User Interface

Updated on Mar 4, 2026
LabSat 4_colour line drawing_Front_750px

The front panel display gives you the ability to record/play and monitor scenarios and to configure your LabSat 4 directly via the Settings Menu.

Up arrow button

Move Up/Down through the menu options or the list of files.

Up arrow button

Move Up/Down through the menu options or the list of files.

OK button

Press OK to select the highlighted option or confirm a selection.

OK button

Press OK to select the highlighted option or confirm a selection.

REC button

Press this button to start recording to a new file using the current settings.

The number in the file names will be incremented. 

Press this button when LabSat 4 is recording to stop the recording. 

REC button

Press this button to start recording to a new file using the current settings.

The number in the file names will be incremented. 

Press this button when LabSat 4 is recording to stop the recording. 

Play Button

Press this button to start the replay of the currently highlighted file.

Press this button when LabSat 4 is replaying a file to stop the replay.  

Play Button

Press this button to start the replay of the currently highlighted file.

Press this button when LabSat 4 is replaying a file to stop the replay.  

Power Button

Press for 3 seconds to power LabSat 4 up or down. 

Power Button

Press for 3 seconds to power LabSat 4 up or down. 

SSD LED

The SSD LED will flash blue when LabSat 4 records data to or replays data from the SSD.  

SSD LED

The SSD LED will flash blue when LabSat 4 records data to or replays data from the SSD.  

SD LED

The SD Card LED will flash blue when LabSat 4 is running a firmware update. 

SD LED

The SD Card LED will flash blue when LabSat 4 is running a firmware update. 

SD card slot

The 8 GB SD card that is included with LabSat 4 can be used for firmware upgrades and to transfer files to and from the internal SSD. You cannot use it to record/replay scenario files.
 

SD card slot

The 8 GB SD card that is included with LabSat 4 can be used for firmware upgrades and to transfer files to and from the internal SSD. You cannot use it to record/replay scenario files.
 

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Power and CHG LED

The 2-pin Lemo port connects an external power supply to LabSat 4, such as mains or 12 V vehicle power. 
 

Power and CHG LED

The 2-pin Lemo port connects an external power supply to LabSat 4, such as mains or 12 V vehicle power. 
 

The Charge LED will indicate if the battery pack is charging when an external power supply has been connected to LabSat 4. When the battery is charging, the LED will light blue. The battery LED will turn off when it stops charging. 

Host USB

You can use the USB-A port to connect USB storage devices to LabSat 4.

Host USB

You can use the USB-A port to connect USB storage devices to LabSat 4.


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You can use the USB-B port to connect devices to LabSat 4 to receive NMEA data output from the GNSS Monitor.


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You can use the USB-B port to connect devices to LabSat 4 to receive NMEA data output from the GNSS Monitor.

Ethernet

You can use the RJ45 port to connect LabSat 4 to your computer via an Ethernet connection to facilitate remote access and control of LabSat 4 in the Web Server.

Ethernet

You can use the RJ45 port to connect LabSat 4 to your computer via an Ethernet connection to facilitate remote access and control of LabSat 4 in the Web Server.

Expansion

You can use the 36-way MDR port to connect 1 PPS, Digital I/O, CAN and RS232 devices to LabSat 4 to be recorded and replayed in the scenario files. 

Expansion

You can use the 36-way MDR port to connect 1 PPS, Digital I/O, CAN and RS232 devices to LabSat 4 to be recorded and replayed in the scenario files. 

REF

You can use the REF Input/Output SMA port to connect a 10 MHz reference clock (Input/Output) to LabSat 4.

REF

You can use the REF Input/Output SMA port to connect a 10 MHz reference clock (Input/Output) to LabSat 4.

RF OUT

You can use the RF Output SMA port to connect the device under test to LabSat 4 to facilitate the replaying of LabSat scenario files.

RF OUT

You can use the RF Output SMA port to connect the device under test to LabSat 4 to facilitate the replaying of LabSat scenario files.

RF IN

You can use the RF Input SMA port to connect a GNSS antenna to LabSat 4 to facilitate the recording of LabSat scenario files.

LabSat 4 comes supplied with a GNSS antenna with magnetic mounting (RLACS354). The antenna is an active device with approximately 37 dB of gain. LabSat 4 provides a 4 to 4.5 V DC bias for antenna power on the centre pin of the RF IN connector. You can also use third-party antennas, providing they are compatible with the 4 to 4.5 V bias. 

If you connect LabSat 4 to an antenna that requires a higher bias voltage (e.g. 12 V), you must supply the antenna bias and insert an appropriate DC block at the RF IN connector to avoid damaging LabSat 4. You can read more about using higher bias voltage antennas here.  

