CDM-625 ADVANCED SATELLITE MODEM
The CDM-625 Advanced Satellite Modem builds on Comtech EF Data’s legacy of providing the most efficient satellite modems. It is the first modem to combine advanced Forward Error Correction (FEC) such as VersaFEC® and Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codes with the revolutionary DoubleTalk® Carrier-in- Carrier® bandwidth compression, allowing for maximum savings under all conditions. This combination of advanced technologies enables multi-dimensional optimization, allowing satellite communications users to:
- Minimize operating expenses (OPEX)
- Maximize throughput without using additional transponder resources
- Maximize availability (margin) without using additional transponder resources
- Minimize capital expenses (CAPEX) by allowing a smaller BUC/HPA and/or antenna
- Or, a combination to meet specific business needs
The advanced technologies and features of CDM-625 are covered by a number of U.S. patents including 7,254,188, 7,353,444, 7,415,659 and other pending patents.
CDM-625 FEATURES
- DoubleTalk Carrier-in-Carrier bandwidth compression
- Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM)
- IP Packet Processor with header compression, payload compression and advanced Quality of Service (QoS)
- Dual Band Capability: 70/140 MHz and L-Band in same unit
- Data Rate: 18 kbps to 25 Mbps
- Symbol Rate: 18 ksps to 12.5 Msps
- Modulation: BPSK, QPSK/OQPSK, 8-PSK/8- QAM, 16-QAM
- FEC: Viterbi, Sequential, Concatenated Reed Solomon, TCM, Turbo Product Code (TPC) (IESS-315 Compliant), LDPC Code and VersaFEC (low-latency LDPC)
- Widest Range of data interfaces: EIA-422/530, V.35, G.703 T1, G.703 E1, G.703 T2, G.703 E2, Quad G.703 E1, ASI, LVDS, HSSI, 4-port 10/100Base-T Ethernet
- 4-port managed Ethernet switch with VLAN and QoS
- Sub Mux to multiplex IP/Ethernet traffic with serial or G.703 traffic
- Drop & insert for T1/
- Enhanced D&I++ for single T1/E1 & quad E1
- Management: 10/100Base-T Ethernet with SNMP, Distant End SNMP Proxy, HTTP ,Telnet and EIA-232/EIA-485
- Embedded Distant-end Monitor and Control (EDMAC)
- Automatic Uplink Power Control (AUPC)
- Engineering Service Channel (ESC/ESC++)
- Standard high -stability internal reference (± 6 x 10-8)
- 5-tap Adaptive Equalizer
- L-Band TX: 10 MHz reference for BUC, FSK communications and optional BUC power supply
- L-Band RX: 10 MHz reference and LNB power supply
- Open network modes
- CDM-600/L emulation mode
- 1:1 and 1:10 redundancy switches available
- Backwards compatible with CDM-500/CDM-550, CDM-550T, CDM-570/L and CDM-600/L Satellite Modems
- Interoperable with many Comtech EF Data Satellite Modems: CDM-Qx/L, SDM-8000, 300A, and 300L3
DOUBLETALK CARRIER-IN-CARRIER
DoubleTalk Carrier-in-Carrier, based on patented “Adaptive Cancellation” technology, allows transmit and receive carriers
of a duplex link to share the same transponder space.
Figure 1 shows the typical full duplex satellite link, where the two carriers are adjacent to each other. Figure 2 shows the
typical DoubleTalk Carrier-in-Carrier operation, where the two carriers are overlapping, thus sharing the same spectrum.

