• Tail-mounted design for installation on executive business jet aircraft such as the Bombardier Global Express/XRS, Global 5000, Challenger 605, 604 and 601, Gulfstream G500/G550, G400/450, G300/-350, GII, GIII, GIV, GV and Falcon F900s, F2000's, F7X and Citation X. Additionally the Boeing BBJ1 and BBJ2, as well as the Airbus A319CJ can be installed with the Tailwind 500 system
• Full operation on the ground and in the air
• True multi-region coverage, even in the Middle East, because the antenna is 30% more sensitive to satellite signals than competitive technologies
• Programming options from DIRECTV, TPS and Showtime in the Middle East include CNN, A&E, Bloomberg, Fox, ESPN, Discovery and the Weather Channel, local network stations and digital-quality music channels
• Automatic signal acquisition and regional switching
  Easier and simpler installation, with automatic phase alignment and system leveling
• Compatible with a wide variety of user control devices, including the cabin management system, IR and RF handheld remote controls, and touch screen monitors

It's a different world today. You just can't afford to be out of touch. Not in your office. Not at home. And not in your aircraft. With the Rockwell Collins Tailwind 500 multi-region TV system you don't have to be. Designed for the executive jet aircraft, the Tailwind 500 represents a significant breakthrough in airborne TV. Rockwell Collins’ Tailwind 500 offers the kind of content-rich, multi-region, live programming you, your staff and your associates need to stay informed and be entertained while flying.

The Tailwind 500 is a fully integrated system that enables private aircraft to receive Ku-Band DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellite) television signals, providing access to the full spectrum of digital video and audio programming available from DBS satellites. The system takes these signals, automatically decodes them to the correct broadcast format, and then distributes them to cabin audio-video distribution or entertainment management systems.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Tailwind 500 system is that it transforms a highly complex communications challenge into a reliable, convenient viewing experience for the end passenger. Building a system that is small, lightweight and capable of flying at high altitudes and at speeds over 500 mph is no small task. Added to that are atmospheric changes, aircraft dynamics, takeoff and landing obstacles and third-party systems already installed inside your cabin that can all interfere with reception.

Rockwell Collins has conquered these challenges through a suite of airborne TV product lines. The Tailwind 500 is an engineering marvel that cultivates years of TV development experience. It was designed with one goal in mind - to bridge the communication gap between the world and the sky.

The Tailwind 500 represents a significant breakthrough in airborne TV. This innovative, high-tech solution offers reliable performance while meeting airborne challenges such as size and weight limitations, flying at high speeds in a variety of weather conditions and tracking satellites in remote areas of the world.

Based on our proven line of satellite TV technology, Tailwind 500 offers significant enhancements over previous-generation systems with improved reception, more-durable hardware and more channels available in more locations. Plus, Tailwind 500 can be configured for multiple zones throughout the cabin. With combinations of up to thirty-two unique programming receivers, the system provides flexibility to choose both personalized content and viewing location.

Leading satellite TV service providers (DIRECTV in the United States, CanalSat in Europe, and Showtime/ARABSAT in the Middle East) have been retained to provide Tailwind 500 operators with the most comprehensive, most compelling live TV content available in the air. Passengers can catch the stock market recap while flying from London to Berlin, watch a football match on the way to Abu Dhabi or see the evening news on a flight from LA to New York. Personalized programming services provide all the primary English-language channels such as CNN, Bloomberg and BBC, plus local-language channels in each supported region and a diverse range of options for CD-quality music channels. In addition to the subscription programming provided, Tailwind 500 is capable of receiving a large selection of "free-to-air" TV channels.

To ensure reliable performance, extensive testing was conducted in FAA-qualified laboratories, and a variety of on-ground field tests verified reception in the three regions where service is provided. With a wide variety of business, news, sports, arts and entertainment programming, staying informed while traveling in the US, Europe or the Middle East has never been easier.

The TV content provides in-demand live programming - the most comprehensive, most diverse live television in the air. The cost of the first year of programming is included with the system. After the first year, an annual subscription fee provides the programs desired. For the most current channel listings or programming assistance, just call our Member Services Center at 877-566-1640. It's that simple.

