1 

SkyTel

Meteor Burst Communications (“MBC”) Some sources of tech, equipment, systems, etc. June 2001, v.1 This is by order of most commonly known or locatable in the United States. Exhibits below have information from each Supplier. Exhi-bit

Supplier Location

Equipment SkyTel Notes

1 MeteorComm LLC

Kent, Washington (Seattle area), US

MBC master station and remote radios for commercial supply, at least in the past (see notes)

However, after various attempts, this company informed SkyTel (Warren Havens) that their current owners (certain US freight railroads, via PTC 220 LLC) do not have interest in continuing to make and sell MBC equipment, but are making certain new MBC remote-site radios for the US Department of Agriculture. See item ‘2’ below. Also, potential conflict with private goals of these railroads and any remaining position of this company to be independent commercial supplier to outside entities.

2 US Department of Agriculture

DoA NRCS Office, Portland, Oregon, US

Has IPR to new supply from supplier ‘1’above.

Also has install, operation expertise. May cooperate if a MBC project has value to DoA, or other US agency, or in exchange for fair consideration. Operates “SNOTEL” and “SCAN” MBC networks covering most of the CONUS and some of Alaska.

3 Intertec Corporation Ltd

Tokyo, Japan MBC master station radios, and /o remotes. Apparently both.

See exhibit 2: This company made MBC equipment for MBC links in the Antarctic. Appears to have current capability. Possibly best candidate for MBC radios at this time, given status of supplier ‘1’ above. Supplier ‘6’ also appears very capable.

4 ASI Northridge, California, US

MBC master station high power amplifiers

Appears to have current capability.

5 Meteor Communications (Europe) Ltd.

St. Albans, Herts, UK

Mobile MBC stations on trailers for moving by vehicles. Quick deploy, etc. Uses radios from suppler ‘1’.

SkyTel believes, by some communications with this company(and depictions on its website, with model numbers) that its supply of MBC radios are solely from MeteorComm LLC, supplier ‘1’ above. See notes above as to this situation. However, this company’s mobile stations may be commercially available for use with other MBC radios. It also may have useful design, installation and operational expertise.

  2 

6 Russian Institute of Radionavigation and Time. RIRT

St Petersburg, Russia

“Meteor communications equipment of high reliability and high secrecy with a range of up to 2000 km.”

Appears to have current capability, but has not responded to various SkyTel (W. Havens) emails.* Has abilities that may be useful for MBC applications SkyTel has in mind: using MBC to support, and directly perform, certain radio positioning, navigation and timing. [*SkyTel is just speculating, but with a basis that the Russian government may have MBC PNT plans seeks to keep for internal defense and commercial advantage purposes: MB Comm, PNT, and multistatic radar, and techniques involved, have many security, defense, critical infrastructure, and commercial uses and advantages.]

Others. Not primary suppliers. 7 Campbell

Scientific

Logan, Utah, US Data loggers for MBC Has a lot of experience and particular models of data loggers to work with MBC links. At one time partly owned supplier ‘1’.

8 Kathrein Scala Medford, Oregon, US

Antennas for MBC Other vendors can or do produce suitable antennas. However, SkyTel believes some newer forms of antennas may have advantages especially for mobile-MBC uses.

9 Remote Environmental Services Ltd.

Kamllops, British Columbia, Canada

Installs MBC systems in many countries. Project management.

Interesting specialists. Always harder than it may looks- these sorts of very remote installations.

10 MSE Technology Applications, Inc.

Butte, Montana, US Installs MBC systems

11

Planned 12 SkyTel

(& partners) Berkeley California, US

Master, relay, and remote station radios and some associated equipment.

Using Cognitive Radio techniques. Some units will also support terrestrial wireless links in bands from 30 to 1,000 MHz (or higher). Multi-band, multi-protocol, spectrum-use sensing, frequency agile, GNSS and NRTK and other augmentation, etc.

