A very small aperture terminal (VSAT) is a small-sized earth station used in the transmit/receive of data, voice and video signals over a satellite communication network, excluding broadcast television.
A VSAT consists of two parts: a transceiver placed outdoors in direct line of sight to the satellite, and a device that is placed indoors to interface the transceiver with the end user’s communications device, such as a PC.
The transceiver receives or sends a signal to a satellite transponder in the sky. The satellite sends and receives signals from a ground station computer that acts as a hub for the system.
Each end user is interconnected with the hub station via the satellite, forming a star topology.
Star topology VSAT is a type of network topology in which every device in the network is individually connected to a central node, known as the switch or hub. When represented visually, this topology resembles a star which gives it its name.
Star topologies are often combined with bus topologies, resulting in what’s called a tree. This occurs when the switch of the star topology is connected to the backbone of the bus topology.
The advantages to a star topology VSAT network are considerable, and include:
- Limits the impact of a single point of failure because each device is isolated by its relationship to the switch
- Adding or removing devices to the network is simple and doesn’t disrupt the network
- High-performance as no data collisions can occur
- Fault detection is easy
- Each device only requires one port to connect to the switch
Want to learn more about VSAT? Tonex offers VSAT Training, a 3-day bootcamp course that provides attendees with an in-depth background of VSAT techniques as well as a state of the art update on key emerging technologies and future systems.
Overall, Tonex offers nearly a dozen courses in Satellite Communications Training.
For more information, questions, comments, contact us.