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Communications
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Surface-Habitat
Intra-Habitat
Habitat-Vehicles
The Cable
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Intra-Habitat Communications

Intra-habitat communications covers all hardware, software, and cabling necessary to facilitate communications both within the research station and between the station and the land base.

There must be systems in place to accommodate communication between:
  • Individual crew members
  • Habitat and underwater vehicles
  • Crew members and the Internet
  • Camera/sensors and Habitat.

Network Overview

The primary component of the communication system is a computer network. Multiple workstations will be located throughout the facility both in labs (data processing and modeling), and in crew quarters (work or personal use). A single server will be present in the control room to coordinate communications within the habitat and act as a portal to the outside world.
The network will use an extended star topology. This topology maximizes scalability and flexibility of the network. Networking protocols will be left up to the network administrator/technician.

Network media

CAT5 UTP copper cabling:

A multipair (4 pair) high performance cable that consists of twisted pair conductors for data transmission. The twisting of the pairs gives the cable a certain amount of immunity from the infiltration of unwanted interference. Category 5 cable is typically used for Ethernet networks running at 10 or 100 Mbps.

Crosstalk is the "bleeding" of signals carried by one pair, onto another pair through the electrical process of induction. This is an unwanted effect, that can cause slow transfer, or completely inhibit the transfer of data signals over the cable segment. The purpose of the wire twists, in category 5 cable is to significantly reduce the crosstalk, and it's effects.

Attenuation is the loss of signal in a cable segment due to the resistance of the wire plus other electrical factors that cause additional resistance. A longer cable length, poor connections, bad insulation, a high level of crosstalk, or ambient noise, will all increase the total level of attenuation. The 568A standard, specifies the maximum amount of attenuation that is acceptable in a category-5 cable segment (295 feet).

CAT5 UTP generally costs anywhere from $.20 to $.30 per foot, depending on the quantity purchased.

Estimated Cost: $500

Computers

There will be approximately 5-10 workstations throughout the habitat depending on laboratory space and crew size. Each system will cost anywhere from $1500 - $5000 depending on the scientists needs for data processing/data modeling power.

A single server (~$2500) will be running Linux as its NOS (Network Operating System). Linux is inexpensive (free), extremely reliable and robust. It will serve as a firewall for data security (to prevent incoming hacking, etc). It will also handle distribution of all web services (email, ftp, etc.) to computers on the network.

The server will make use of a large tape backup system where it will archive data on a daily basis to be safely stored in a tape archive. Data will also be sent via the fiber link to the land base for archival at night while the crew sleeps.

All incoming data and communications will be routed through the server. Any crew member that wishes to access such data can do so via the network. He or she will log in at a terminal and then request the data from the server.

There will be an Internet portal on the island through which the Linux server will connect and provide all terminals with Internet access. Email, web browsing, uploading, etc. will all be supported

Estimated Cost: $20,000.

Intercom System

There will also be support for more direct person-to-person communication via an intercom system that will connect all rooms on both floors.

Each room will have an intercom that is able to page individual rooms, as well as broadcast to the entire station.

Estimated Cost: $500.

Cameras/Sensors

A variety of cameras and sensors will be located in and around the station to collect data.
All will be routed to the central server in the control room via CAT5 UTP.


Estimated TOTAL Cost of Communications Systems within Habitat: $21,000

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