When traveling long distances, different television broadcast zones are crossed. Tailwind 500 monitors aircraft location via the aircraft navigation system and uses advanced multi-region, auto detection technology to switch television receivers to acquire new signals and keep content flowing.

Due to receiver size, atmospheric conditions and geographic locations, one of the biggest challenges of aircraft television reception has always been on-ground performance - a problem now solved. Tailwind 500 provides reliable performance and quality viewing options - in the air and on the ground.

The heart of Tailwind 500 is a rugged, state-of-the-art tail-mounted antenna. Unique in the industry, this horn array antenna is equipped with a sculpted polymer lense to ensure maximum signal reception. The antenna rotates 360 degrees, while pivoting 0 to +90 degrees.

Tailwind 500 represents the next generation of world-class, airborne TV. Quite simply, it is the most advanced, most reliable airborne TV system flying. But the technology is only part of the equation. With a network of Rockwell Collins Service centers backing your investment worldwide, you can travel with confidence - knowing that you're never far from the most customer-focused support team in the industry.

The Tailwind 500 system enables aircraft to receive Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) television signals that provide passengers with access to a full spectrum of satellite video and audio programming. The system receives programming over selected regions of the world. The Tailwind 500 system has five types of Line Replaceable Units (LRU).

1. Tail Mounted Unit (TMU) - Tail mounted DBS antenna, the front-end of the Tailwind 500 system
2. Gimbal Electronics Module (GEM) - Controls the TMU's azimuth and elevation steering motors to keep the antenna aligned with the satellite
3. System Signal Processor (SSP) - Provides control information to the GEM and performs the second stage down-conversion of the RF broadcast signals
4. IF Multiplexer Unit (IMU) - Switches down-converted signals from the SSP to one or more RDUs. The Tailwind 500 supports two types of IMUs, the type used being dependent upon the total number of channels desired; from 2 up to 32 channels
5. Receiver Decoder Unit (RDU) - Converts the intermediate frequency (IF) signals from the IMU to the audio and video signals for display though the aircraft cabin management system

The System Signal Processor (SSP) acquires position and attitude information from the aircraft inertial reference system over its ARINC 429 inputs. The SSP transfers this information and the geostationary orbit location of the satellite to the GEM. The TMU operates its azimuth and elevation steering motors to keep the antenna pointed at the satellite. The TMU receives Ku-band radio frequency (RF) signals from the satellite, down-converts them to the first intermediate frequency (IF) and transfers them to the SSP via coaxial cables. Because the SSP can process both circularly and linearly polarized signals, it can operate in multiple regions.

The SSP down-converts the first stage IF signals, and sends the resulting second-stage IF signals to an IF Multiplexer Unit (IMU). The IMU fans out the IF signals to the system receiver decoder units (RDUs). The passenger controls the two independent receivers of each RDU to select program channels. In response, the RDU decodes the channels and converts the IF signal to a video and audio program for the cabin monitors and audio system.

The Rockwell Collins Tailwind 500s operational features and benefits include:

• Multi-region Service Coverage
  Satellite television services are available for reception in most major regions of the world. The Rockwell Collins Tailwind 500 has RDUs for the contiguous U.S. (CONUS), Europe and the Middle East.
• Automatic Operation
  The Tailwind 500 reads the current aircraft position and attitude from the aircraft inertial reference system. It uses this information and its configuration to control the antenna pointing direction, tuning frequencies, polarization and which receivers to activate.
• Entire Ku-Band DBS Spectrum
  The Tailwind 500 operates with signals over the entire DBS part of the Ku-band (10.7 GHz to 12.75 GHz). The TMU has filters incorporated to ensure other Ku-Band data systems do not interfere with TV reception.
• Broadcast Polarization and Format Compatibility
  The Tailwind 500 system operates with both circularly polarized DBS signals (for CONUS) and linearly polarized DBS signals (for other regions). It decodes two digital broadcast formats, Digital Satellite System (DSS) and Digital Video Broadcast (DVB).
• Conditional Access
  The Tailwind 500 system manages each satellite service's conditional access based on authorization from Collins Member Services Center. A yearly service subscription is required.
• Control Operations
  The Tailwind 500 is compatible with a wide variety of user control choices, including IR and RF handheld remote controls, touch screen monitors mounted at various locations in the aircraft, switch panels and wireless handheld touch screen controllers.

