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Basic System Components > Front-end unit

Modularity

The front-end unit is designed to host a certain number of discrete electronic modules under the same roof. This is accomplished through a motherboard that accepts several black-box modules in specific slots. A diagram of this modularity can be viewed under: FEU modules

There are two different categories of modules:

• essential modules that carry out basic system functions: seismic sensors, processors, transmitter, antenna, power supply etc. blue modules in the diagram
• optional modules that are intended to adapt the system to a specific task: solar power, extra memory (smart media card), or different I/O-boards to implement SAM functions (Safeguard Alert Messaging) yellow modules in the diagram

The module carrier chassis (MCC) is designed in such a way that the essential functions are placed together in a private compartment not open to general access. Optional functions, on the other hand, especially those which have external connections, are easily accessible to all users-at least during installation.

For more details see: packaging