VDC-600
PCMCIA Data Controller for IP over Legacy Radio Waveforms
TACTICAL IP NETWORKING OVER
COMBAT NET RADIO
Are You Getting the Picture?
(Over Your Combat Net Radio)
In a PC card form factor, the VDC-600
delivers the Common Operating Picture
and IP connectivity over your existing
combat net radio.
GIG AND INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
TO THE LAST TACTICAL MILE
REAL-TIME DATA COMPRESSION—
REDUCES MESSAGE SIZE BY 50%
Run net-centric web applications over your existing
combat net radio with the ViaSat VDC-600 data
controller. Featuring a credit card-sized PCMCIA form
factor, the VDC-600 works with any tactical radio to
deliver the Common Operating Picture—even over
severely degraded radio channels. Take this highly
portable ViaSat Data Controller (VDC) anywhere to
send error-free data and employ TCP/IP services over
existing radios, creating network-centric connections
that link warfighters on the tactical edge to the Global
Information Grid (GIG).
The VDC-600 uses data compression to reduce the
size of user messages and shorten transmission times.
Data from the user is automatically compressed before
transmission and restored at the receiving end. The
data compression algorithm typically shrinks text files
to less than 50% of their original size. It even detects
“incompressible” user data and sends it unaltered.
Using a combat net radio, computer, and data
controller, you can run IP-based critical combat
communications applications such as Cursor-on-Target,
Situational Awareness, Blue Force Tracking, whiteboard
collaboration, chat, messaging, and email.
SINGLE, TYPE II PCMCIA CARD (3.3V OR 5V)—
NO EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY NEEDED
ENHANCED ERROR CORRECTION—
QUICK TRANSFER, EVEN WITH POOR CHANNEL
A combination of forward error correction (FEC) and
automatic request for retransmission (ARQ) with a unique
application of diversity combining, transfers user data
as quickly as possible. These powerful error correction
techniques send data over poor quality channels with
bit error rates in excess of 15%, as long as the radios are
able to perform. The VDC-600 adapts the amount of FEC
overhead to optimize throughput and reduce airtime, and
minimizing channel loading.
The VDC-600 is a type II card that complies with PC
card standard release 8 for compatibility with the latest
mobile PCs. The advanced design of this PCMCIA card
draws less than 750 mW of power from the PC, requiring
no external power supply or additional batteries. The
VDC-600 is field-proven to operate over a variety of
noisy radio channels, including UHF SatCom, UHF line-ofsight, VHF, HF, Inmarsat, and wireline channels.
BUILT-IN NETWORKING WITH
MULTICAST ADDRESSING
The data controller supports networks of up to 64 users
per channel with point-to-point, multicast, and broadcast
messages. This PC card is fully compliant with MILSTD-188-184, meets NDI and COTS requirements, and is
backwards compatible with all ViaSat Data Controllers
and Data Terminal Software. The VDC-600 also works
with MIL-STD-188-220 software.
When teamed with a VDC, the ViaSat eMail application
delivers powerful electronic mail capabilities during
tactical operations. Used with a VDC-600, ViaSat eMail
is an intuitive, familiar-looking Microsoft® Windows®
application that enables warfighters to send email,
photos, map overlays and other documents over noisy
radio channels. The software is available for free to VDC
customers.
Messages can be addressed to a single destination
or multicast, with acknowledgements automatically
collected and displayed by the originating terminal.
VIASAT EMAIL®—FULL-FEATURED
SOFTWARE FOR EMAIL AND FTP
VDC-600 Data Controller
SPECIFICATIONS
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
POWER
Operating Modes
Half-duplex, full-duplex, simplex
DC Input Voltage
5V or 3.3V (supplied by host)
Channel Rate
Up to 128 kbps
Consumption
200mA (approx.)
Channel Types
Wireless or wired
Network Size
Up to 64 users per channel
ENVIRONMENTAL
Message Connectivity
Point-to-point, multicast, broadcast
Channel Access
CSMA, Instant-On, Shared
Operation Temperature* -20° C to +70° C
Storage Temperature*
-40° C to +80° C
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
INTERFACES
Data Interface
PC Card Standard Release 8
DCE Interface
MIL-STD-188-114A compatible (balanced or
unbalanced) and RS232 compatible,
75 bps–128 kbps, synchronous
Dimensions (WHD)
(without cable)
2.125 x 0.187 x 3.375 in; 55 x 5 x 86 mm
Weight
5 oz
COMPATIBILITY
Computers Supported
All PCMCIA Type II PCs
Operating Systems
DOS, Windows 3.1x, Windows 95, 98, 2000,
NT4*, Pocket PC, XP, Vista, and Windows 7 32-bit
Notes
*Operation under Windows NT4 requires Touchstone Cardware card
and support software
IP-BASED TACTICAL NETWORKING OVER
LEGACY WAVEFORMS WITH VIASAT DATA CONTROLLERS
CONTACT
SALES
TEL 888 842 7281 (US Toll Free)
FAX +1 760 683 6815
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
TEL 866 659 9702 (US Toll Free) or +1 760 602 5656
EMAIL insidesales@viasat.com
FAX +1 760 929 3938
EMAIL noc-carlsbad@viasat.com
WEB www.viasat.com/support/data-controllers
Copyright © 2010-2012 ViaSat, Inc. All rights reserved. ViaSat, ViaSat eMail, and the ViaSat logo are registered trademarks of ViaSat, Inc. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks
mentioned are the sole property of their respective companies. Specifications and product availability are subject to change without notice. 020-120308-020