RF IN

You can use the RF Input SMA port to connect a GNSS antenna to LabSat 4 to facilitate the recording of LabSat scenario files.

LabSat 4 comes supplied with a GNSS antenna with magnetic mounting (RLACS354). The antenna is an active device with approximately 37 dB of gain. LabSat 4 provides a 4 to 4.5 V DC bias for antenna power on the centre pin of the RF IN connector. You can also use third-party antennas, providing they are compatible with the 4 to 4.5 V bias. 

If you connect LabSat 4 to an antenna that requires a higher bias voltage (e.g. 12 V), you must supply the antenna bias and insert an appropriate DC block at the RF IN connector to avoid damaging LabSat 4. You can read more about using higher bias voltage antennas here.  

Lid release

You must push the lid release catch down to unlock the lid if you need to remove or re-insert the internal SSD or the battery pack. The lid will automatically lock in place when you close it again. 

Lid release

You must push the lid release catch down to unlock the lid if you need to remove or re-insert the internal SSD or the battery pack. The lid will automatically lock in place when you close it again. 

LabSat 4 uses a Linux .ext4 formatted drive for data storage.

Recorded data consists of the following files:

  • .LS4
    The RF signal data is stored in a raw binary file with the extension .LS4.
  • .ini
    The configuration used to record and replay the data is stored in a file with the extension .ini.
  • .ser
    Data from a RS232 log file is stored in files with the extension .ser
  • .LS4D
    The data from the configured digital channels will be stored in a file with the extension .LS4D.
  • .txt 
    Data from a CAN log file is stored in a readable text file. 

Note: Labsat 4 can also replay .LS3W files recorded by a LabSat 3 Wideband. 

The 8 GB SD card that is included with LabSat 4 can be used for firmware upgrades.

You can also transfer files to and from the internal SSD with SD Cards. 

You cannot use it to record/replay scenario files.

LabSat 4 units have a Host USB port that you can use to connect a USB storage device in .ext4 format.

You can record and replay directly to and from the USB storage device and also use it to transfer files to and from the internal SSD.

LabSat 4 includes a Samsung PM893 SSD with 7.68 TB of storage that LabSat 4 will use to record and replay scenario files to and from. 

The SSD will also include demo files:

  • File name as displayed on LabSat 4 Display: SatGen_Static_Demo_10Min

Duration: 10minutes

Scenario Type: SatGen Simulation

RF CH1: BW 59.5MHz QUA 2bit CF 1581.840MHz

RF CH2: BW 59.5MHz QUA 2bit CF 1255.351MHz

RF CH3: BW 59.5MHz QUA 2bit CF 1189.622MHz

 

  • File name as displayed on LabSat 4 Display: UK_Dynamic_Demo

Duration: 18minutes

Scenario Type: Real World Recording

RF CH1: BW 20MHz QUA 2bit CF 1575.420MHz

RF CH2: BW 40MHz QUA 2bit CF 1176.450MHz

RF CH3: BW 20MHz QUA 2bit CF 1227.600MHz

The SSD included with your LabSat 4 is removable. To remove or insert the SSD, you must first remove the lid on the LabSat 4 unit. Push down the lid release lever on the rear panel while you push the lid towards the back of the unit. You can then remove the SSD by gently lifting it by the attached tag.

You can reattach the lid to the unit by positioning the locating lugs by the mounting holes with the LabSat logo facing forward.  Press the lid down and slide it towards the front of the unit. The lid will automatically lock in place when it is closed correctly. 

Select the following options to format the SSD via the front panel display on the LabSat 4 unit:

MENU -> File -> Format SDD -> Yes.

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LabSat 4_FileMenu_FormatSSD  (v1.0 RE 23MAY2024)_300px
LabSat 4_Menu_File_FormatSSD_Yes (v1.0 RE 3JUN2024)
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LabSat 4_FileMenu_FormatSSD  (v1.0 RE 23MAY2024)_300px
LabSat 4_Menu_File_FormatSSD_Yes (v1.0 RE 3JUN2024)

You can also connect to and use Network File Systems (NFS), such as Windows File Explorer and high-speed Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices to manage scenario files. High-speed Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices can also be used for scenario storage and for scenario replays. 

You can view and manage the available files on the internal SSD by connecting your LabSat 4 to a PC with an Ethernet cable. Go to the LAN settings on the LabSat 4 display to find the unit's IP address.

Menu -> Setup -> LAN 

If required, you can enable and define a static IP address in the LAN settings. Open a file explorer window on your PC and enter \\<IP address> in the address bar.

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