on both an individual basis and in teams. The latter is intended both to enhance understanding of IT principles and to gain proficiency while performing within virtual project teams.

Course Summary

Implementing the The Virtual Office - Managing Distributed Teams and Groups Through New Tools and Technology, to be scheduled. This course provides tools and methodologies for technical managers who contribute through distributed teams and remote engineering groups. It presents workable strategies for organizing group activities and projects to enhance collaboration among team members regardless of their organization and/or location.

Major topics include:

  • Opportunities and value gained through adoption and use of distributed team management technology
  • Organizational activities most appropriate to this approach
  • Approaches for improving the working relationship with and results delivered by IT support professionals not directly involved with the distributed team or project
  • A survey of technology platforms and tools now available and proven in real technical environments

The course shows technical managers how to work with IT professionals to marshal Internet resources to achieve optimum efficiency and success over virtually any geographic obstacle. While these resources are already in place—PCs and laptops, networks, e-mail, Web servers, video conferencing, etc.—the course addresses the challenges of successfully integrating the management tools with the available information technology tools. A workshop is conducted where each attendee develops an individual analysis and draft plan for creating a state-of-the-art virtual office for their organization or project.

Virtual Office Management and Technology training can be provided on-site at your office or facility. This will allow us to better address the unique needs and situation of your organization. Please indicate interest using the input form at the bottom of this page.

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On-Site Courses from ATSI

ATSI can deliver on-site instruction at almost any location. The content can be from any of the above courses, including modified and customized versions. The advantages of on-site instruction include:

  1. The amount of student travel expense is potentially reduced.

  2. There could be a reduced instructional cost per student as the course can be delivered on a fixed-price basis

  3. Some administrative costs, including printing, can be reduced or eliminated

  4. The course can be customized for the audience

  5. Attendance can be limited to members of one organization, this providing confidentiality

Please indicate your interest in on-site courses, including organization, subject, location and potential date, by completing the form.

Name, First and Last
Email Address
Telephone Number
Organization:
Position/Title:
Location:
Subject Matter of Interest:
Student/Attendee Audience::
Potential Date:

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