13

  3 

Exhibit 1

Meteorcomm LLC http://www.meteorcomm.com/technologies/tech_burst_equipment.aspx

Remote radio

“ The remote station is comprised of a meteor burst radio, a power supply and an antenna. MCC-545B Remote Stations have an open architecture and are programmable for interfacing to any data collection or text messaging applications. The salient benefits of MeteorComm's meteor burst networks and products are as follows: Error free messaging with an average latency of 10 minutes. Frequency synthesized to operate on any frequency in the 40-50MHz band Robust operation from -30 to +60 degrees Celsius Message prioritization with end-to-end acknowledgement Solar powered remote stations Over-the-air remote station programming Script files for customer application programming Built-in data acquisition for minimizing data logger requirements Data collection and text messaging throughout the entire network ”

Master station

“An MBC network requires a minimum of one master station, and one remote site. The master station is comprised of a controller, a meteor burst radio, a power amplifier and one or more paired receivers and antennas. The standard antenna used is a 5 element yagi, with a field of view of 45 degrees. To cover 360 degrees, 8 antennas would be used. The MCC-520S master station is normally connected to a customer's host computer for processing and archiving the data collected by the network. MBNET 200 is the resident operating system that integrates all network elements and efficiently routes all data to the host computer. “

  4 

Exhibit 2 US Department of Agriculture https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=afc7ee0a4c91f916f609751f87bd388b&tab=core&_cview=0 https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=ea95d88a853d7659b06abfe827009acf&tab=core&_cview=0 Solicitation Number: NRCS-NCSU-22-08. Notice Type: Award Notice Contract Award Date: September 19, 2008. Contract Award Number: AG-7482-C-08-0006 Contract Award Dollar Amount: $344,125. Contractor Awarded Name: METEOR COMMUNICATION CORP. (Now called Meteorcomm LLC.) Synopsis: Added: Apr 28, 2009 10:36 am. FAR 6.302-1 (2) (ii) (A) (B) Non-competitive award to Metero Communication Corporation. “ This award is a non competitive contract of services, hardware and software items from Meteor Communications Corporation (MCC) in Kent, Washington to enhance the two NRCS meteor burst master stations and the Central Computer Facility (CCF) located at the National Water and Climate Center. “ The SNOTEL system is the largest meteor burst remote data collection system in the world, with approximately 670 stations operating throughout the western US. MCC produced the original meteor burst software and the hardware at the master stations and remote stations associated with the ability collect data. The software, which handles the communication between the remote stations and master stations, is proprietary in nature. The NWCC is in the process of upgrading the remote stations and must change the master station and CCF software and some hardware items in order to effectively take advantage of the new system capabilities. “ The changes that are required allow the NWCC and Data Collection Offices to remotely re-program the dataloggers associated with the remote stations using meteor burst communication. Currently, we are not able to send updated programs to our remote station with our current software and hardware design and a field technician must travel back out to the station to make a program change, which is very costly. In this proposal, MCC will take their COTS hardware and software and modify it in order for it to run in the NWCC environment. The modifications to the software involve the knowledge of the existing proprietary meteor burst communication software and hardware and would limit other potential vendors to effectively make the new system work.” * * * *

  5 

Exhibit 3 Intertec Corporation Limited, Japan. Nishi-Tokyo City Minamimati http://itcjp.com/planning/index.html Following is translated pages: http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://itcjp.com/planning/index.html%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1308%26bih%3D1043%26prmd%3Divns&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=ja&u=http://itcjp.com/planning/index.html&usg=ALkJrhjnKov2oDj03dOjwTDv5zd-ARzCdg

"Meteor Burst Communications" is a device PSK communication system can transmit high-speed data system. [Translation.]

“The appearance of information on the meteor burst communications equipment.” [Translation.]

This company made equipment for certain Meteor Burst Systems used in the Antarctic by Japanese researchers described here: http://polaris.nipr.ac.jp/~uap/apuar/apuar19/PUA1910.PDF Note: THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE SUBSTANTIAL IMPROMENTS IN THIS MBC EQUIPMENT VS. METEOR COMMUNICAIONS CORPORATION (now called Meteorcomm LLC) MBC equipment. Kaiji Mukumoto, one of the authors, was kind enough to supply information on Intertec to SkyTel (Warren Havens). He also supplied his papers : (1) “Development of software modem for the MBC experiment in Antarctica,” copy at: http://ir.lib.shizuoka.ac.jp/bitstream/10297/5435/1/101221002.pdf (2) “Performance Evaluation of Go-Back-i-symbol ARQ Scheme Applicable to Meteor Burst Communications” Available on IEEE: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/tocresult.jsp?asf_arn=null&asf_iid=5648872&asf_pun=null&asf_in=null&asf_rpp=null&asf_iv=null&asf_sp=null&asf_pn=13

