Paradise Datacom P500 1-for-8 Redundancy Controller P520 P550 P551 Satcom

Paradise Datacom P500 1-for-8 Redundancy Controller P520 P550 P551 Satcom

The Paradise Datacom P500 is a complete 1-for-8 (1:8) satellite modem redundancy system designed to provide automatic protection switching for traffic and ESC (Engineering Service Channel) circuits in the event of modem equipment failure. The system is housed in the P520 Redundancy Chassis, a passive rackmount enclosure comprising a mechanical frame, internal cableforms, and a backplane into which all line-replaceable modules are fitted. This listing includes the full populated system with all modules.

Specifications & What's Included

• System: Paradise Datacom P500 1-for-8 Redundancy Controller
• Chassis: P520 Data Switching Module / Redundancy Chassis
• Backup Interface Module (BIM): P550 — 1x included
• Traffic Interface Modules (TIMs): P551 — 8x included (one per modem position)
• Power Supplies: 2x PS42 Paradise Datacom Power Supply Modules
• Power Supply Input: 230/115V AC (selectable)
• Power Supply Outputs: +5V, -5V, +12V, -12V (LED indicators visible on each PSU panel)
• Interface Types Supported: RS422 DCE, V.35 DCE, X.21 DCE & DTE
• G.703 Interfaces: 64 kbps co-directional; 1,544 kbps; 2,048 kbps
• G.703 Connector Types: 75Ω BNC and 120Ω balanced
• Switching: Automatic protection of traffic and ESC circuits on equipment failure
• Front panel: Operator interface with status display, LED indicators (FAULT, STANDBY, RETURNING), and numeric keypad
• Rear panel: Eight P551 TIM positions plus one P550 BIM position, each with multi-pin D-sub and high-density connectors
• Form Factor: Rackmount (5U approximately)
• Compatible with: Any Paradise Datacom modem equipment

Applications

The P500 system is used in satellite ground station and teleport installations to protect against modem failures and maintain continuous link availability. In a 1:8 configuration, a single standby modem (the backup path) can automatically replace any one of up to eight on-line traffic modems if a fault is detected — the switchover covers both the traffic data path and the ESC channel, ensuring the full modem function transfers seamlessly. This type of redundancy system is standard equipment in professional VSAT hubs, broadcast uplinks, government and military satcom facilities, and managed satellite network operations centers where link uptime requirements are stringent. The Traffic Interface Modules (TIMs) handle the electrical data interface and switching for each modem position, while the Backup Interface Module (BIM) manages the standby modem connection. The P520 chassis is entirely passive — no active components in the signal path — which contributes to high system reliability. Paradise Datacom (now part of ViaSat) was a leading manufacturer of professional satellite modems and associated infrastructure equipment, and the P500 series was widely deployed throughout the 1990s and 2000s in commercial and government satcom networks worldwide.