Laboratory and field tests of the new INTELSAT standard DCME

This paper describes the testing of the DCME equipment based on the INTELSAT IESS-501 specification. The test plan, test configuration and measurement equipment are described. Then, the major test results are presented and inter-operability related issues are discussed. On-going or recently completed single-vendor field trials are described and the plan for a multi-vendor field trial is briefly addressed.