When observed on a spectrum analyzer, only the Composite is visible. Carrier 1 and Carrier 2 are shown in Figure 2 for reference only.
| DoubleTalk Carrier-in-Carrier is complementary to all advances in modem technology, including advanced FEC and modulation techniques. As these technologies approach theoretical limits of power and bandwidth efficiency, DoubleTalk Carrier-in-Carrier utilizing advanced signal processing techniques provides a new dimension in bandwidth and power efficiency. DoubleTalk Carrier-in-Carrier allows satellite users to achieve spectral efficiencies (i.e. bps/Hz) that cannot be achieved with traditional links. E.g., DoubleTalk Carrier-in-Carrier when used with 16-QAM approaches the bandwidth efficiency of 256-QAM (8bps/Hz). As DoubleTalk Carrier-in-Carrier allows equivalent spectral efficiency using a lower order Modulation and/or FEC Code, it can simultaneously reduce CAPEX by allowing a smaller BUC/HPA and/or antenna. When combined with VersaFEC or LDPC/TPC, it can provide unprecedented savings in transponder bandwidth and power utilization. This allows for its successful deployment in bandwidth-limited and power-limited scenarios, as well as reduction in Earth Station BUC/HPA power requirements. VERSAFEC FORWARD ERROR CORRECTIONCDM-625 is the first modem to offer VersaFEC, a patented (covered by U.S. patents 7,353,444 and 7,415,659; other patents pending) system of high performance short-block lowlatency LDPC codes designed to support latency-sensitive applications, such as cellular backhaul over satellite. VersaFEC provides excellent coding gain with lowest possible latency. VersaFEC’s Eb/No performance is similar to that of DVB-S2 (short block) or LDPC (16k block) with 70-90% lower latency. Compared to TPC, VersaFEC can provide coding gain of 1.0 dB or more. ADAPTIVE CODING & MODULATION (ACM)Satellite users have traditionally relied on worst case link margin to overcome rain fade which leads to significant inefficiencies. ACM converts the fade margin into increased throughput – gain of 100% or more is possible. The CDM-625 with VersaFEC was specifically architected to support ACM for IP/Ethernet traffic. ACM maximizes throughput under all conditions – rain fade, inclined orbit satellite operation, antenna mis-pointing, noise, interference and other impairments. VersaFEC ACM can provide almost 85% reduction in latency compared to DVB-S2 (short block). ACM can also be used with DoubleTalk Carrier-in-Carrier. LOW DENSITY PARITY CHECK CODES (LDPC) & TURBO PRODUCT CODES (TPC)CDM-625 offers an integrated LDPC and 2nd Generation TPC codec. LDPC is an advanced Forward Error Correction technique capable of providing performance much closer to Shannon limit. The current LDPC implementation can provide 0.7 to 1.2 dB additional coding gain compared to an equivalent TPC code. In order to take full advantage of the increased coding gain provided by LDPC, Comtech EF Data has developed a patented 8-QAM modulation (U.S. patent 7,254,188) that allows for acquisition and tracking at much lower Eb/No compared to 8- PSK. DUAL BAND CAPABILITYCDM-625 supports 70/140 MHz and L-Band capability in the same unit with independently selectable transmit and receive IF. This simplifies sparing and stocking in networks requiring 70/140 MHz and L-Band units. 