Square Peg Communications Inc.

Square Peg Communications Inc.’s Mini-M / M4 Physical Layer Tester (MPLT) is a software application that runs on the generic Physical Layer Tester (PLT) platform. The MPLT supports the testing of physical layer performance and protocol implementation of Land Earth Stations and Mobile Earth Stations implementing Inmarsat Mini-M, M4, Fleet 33/55/77 and Swift 64 services.

The MPLT supports all of the Mini-M / M4 channel types using state of the art DSP based modem technology. A variety of interfaces are provided enabling external devices to be connected through the MPLT to the equipment under test.

The MPLT is a powerful and flexible test tool but is easy to use. A familiar Windows based user interface provides easy access to test functions, while a powerful scripting language allows every feature of the MPLT and equipment under test to be exercised in automated testcases and suites.

The MPLT has been successfully used by manufacturers worldwide in the type approval of MESs and the authorization of LESs.

The M4Net NCS/LES emulator can also be used with the MPLT to provide emulation of the end-to-end network.

Configuration
Capabilities
Downloads
Hardware
Transmit Capabilities
Modulators

5 simultaneous

Channel types

TDM (6 kbps BPSK)
TDMA (3 kbps BPSK)
ALOHA (3 kbps BPSK)
mini-M (2.8 ksps OQPSK)
M4 (33.6 ksps 16-QAM)
Test tones (CW, two-tone, etc.)

Channel impairments

Independently-specifiable parameters:

Fixed carrier frequency error
Doppler rate, peak offset
Reacquisition carrier offset
Adjacent channel interference level and frequency offset
Co-channel interference level
I/Q gain and phase imbalance
Continuous phase noise spectrum, level
Discrete phase noise level
Fading model, bandwidth, C/M ratio, differential delay
Phase jump distribution, magnitude, interval
Amplitude jump distribution, magnitude, interval
Transmission path delay
Symbol rate error
HPA non-linearity
AWGN
Receive Capabilities
General

Protocol Tester interface messages
Transmitted/received SUs and SCPC data
Test sequence progress and outcome
System events, faults, and abnormal conditions

Signal analysis

Signal analysis measurements
Signal analysis statistics
Raw input samples
Demodulator soft decisions

script Capabilities
General

Looping and conditional structures
User-defined variables and procedures
Compile-time symbol substitution
Conditional compilation
User input and interaction
Logging and displaying events and results
Integrated development environment

MPLT-specific

Configuring and controlling  modulators and demodulators
Flexible definition of SU formats
Sending and receiving SUs and SCPC data
Controlling channel simulator
Generating signal blockage events
Sending and receiving messages to simulate the Protocol Tester

Logging Capabilities
General

Protocol Tester interface messages
Transmitted/received SUs and SCPC data
Test sequence progress and outcome
System events, faults, and abnormal conditions

Signal analysis

Signal analysis measurements
Signal analysis statistics
Raw input samples
Demodulator soft decisions