  6 

Exhibit 4 ASI, Northridge, CA. Amplifiers. http://www.ampsystems.com/asiprod-old.htm

“ Amplifier Systems, Inc. (ASI) is a world-class manufacturer of radio frequency (RF) amplifiers used in a diverse number of industries and applications. From its home offices and plant in Northridge, CA (USA), ASI has designed a number of highly specialized and unique custom RF amplifiers for use in scientific, medical, communications, industrial, and broadcast applications.”

Below are labeled: [For a “ Communication Equipment Manufacturer, Meteor Burst Communication 40 to 45MHz, 5KW CW”

  7 

Exhibit 5 http://meteorcommunications.co.uk/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 (Pictures and text below are from the website.)

“ Product Features

Vehicle portable solution

Deployable in under 30 minutes

Battery backed power supply

Solar, Wind or LPG charging available

Flowcell arrangment for ease of use

Pre tested with YSI and Hydrolab sondes

Lockable, secure unit

Powerful software tools for Data analysis

Web interface available

Real time data at low cost using Meteor Burst

Radio” -------------

“ The vehicle portable monitor is similar in design to the Kiosk monitor, but suited to applications where fast deployment is required.

Housed in a robust enclosure the trailer comes equipped with an internal battery unit and can be supported by mains, solar, wind or LPG charging arrangements. Internally the unit is fited with a pump and flowcell system, enabling the water quality sonde to be maintained in a safe environment away from the water source.

On site communication is provided via an RS232 interface (using any terminal emulator), which enables comms to the Sonde and the radio equipment. The standard communication option is Meteor Burst Radio, which enables great flexibility on site placement due to the broad coverage available on the Meteor Radio Data Network.

The unit has been designed with fast deployment in mind - only moderate technical kowledge is required to setup the unit, place the hoses into the water source and check for good data communications.

The site shown [on top right] is part of the system in place to monitor water courses around the 2012 Olympics site (please see our applications pages for more details). The simple nature of the equipment and robust construction means that the unit can be placed into harsh environments in minimum timescales, and scheduled calibration visits can be performed by a lone operative in safe working conditions.”

  8 

Exhibit 6

Russian Institute of Radionavigation and Time. St Petersburg. http://www.en.rirt.opt.ru/ (English) http://www.rirt.ru/ (Russian)

“ RIRT ready to develop and deliver * Systems and means of synchronization with an accuracy of better than 10 ns for terrestrial and space systems, including communications and telecommunications; * Board space, aircraft, ship and ground-based quantum frequency standards and time of various classes of accuracy on the atomic-beam tubes, rubidium gas-cell and hydrogen generator; *-Based, airborne, naval equipment customers, working on signals PNT "Seagull", "Laurens", "Alpha", PNT and SRNS GLONASS / GPS including working in differential mode; * Equipment for the establishment of differential systems GLONASS / GPS; * Navigation-connected systems management (dispatch) car-based navigation sensors GLONASS / GPS; * Equipment for measuring the frequency and spectral characteristics of highly stable frequency sources; * Meteor communications equipment of high reliability and high secrecy with a range of up to 2000 km.; * Hardware synchronization systems, digital transmission of data using different standards and frequencies of GLONASS / GPS; * Equipment for the modernization of the transmission station of radio navigation systems, Loran-C "/" The Seagull "in order to implement the transfer of control and differential correction information subsystem GLONASS / GPS (analog system EUROFIX); * Equipment for refinement transmitting station s sverhdlinnovolnovoy phase radionavigation system "Alpha" for the transfer of information; * Monitoring station for the prediction of earthquakes and anomalies in the propagation of radio waves caused by the ionosphere and human activity. A distinctive feature of the development RIRT is their high adaptability to the needs of customers and openness to complexation with other systems and facilities.”

