New Page 1

Communication and Software

Radio Specifications

Rover Antenna

-Overall Length: 45.0 cm (includes support tube)
-Materials: Fiberglass tube, Aluminum Tube, Teflon supports, coaxial cable
-RF Connector Type: Coaxial SMA
-RF Center Frequency: 459.7 MHz
-RF Bandwidth: 700 KHz for < 2:1 VSWR
-RF Gain: 1.4 dBiv
-Free Space Match: 1.09:1 VSWR at center frequency

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/MPF/mpf/sci_desc.html#IMP
Link to Mars Pathfinder Instrument Descriptions, NASA

Rover Radio

-Mass: 105.9 grams
-Dimensions: 8.13 cm (3.2") length by 6.35 cm (2.5") width by 2.3 cm (0.9") height
-RF Connector Type: Coaxial SMA
-DC Connector Type: 9 pin Micro-D (signal and power)
-DC Bus Voltage: +9 Volts, Regulated
-DC Bus Current: 28 mA Standby; 35 mA Receive; 170 mA Transmit
-Operating Voltage: +7.5 Volts
-DC Power: 1.7 W (includes +9V regulator efficiency)
-RF Center Frequency: 459.7 MHz
-RF Channel Bandwidth: 25 KHz
-RF Signal Modulation: DGMSK (Differential Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying), basically FM modulation
-Handshaking: Half Duplex (Simplex)
-RF Transmit Power: 100 mW
-Computer Interface: RS232 converted to TTL levels
-Maximum Data Rate: We will have to hire someone to work on increasing the Maximum and effective BPS (Bites per second)
-Temperature Range: -30C to +40C (operational), -55C to +60C (storage)

Convoy Rover Radio

-Mass: 265.2 grams
-Dimensions: 10.6 cm (4.2") length by 7.1 mm (2.8") width by 5.3 mm (2.1) height
-RF Connector Type: Coaxial SMA
-DC Connector Types: 9 pin micro-D (signal) 15 pin micro-D (power)
-DC Bus Voltage: +28 Volts, Regulated
-DC Bus Current: 28 mA Standby; 35 mA Receive; 170 mA Transmit
-DC Power: 1.5 Watts (not including +28V DC converter)
-RF Center Frequency: 459.7 MHz
-RF Channel Bandwidth: 25 KHz
-RF Signal Modulation: DGMSK (Differential Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying), basically FM modulation
-Handshaking: Half Duplex (Simplex)
-RF Transmit Power: 100 mW
-Computer Interface: RS232 converted to TTL levels
-Maximum Data Rate: Equivalent to the little rovers.
-Temperature Range: -30C to +40C (operational), -55C to +60C (storage)

Astronaut radio

-Standard Suit-to-Suit UHF radio.

Author: Benjamin Solish (bsolish@mit.edu)