Popoto Modem announces first, affordable NATO ANEP-87 (JANUS) OEM underwater communications system

September 09, 2019 | Popoto News

CAPE COD, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE) - PopotoModem is pleased to announce the first low cost, small-scale, JANUS compliant underwater acoustic modem target for OEM solutions. This flexible modem board-set measures 60mm x 90mm and features a 100-watt transmitter and an ultra-low noise receiver utilizing sophisticated DSP technology by Texas Instruments. By implementing the JANUS standard for undersea telecom, this modem maximizes interoperability with the outside world.

“We believe we have created an exceptional modem, achieving low cost, small size, and high ACOMMS reliability. We are eager to help our customers integrate it and become innovators in this new ‘internet of underwater things’’

In any communication system, standardization is fundamental. A common mechanism or language must be followed on both ends of the system for successful data transmission. In March 2017, NATO released ANEP-87 Digital Underwater Signaling Standard for Network Node Discovery and Interoperability (JANUS). It is the first underwater communications standard to be defined by an international body. JANUS is the first step toward the “internet of underwater things.” This equipment includes such applications as underwater autonomous vehicles, diver and ship communication systems, smart buoys, and intelligent sensors.

JANUS utilizes acoustic sound waves at an 11.52 kHz carrier frequency to transmit information wirelessly through the water. A transmitter and receiver can be separated several kilometers and still maintain successful communication acoustically through the water. Although the data rate is low (80 bps) compared to internet standards, this information rate is more than adequate for most marine applications.

“We have seized upon today’s cell phone market trend of higher integration, higher processing power and lower cost to produce a small, powerful, elegant and affordable solution,” says James DellaMorte of PopotoModem. “It is our hope that the new price point and standardized communication will allow for innovative applications that were previously too expensive or impractical to consider.”

PopotoModem has designed their modem to be very easy to interface with. It is fully programmable and comes with a Python API and a MATLAB™ API to allow customers to launch sophisticated applications very quickly. In addition, Popoto supports many different interfaces including, ethernet, rs-232, rs-422, i2c and SPI, to make interfacing to external equipment much easier. Popoto supports the JANUS plugin infrastructure too, making it future proof as the standard grows.

“We believe we have created an exceptional modem, achieving low cost, small size, and high ACOMMS reliability. We are eager to help our customers integrate it and become innovators in this new ‘internet of underwater things’,” said James. For more information, please contact PopotoModem John DellaMorte at (800) 541-6407 x701 or email info@popotomodem.com.

Located on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, PopotoModem focuses on reliable underwater OEM communications solutions. Our team brings together experienced hardware and software, and ocean engineers. Our solutions are aimed at enabling robust acoustic communications in markets that were previously cost-prohibitive.

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