Certification Standard 2 (CS2) Transition Period Notification

Certification Standard 2 (also known as Version II) transmitters are certified to a new standard that allows the transmitter to use less bandwidth when sending data. CS1 - 300 bps transmitters use 1.5KHz of bandwidth, while CS2 - 300bps transmitters use 0.75KHz of bandwidth. CS1 - 1200bps transmitters use 3.0KHz of bandwidth, while CS2 - 1200bps transmitters use 2.25 KHz of bandwidth.

How does this benefit the DCS User? Eventually, when enough CS2 transmitters have been deployed and less bandwidth us being used across the system as a whole, new channels will be created in between existing channels, which will increase system capacity by allowing more platforms to use the system and/or allow more frequent transmissions from existing platforms.

At this point, no CS1 transmitters should be deployed or re-deployed to the field, and by May 31, 2026, all CS1 transmitters should have been replaced with CS2 transmitters.

For more information or any questions concerning the Certification Standard 2 Transition Period, please contact Letecia.Reeves@noaa.gov.

GOES DCS 1200 bps Test Channel

NOAA has recently identified the need for a 1200 bps test channel, available to DCS users and DCP manufacturers, that is compatible with the latest High Data Rate (HDR) Certification Standard version 2 (CS2) channel assignments. Currently, channel 99A/197 is designated as the HDR CS1 1200 bps test channel for both GOES East and West. In the interest of optimizing current CS2 channel usage, NOAA has selected channel 198 for use as the CS2 1200 bps test channel for both GOES East and West. As with the 1200 bps CS1 test channel, NOAA has determined that current test channel usage precludes the need to a separate 1200 bps test channel for GOES East and West.

With this latest designation, the current DCS test channels are defined as follows:

• GOES East 300 BPS (CS1 & CS2)  ->  Channel 195 (401.99200 MHz)
• GOES West 300 BPS (CS1 & CS2)  ->  Channel 196 (401.99350 MHz)
• GOES East & West 1200 BPS (CS1)  ->  Channel 99A/197 (401.99500 MHz)
• GOES East & West 1200 BPS (CS2)  ->  Channel 198 (401.99650 MHz)

For assistance or any questions concerning the use of DCS test channels, please contact 24/7 DCS Technical Support at (757) 824-7450 or wdcs@noaa.gov.