Satellite Telephone Test System Upgrade

RTT Test System

Vektrex enhanced the RTT test system by providing additional frequency flexibility. The RTT product is a satellite phone with a difference – it uses existing satellites with spare capacity. This gives it an edge over competitors that must launch their own satellite constellations. To sell RTTs in a new area, the manufacturer changes the frequency of the units to work with a satellite that covers the area. The problem was the existing RTT test system was not adaptable to these different frequencies.

Expertise Used

RF, Microwave

Additional Information

Vektrex upgraded the RTT test system so configuration files contain all the test parameters – one set of files per frequency band. The software design allows engineers to add new frequency bands to the RTT test system as the need arises, without code modification. The team of Vektrex software engineers and manufacturer RF engineers also took the opportunity to upgrade several tests and one of the test instruments (an RF signal generator) that was heading for obsolescence. These changes assure the system maintainability well into the future.