4-PORT MANAGED ETHERNET SWITCH WITH VLAN & QOSCDM-625 base modem incorporates a 4-port 10/100Base-T managed Ethernet switch with VLAN capability and prioritybased Quality of Service (QoS). Access (Native) Mode and Trunk Mode are supported. Traffic can be prioritized using portbased priority or VLAN priority. The maximum Ethernet frame size is 1536 bytes. IP PACKET PROCESSORThe IP Packet Processor enables efficient IP networking and transport over satellite by adding routing capability with very low overhead encapsulation, header compression, payload compression and Quality of Service to the CDM-625. The advanced QoS combined with header and payload compression ensures the highest quality of service with minimal jitter and latency for real-time traffic, priority treatment of mission critical applications and maximum bandwidth efficiency. | Header Compression Payload Compression Streamline Encapsulation (SLE) Advanced Quality of Service (QoS) Supported modes are:
QUAD E1 INTERFACE (QDI) WITH ENHANCED D&I++The CDM-625 supports a Quad E1 interface that can aggregate up to four full or fractional E1s into a single carrier, with very low overhead. This provides significant CAPEX savings by reducing the number of modems and could possibly reduce the BUC/HPA size by eliminating the multi-carrier backoff. A proprietary, closed network Drop & Insert (D&I++) allows for Dropping or Inserting any combination of 1 to 31 time slots on each E1. D&I++ is supported for E1-CCS only. For QDI operation, all E1s must have a common clock source. IP SUB MULTIPLEXERThe IP Sub Mux allows multiplexing IP/Ethernet traffic with serial or G.703 traffic into a single carrier. This is particularly useful for cellular backhaul when both E1 and IP backhaul is required. This reduces the number of modems and could possibly reduce the BUC/HPA size by eliminating the multicarrier backoff. EDMAC & AUPCThe CDM-625 supports EDMAC, EDMAC-2, EDMAC-3 and AUPC. EDMAC/EDMAC-2/EDMAC-3 can be used to monitor and control the distant end of a satellite link using a proprietary overhead channel. EDMAC-3 is also used for SNMP management of the distant end modem. AUPC enables automatic uplink power control for a duplex link. MANAGEMENT & SNMP PROXYThe modem can be managed via the front panel, the remote M&C port (EIA-232/EIA-485), or the 10/100Base-T Ethernet port. With support for SNMP, HTTP and Telnet, the modem can be easily integrated into an IP-based management system. The CDM-625 can also act as SNMP proxy for the distant end modem. This allows distant end modem management using SNMP without requiring an end-to-end IP link. CDM-600/CDM-600L EMULATION MODECDM-625 can be placed in CDM-600 or CDM-600L emulation mode. This permits easy integration into an existing CDM-600/L setup without changes to M&C platform or redundancy switches. FEATURE ENHANCEMENTSEnhancing the capability of the CDM-625 in the field is easy. Features that do not require additional hardware can be added on site, using FAST access codes purchased from Comtech EF Data. |

| Part Number | CDM-625 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Comtech EF Data |
| System Specifications | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Rate | 18 kbps to 25 Mbps, in 1 bps steps (Modulation, FEC & Data Interface dependant) | ||||||||||
| Symbol Rate | 18 ksps to 12.5 Msps | ||||||||||
| Operating Frequency | 50 – 180 MHz (Standard) AND 950 – 1950 MHz (Option), 100 Hz Resolution, Independent TX and RX operation | ||||||||||
| Major Operating Modes | Open Network, per IESS-308 / 309 / 310 / 314 Transparent, Closed Network per IESS-315 LDPC / TPC Codec (Optional Plug-in Module) EDMAC Framed with/without AUPC RS Outer Codec High Rate ESC / Enhanced ESC (ESC++) Drop & Insert (D&I) /Enhanced D&I++ Quad E1 Drop & Insert (QDI) DoubleTalk Carrier-in-Carrier | ||||||||||