  9 

Exhibit 7

Campbell Scientific. Logan Utah, US (corporate headquarters).

http://www.campbellsci.com/documents/product-brochures/b_corpprofile.pdf. This includes: “A full line of telemetry and on-site data storage and retrieval products allow you to retrieve data from the office or in the field. On-site options include direct connection to a PC or laptop, PC cards, storage modules, PDAs, and displays. Telemetry options include Ethernet, short-haul, multidrop, telephone (land-line, voice-synthesized, and cellular), radios (UHF, VHF, and spread spectrum), meteor burst, and satellite.” Here is a paper from this company on use of its data loggers with MBC links for Puget Sound Ferries – navigation etc. http://www.campbellsci.com/documents/case-studies/17washingtonferries.pdf Also: http://www.campbellsci.com/transportation

Also: http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Campbell-Scientific-Inc-Company-History.html. This includes: “ Campbell established a subsidiary branch, Campbell Scientific Africa (Pty.) Ltd., in Stellenbosch, South Africa; then, in 1999, it established Campbell Scientific do Brasil in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Also, on the domestic scene, in August 1999 CSI made a $3.75 million investment in Kent, Washington-based Meteor Communications Corporation (MCC), one of the world's first designers and builders of wireless, packet switched networks using meteor burst communications (MBC) and extended-line-of-sight (ELOS) technologies. That company had begun providing these networks to various customers worldwide in 1975 for use in a variety of applications, including environmental monitoring. The investment was a strategic step for CSI, which made instruments and systems suited to Meteor's technology and had a big stake in seeing the messaging costs in data networking made economically feasible for it own customers, something it was convinced MCC could achieve.”

  10 

Exhibit 8 Remote Environmental Services Ltd. Kamllops, British Columbia, Canada http://www.remoteh2o.com/RES-showPage.php?page_name=content5&page=00 “ Committed to the principles of environmental conservation and watershed management. Data loggers: Campbell, OTT, Handar, Globalwater, Solinst, Lakewood, Starlog, Meteorburst, KWK, Levelogger, and INW. Water Level Recorders: strip charts, shaft encoder, pressure transducer, manometer, float-weight assemblies, bubbler systems Radio and Satellite Telemetry: GOES, Meteorburst, cellular, RF, Spread Spectrum.” [More on their MBC projects on next page.]

Top: “Meteorburst master station outside of Almaty Kazakhstan. Right: “Meteorburst station alongside wind generator in Tajikistan Far Right: “Meteorburst communication relay used in early warning network, Tsho Rolpa Nepal.” These are all “USAID” funded projects, says RESL.

  11 

Remote Environmental Services Ltd. (continued) Following are some of their Meteor Burst Communications projects, discussed at: http://www.remoteh2o.com/RES-showPage.php?page_name=content1&page=00 “

• Project Management o Central Asia: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) project. Manage $1.6 million project installing Meteorburst Network

throughout the five CIS countries for the collection and dissemination of environmental data associated with the depletion of the Aral Sea.

o Pakistan and Kashmir: Asian Development Bank (ADB) project. Design and coordinate the construction of 26 remote hydrologic and meteorological stations in remote regions of Northern Pakistan and Kashmir to provide flood forecasting for the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). [This also was with Meteor Burst Communications.]

• Early Warning Network o Nepal: World Development Bank (WDB) project. Installing Early Warning Network in 23 villages downstream of a potential glacial lake outburst

flood (GLOF) situation. ). [This also was with Meteor Burst Communications.] “

  12 

Exhibit 9

Kathrein Scala. Medford, Oregon, US. Meteor Burst Antennas http://www.hol4g.com/webpdf/SCA_MBY-5.pdf

  13 

  14 

Exhibit 10 MSE Technology Applications, Inc., Butte, Montana, US http://www.mse-ta.com/meteorburst/meteorbursthowitworks.html

“Remote Monitoring Application How Meteor Burst Technology Works To address sensor and monitoring needs of the Department of Energy, MSE researched and identified site monitoring and the status/availability of technologies to

meet those needs. * * * * MSE integrated the Meteor Burst technology into remote environmental monitoring systems. Data from an assortment of sensors (e.g., water pressure, pH, temperature, flow, etc.) can be stored at the remote site on a Campbell Scientific controller/datalogger or programmable logic controller (PLC), which uses Meteor Burst radio.”