New ASTERIX Radar Interface Solution

Buffalo Computer Graphics (BCG) Inc. announces it has added an ASTERIX radar interface capability to our line of radar simulators. Since some prominent radar manufacturers now offer ASTERIX as a viable network based interface between the turning unit and the radar display, BCG now has the capability to inject simulated radar video into the display using this data stream.

ASTERIX is a data messaging protocol used to communicate information between radar system components using an internationally established specification. BCG has developed a back-end program that can send and receive predefined ASTERIX Categories. Supported is data Category 34 which contains the structure for the transmission of our radar simulator’s service messages to a radar system. This supports the sending of North Marker messages for supplying antenna rotation period as well as Sector Crossing messages for sending the current sector number. The uncompressed radar video data is distributed via Category 240 messages. For the support of the video message, it always uses a high resolution for the video signal amplitude of the video cells and fills in 1 full sweep per message. Category 48 messages are supported for relaying target information to the radar system. The required data of the target’s unique reference ID number, position, speed and heading are supported. Lastly, there is a proprietary message created by Category 253. Any features not supported by the ASTERIX specification can be defined here, and BCG will customize CAT 253 messages as required by a particular manufacturer.

BCG offers a turn-key, standalone ASTERIX radar simulator complete with our operator control software, MaST, and our proven radar simulation engine software. All elements are fully integrated into a Windows computer for plug-and-play use. For customers that already have a BCG radar simulator, an ASTERIX Interface option can be added.

For additional information on this product or any of BCG’s Maritime Simulation Products, please contact us.