| FEC Options | |||||||||||
| None | Uncoded BPSK/QPSK/OQPSK | ||||||||||
| Viterbi: k=7, per IESS-308/309 | Rate 1/2 BPS/QPSK/OQPSK Rate 3/4 QPSK/OQPSK Rate 7/8 QPSK/OQPSK | ||||||||||
| Viterbi with Reed Solomon | Rate 3/4 16-QAM Rate 7/8 16-QAM | ||||||||||
| Reed Solomon | Open Network and Closed Network modes | ||||||||||
| TCM (Per IESS-310) | 8-PSK/TCM Rate 2/3 | ||||||||||
| Integrated LDPC and TPC (2nd Gen) Codec (Optional Plug-in Module) | LDPC Code Rates Rate 1/2 BPSK/QPSK/OQPSK Rate 2/3 QPSK/OQPSK/8-PSK/8-QAM Rate 3/4 QPSK/OQPSK/8-PSK/8-QAM/16-QAM TPC Code Rates Rate 5/16 BPSK Rate 21/44 BPSK/QPSK/OQPSK Rate 3/4 QPSK/OQPSK/8-PSK/8-QAM/16-QAM Rate 7/8 QPSK/OQPSK/8-PSK/8-QAM/16-QAM Rate 0.95 QPSK/OQPSK/8-PSK/8-QAM | ||||||||||
| Scrambling | IDR Mode, no RS, - per ITU V.35 (Intelsat variant) IBS mode, no RS - per IESS-309, externally frame synchronized Transparent Closed Network mode, no RS or TPC/LDPC - per ITU V.35 (Intelsat variant) EDMAC mode, no RS coding - externally frame synchronized (proprietary) TPC/LDPC modes - externally frame synchronized (proprietary) All RS modes - externally frame synchronized per IESS-308/309/310 | ||||||||||
| Management | 10/100 BaseT Ethernet with SNMP, HTTP and Telnet support, EIA-232, EIA-485 (2- or 4-wire) | ||||||||||
| Form C Relays | Hardware fault, Rx and Tx Traffic Alarms, Open Network Backward Alarms | ||||||||||
| External Reference (Input OR Output) | BNC Connector Input: 1, 2, 5, or 10 MHz, -6 dBm to +10 dBm, 50Ω/75Ω (nominal) Output: 10 MHz, 2.7 V peak-to-peak ± 0.4 V, Low Impedance Output | ||||||||||
| Modulator | |||||||||||
| Frequency Stability | ±0.06 ppm (±6 x 10-8), 0° to 50°C (32° to 122° F) with Internal Reference | ||||||||||
| Transmit Filtering | Per IESS-308 | ||||||||||
| Harmonics and Spurious | Better than -60 dBc/4 kHz (typically <-65 dBc/4kHz) Measured from 1 to 500 MHz (50-180 MHz band) Measured F0 ± 500 MHz (950-1950 MHz band) | ||||||||||
| Transmit On/Off Ratio | -60 dBc minimum | ||||||||||
| Output Phase Noise | < 0.480° rms double sided, 100 Hz to 1MHz (Minimum 16 dB better overall than the INTELSAT IESS-308/309 requirements)
The sum of all other single sideband spurious, from 0 to 0.75 x symbol rate, is -48 dBc or lower | ||||||||||
| Output Power | 50-180 MHz: 0 to -25 dBm, 0.1 dB steps (0 to -20 dBm in CDM-600 emulation mode) 950-1950 MHz: 0 to -40 dBm, 0.1 dB steps (0 to -45 dBm in CDM-600L emulation mode, but power accuracy and spurious only guaranteed to -40 dBm) | ||||||||||
| Power Accuracy | 50-180 MHz: ±0.5 dB over frequency, data rate, modulation type and temperature range of 15 to 35° C ±0.8 dB over frequency, data rate, modulation type and temperature range of 0 to 50° C 950-1950 MHz: ±0.7 dB over frequency, data rate, modulation type and temperature range of 15 to 35° C ±1.0 dB over frequency, data rate, modulation type and temperature range of 0 to 50° C | ||||||||||
| Output Impedance & Return Loss | 50-180 MHz: 50Ω/75Ω, 16 db minimum return loss (18 dB typical), BNC Connector 950-1950 MHz: 50Ω, 19 db minimum return loss (21 dB typical), Type-N Connector | ||||||||||
| Clocking Options | Internal, ±0.06 ppm (SCT) External, locking over a ±100 ppm range (TT) Loop timing (Rx satellite clock) - supports asymmetric operation External Clock | ||||||||||
| External Tx Carrier Off | By TTL 'low' signal or external contact closure | ||||||||||
| BUC Reference (10 MHz | Via TX IF center conductor, 10.0 MHz ± 0.06 ppm (With internal reference), selectable ON/OFF, 0.0 dBm ± 3 dB | ||||||||||
