Even if there is a separate physical path to each antenna, it is still possible to have a single logical network, such that all elements receive all messages but they respond only to those appropriately addressed. This approach requires much more communication bandwidth and is in this sense wasteful, but it may result in substantial simplification of software and some hardware. Another assumption is that devices on one antenna do not need to communicate with devices at another antenna. Distributed control systems are common in the industrial process control and factory automation industries. In the past, NRAO has developed communications protocols and interfaces itself.
Commercial products offer some advantages in terms of cost, development time and fault tolerance.
The rate at which devices will have to be monitored or controlled is only roughly known at this time. Current best guess estimates follow. The first table summarizes the average and peak data rates at each antenna, according to information at the time of writing. The remaining tables breakdown data rates by subsystem at each antenna, and at the central building. The design presented here should not be considered final.