Tail Mounted Unit (TMU)

The TMU is the antenna front-end of the Tailwind 500 system. Located at the top of the tail, the TMU receives Ku-band satellite signals and transfers them to the GEM via coaxial cables. Power and control commands are sent to the TMU through a multiconductor harness connected to the GEM. This compact antenna provides optimal aerodynamic performance under the tail radome of business jet aircraft.

Gimbal Electronics Module (GEM)

In order to minimize the mass located at the top of the vertical stabilizer, several antenna functions were portioned into a module which can be separated from the antenna by up to 40 feet. These functions include the motor drive and other antenna control electronics, the first frequency down-conversion and the cable frequency equalizers.

System Signal Processor (SSP)

The SSP processes data from the aircraft's inertial reference system and transfers the data to the TMU via the GEM. It receives aircraft heading, position, pitch, and roll information from an ARINC 429 2-wire input. The SSP gets the location of the broadcast satellite from the active RDU(s) over the secondary RS-485 bus. Finally, the SSP transmits the aircraft and satellite data to the GEM over an RS-422 bus. The SSP down-converts the fist-stage IF signals from the GEM to deliver IF signals to the IMU.

An accessory for the SSP, the Configuration Data Module (COM) preserves a copy of the configuration data from the SSP in nonvolatile memory, and can transfer the data back to the SSP when required. It permanently stores airplane-unique parameters necessary for the initialization and operation of the SSP.

Intermediate Frequency Multiplexer Unit (IMU)

The flange-mounted IMU distributes the down-converted IF signals from the SSP to the RDUs. The IMU fans out to up to four RDUs (four RDUs allow the system to decode up to eight different programming channels simultaneously). Using an optional model of the IMU (IMU16), the system can support up to 32 independent channels.

Receiver Decoder Unit (RDU)

The RDU is the Tailwind 500's interface to the cabin management system. This unit decodes IF signals from the IMU into an audio/video program. It also receives control signals from the cabin management system for channel selection. Each RDU contains two receiver boards that can be for the same region, or for two separate regions.

If both receivers are configured for the local broadcast region, the RDU provides two independent receiver outputs, and can output two separate programming channels at the same time. In a dual-region RDU, if one of the receivers is compatible with the local broadcast region, the RDU will output one programming channel.

Through the cabin management system, a passenger can select and control each of the two receivers (and thus each audio/video output) independently.

(a) IR remote controls interact with on-screen menus that include program selection, maintenance and other features. On-screen menus vary with the TV service provider.

(b) An alternative to IR remote control, the primary RS-485 bus gives the cabin management system a control interface to the Tailwind 500 system.

The Tailwind 500 system supports a robust RS-485 protocol suite that works with cabin management equipment from many IFE suppliers. Examples of information available from the primary RS-485 bus include: indication of the active service/region; manual service selection options for multiple services in a given region; channel lists for services; response to a channel selection (i.e., "CNN" or "CNBC"); and reconfiguration of the system (upon power up) due to swap-out of RDUs. If an RDU swap-out changes the system services or regions, the master RDU notifies the cabin management system.

A contact closure between one of the RDUs keyline outputs and the keyline out return indicates that the corresponding receiver is active. The cabin management system can use the keyline outputs as control signals.

Each receiver has a composite video output and a left/right stereo audio pair. The RDU configuration determines the system video output format (NTSC or PAL).

Radome

The fin-cap radome houses the TMU, ideally about 18 inches center-to-center behind the aircraft's SATCOM antenna. It must be large enough to accommodate the spherical swept-volume of the TMU. The radome's composite material must transmit both L-Band SATCOM signals and Ku-Band DBS signals.