| BUC Power Supply (HW Option) | 24VDC, 4.17 Amps max., 90 W @ 50° C 48VDC, 3.125 Amps max., 150W @ 50° C (180 W @ 30° C) Supplied through Tx IF center conductor and selectable ON/OFF via M&C control. | ||||||||||
| Demodulator | |||||||||||
| Input Power Range, Desired Carrier | 50-180 MHz: -105 + 10 log (symbol rate) to -70 + 10 log (symbol rate) dBm 950-1950 MHz: -130 + 10 log (symbol rate) to -80 + 10 log (symbol rate) dBm | ||||||||||
| Max Composite Operating Level | 50-180 MHz: 94 - 10 log (symbol rate, desired carrier) dBc, +10 dBm max, with the additional requirement that within ±10 MHz of the desired carrier the composite power is ≤ +30 dBc 950-1950 MHz: 102 - 10 log (symbol rate, desired carrier) dBc, +10 dBm max, with the additional requirement that within ±10 MHz of the desired carrier the composite power is ≤ +30 dBc | ||||||||||
| Absolute Maximum | +20 dBm | ||||||||||
| Adaptive Equalizer | 5-tap design, selectable ON/OFF | ||||||||||
| Acquisition Range | Programmable in 1kHz increments Below 32 ksymbols/sec: ±1 kHz to ± (Rs) kHz, where Rs = symbol rate in ksymbols/sec Between 32 and 389 ksymbols/sec: ±1 kHz to ±32 kHz Above 389 ksymbols/sec: ±1 kHz to ± (0.1 * Rs) kHz, up to a maximum of ± 200 kHz | ||||||||||
| Acquisition Time | Highly dependent on data rate, FEC rate, and demodulator acquisition range. E.g.: 120 ms average at 64 kbps, R1/2 QPSK, ±10 kHz acquisition sweep range, 6 dB Eb/No | ||||||||||
| Plesiochronous/ Doppler Buffer | Selectable from 64 to 262,144 bits, in 16-bit steps (Additional limitations for G.704 frame boundaries) | ||||||||||
| Receive Clock | Rx Satellite, Tx Terrestrial, External Reference | ||||||||||
| Clock Tracking | ± 100 ppm minimum | ||||||||||
| LNB Reference (10 MHz) | Via RX IF center conductor, 10.0 MHz ± 0.06 ppm (With internal reference), selectable ON/OFF, -3.0 dBm ± 3 dB | ||||||||||
| LNB Voltage | Selectable ON/OFF, 13 VDC, 18 VDC per DiSEq 4.2 and 24 VDC at 500 mA maximum | ||||||||||
| Monitor Functions | Eb/N0 estimate, Corrected BER, Frequency offset, Buffer fill state, Receive signal level | ||||||||||
| Doubletalk Carrier-In-Carrier | |||||||||||
| Delay Range | 0 to 330 ms | ||||||||||
| Power Spectral Density Ratio | –7 dB to +11 dB (Interferer to Desired) | ||||||||||
| Eb/N0 Degradation | 0 dB Power Spectral Density Ratio BPSK/QPSK/OQPSK: 0.3 dB 8-QAM: 0.4 dB 8-PSK: 0.5 dB 16-QAM: 0.6 dB +10 dB Power Spectral Density Ratio Additional 0.3 dB | ||||||||||
| Satellite Restrictions | Satellite in “loop-back” mode (i.e., the Transmit Station can receive itself) “Non-processing” satellite (i.e., does not demodulate/remodulate the signal) | ||||||||||
| Environmental And Physical | |||||||||||
| Temperature | Operating: 0 to 50ºC (32 to 122°F) Storage: -25 to 85ºC (-13 to 185ºF) | ||||||||||
| Power Supply | 100 - 240 VAC, +6%/-10%, 50/60 Hz, Auto sensing -48 VDC (HW Option) | ||||||||||
| Power Consumption | 48 watts (typical with TPC/LDPC Codec and Carrier-in-Carrier module installed), 55 watts (max.) 280 watts (typical with TPC/LDPC Codec, Carrier-in-Carrier module and 48 VDC BUC power supply installed), 300 watts (max.) | ||||||||||
| Physical Dimensions (1RU) | 1.75H x 19.0W x 17.65D inches (4.4H x 48W x 44.8D cm) approximate | ||||||||||
| Weight | 10.5 lbs (4.8 kgs) maximum, with all option modules and 48 VDC BUC power supply installed | ||||||||||
| See Datasheet for more specifications and Options | |||||||||||
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