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 VertexRSI's ModuMAX SSPA is a
completely modular solid-state power amplifier system for worldwide
satellite communications.
Gabe Vitorla, Vice President, Sales
for VertexRSI's Electronic Products, said, "Most satellite
earth stations cannot afford down time due to equipment failure, so
they use redundancy -two of everything - at a significant increase
in cost and complexity. This made sense when the final amplifier
stage was a single tube and thus had a single point failure.
However, now that solid state is a viable and practical amplifier
technology, solutions other than brute force redundancy make better
sense. With the ModuMAX series, one fault-tolerant SSPA can replace
two power amplifiers for a huge savings in installation and
operating costs."
Easy to Install:
When Patrick Chapple served as Chief, Global Satellite Maintenance
Operation, for Voice of America's International Broadcast Bureau, he
brought a ModuMAX SSPA online at their operations center. This is
what he had to say about installing the unit in a letter to
VertexRSI's State College facility:
Dear Joe and
Chris,
I wanted to let you know that I would not need
your assistance in setup and instruction/training that I had
stipulated on the purchase order for this ModuMax. I decided
that I would just turn my operators loose and see how easy it
was. I have to tell you that it was packaged well and that it
went together easy enough for anyone to assemble.
I am not sure if you know why I bought this unit;
however, as you may know, I have in operation, 9 racks of
2.25kW CPI units delivering 56 languages and 8 video networks
to 8 satellites and over 13 transponders. Some are multiple
carriers; and of course, I must run 7 dB backed off on those
units. I am also very concerned with reliability and
redundancy. Most of my units are 2:1 redundant, but I must
also buy spares so as not to leave any earth station in a
"single thread mode" while in repair. This ModuMax
unit fits the bill, as I can hot swap any problem modules and
keep on cooking.
I am especially happy with the 4 dB of headroom I
have gained by using the SSPA considering intermodulation
product with multiple carriers. Due to dish size
considerations in the middle of the city, I needed more
"clean power". I now have it. The unit is currently
my prime for an MCPC carrier that supports the POR, IOR and
AsiaSat delivery.
I have some 400 watt MAXTECH units overseas that
have served me very well and have no doubt this unit will be
as reliable as it is flexible.
Thank you very much,
Many Regards
Patrick Chapple
Chief, Global Satellite Maintenance/Operation
International Broadcast Bureau
Voice of America
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Easy to Operate and Maintain
On line:
ModuMAX SSPAs are designed
to be easy to operate and maintain. The most commonly used controls
are brought out to the front panel for quick and easy access. All
features are fully remote controllable through the standard
RD-232/-422/-485 interface. Servicing is fast and easy with eight
hot-swappable RF modules that are accessible from the front panel.
Modules can be removed and replaced while the SSPA continues to
operate. Any of the eight fans in the air cooling system can be
easily removed and replaced all without ever taking the SSPA off
line. Even the power supply is N+1 redundant, consisting of three
hot-swappable plug-in modules any two of which are fully capable of
powering the entire amplifier. In addition, all servicing can be
performed safely while the SSPA continues to operate.
"ModuMAX delivers flexible and
reliable power for satellite communications," Vitorla added.
"It's easy to install and its hot swappable modules allows
ModuMAX to effectively eliminate downtime."
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