Satellite communication : LZ AN INTRODUCTION Defi ine what is satellite communication? Itis the icatic : a ving entttication carried out by the spacecraft placed in an orbit around the earth which are having the conununicati ; i munication equipmer is ication link between distant Point on the earth ‘quipments able to establish communicatig “The main elements ofa satelite communication network, Ground segment ofa fixed satellite service Basic satellite system consists of a space segment serving specific ground segment, Earth station:- Earth station (ES) in network, transmit RF signal (uplink frequency signal) ‘o the operational satellite. Earth station (ES) modulates the user generated baseband signals on Gigahertz (GHz.) range of carrier frequency and after modulation, the signals are modified by high power amplifier (HPA) and are transmitted to the satellite using high gain, narrow beamwidth dish antenna. While receiving the signal from satellite through dish antenna, the ES has to amplify the received signal by low noise amplifier (LNA) and demodulate the signal to recover the baseband signals. eae satellite:-The signal transmitted by the ES are received via high gein antenna at the satellite. The received signal is amplified by LNA and retransmitted back to the earth on different carrier frequency after amplification by HPA. ; Space segment:-It consists of one or more satellite in suitable orbits depends on application needs. The satellite is controlled and its performance is monitored by Telemetry Tracking and Command (TT&C ) ground station/s. Sob ellile corsisls of Paylond and Hobforrn SATELLITE COMMUNICATION5 (Regional, National, Customer), the interfaced to the user as a size & ae Segmeent/s:~ IC consists of several types of directly or tastes OF whic is depends on applica ES hae Te8ional or national PSN (Public switching network). & baseband ing international traffic have 11 to 30 meters of diameter antenna wit and system. While the ES which handles direct to customer have non-trackin diamet aire ‘eter antenna with simple RF & baseband hardware. ith complex RF 1g 1-3 meter ei A He Bround segment:-In mobile satellite services, several mobile terminals connected to the fixed fommmunication network via satellite. The installation of ground segment depends on available space antenna, communication needs and affordable cost. a v= | denenctinet bile | 2) Mezitinns Mebile 2) Land Mebib- The main elements of a mobile satellite service. Satellite communication Provide a unique advantage for mobile application because of the wide Geographical coverage made possible by satellite. DBS ground segment (terminal) :In Direct Broadcast Sat (DBS), the main element is program source that are terminated through large Gateway ES to high power satellite and to small terminals with 50 to 100 cm. antenna with facility to interface to TV sets. ents of a direct broadcast system.Programmes transmitted i in elem 2 ie earth station fare received directly by the audience. SATELLITE COMMUNICATION/°Q State and explain the services provided by satellite. To coordinate the working of various radio systems, the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) has categorized the services and set guideline for design and operation of each satellite servic 1)Fixed satellite Services (FSS) :They are used for communication between fixed points on earth, provides links to telephone networks and TV signals from the cable company to the cable operator. 2)Mobile Satellite Services (MSS): MSS are used for communication with mobile terminals i including land mobile (at Vehicles, communicator mobiles etc.), maritime mobiles (ships, } submarines ete.), aeronautical mobile (aircrafts, helicopters etc.) ETC. 3)Broadcast satellite services (BSS): It deals with TV and sound broadcast directly to the customers e.g. DTH services 4)Navigation Satellite Services: It deals with the Global Positioning System (GPS). 5)Meteorological Satellite Services:- It deals with search and rescue services ie.SAR services €.g. SARSAT. i Q. Discuss about the frequencies used for Satellite communication. As per the WARC (World administrative Radio Conference) standards, various frequeney bands used for the Satellite communication ( uplink and downlink) and Band width for the respective bands are specified as follows: As per \ As per WARC Standard IEEE standard i { ce Uplink (GHz) Downlink(GHz) ~ Bandwidth * 4-8 GHz Lt 5.9-6.4 3.7-4.2 500 MHz. ) 8-12 GHz. igi 79-84 125-7.75 500 MHz, 12-18 GHz. Ku 14,0-14.5 11.7-12.2 500 MHz. | 2740GH. Ka 27.0-30.0 17.0-20.0 Be Ft) 300310 7 200-21.0 Q = 40.0-41.0 / —, 41.0-43.0 140-75 GHz. 50.0-51.0 ae aes SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONAs per WARC standard © Ku band is used for DBS and Certain FSS. © C-Band is used for FSS only. DTH is not allowed in this band. © VHF band is used for certain mobile, navigation services and for data transfer from weather satellites. © L-band is used for mobile satellite servi and navigational systems. | « % Carrier frequencies used in Satellite communication. For FSS in C band , i.e. 4-6 GHz. sub-band, is referred as or denoted as 6/4 GHz. band. In 6/4 band , | ‘The Uplink frequency is 5.725 GHz. 10 7.075 GHz. & The Downlink frequency is 3.4 to 4.8 GHz. Advantage of 6/4 Band: © Information carrying capacity os large as frequency is in microwave. © Small & efficient antennas are used, | © Comparatively less expensive equipments are required. © Minimum 4° of spacing is required between the satellite. , For DBS in Ku band i.e. 12-14 GHz. range, is used and is denoted by,14/12 Band.-The Uplink Po | frequency used is 12.75 GHz. to 14.8 GHz.& Downlink frequency is:10.7 GHz. to 12: GHz wiz = | GHz to 12.7 GHz. ‘ Advantage of 14/12 Band: © Itrequires relatively small Earth Station. © Itis possible to have narrow antenna beam due to higher frequency hence 3° spacing is permissible. 30/20 GHz band is under experiment for commercial satellite communication for which uplink ! frequency is 27.5 GHz. to 31 GHz. & downlink frequency is 18.1 GHz. to 21.2 GHz. In this 1° Poa spacing can be possible. SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONComparison between C band and Ku Band. C Band Ku Band 1) Tonospheric Scintillation & atmospheric absorption is less. It is more. 2)Rain attenuation is negligible. Itis more 3)Used for FSS Used GPS & DTH services Ka, Q & V bands are in experimental stage. For this bands, the Ionospheric scintillation , atmospheric absorption and rain attenuation is significant. These bands can also be used in DTH TV Services and Broadcast services. ¢ Q.Why Microwave frequencies are used for satellite communication 1. The High frequencies (microwave) can easily penetrate through ionospheric layer so as to reach the sat and back to ES. Lower frequencies will be returned back to earth by ionospheric layer. 2. Microwave frequencies make it possible to support many communication channels simultaneously. 3. Microwave frequencies allow wideband signals. High speed digital data also requires wideband. Hence it can support high speed digital data transfer. * Q. Define the term Uplink and Downlink frequency. State, why Uplink frequency and downlink frequencies are different? Uplink freq.:It is defined as the frequency at which the ES transmitter beams its signal towards the satellite, Downlink frq.:It is defined as the frequency that the satellite transponder beams its signal to ES. ‘Transponder: It’s function is to convert Uplink frequency to downlink frequency & amplify the signal at satellite. Uplink frequency & Downlink frequency are different. If they are same, then: A) i) It will cause unwanted feedback from downlink antenna into the receiver (i.e. receiver is to receive same uplink frequency) ii) Satellite transmitter generated signals could Jam its own receiver. B) To prevent the interference with uplink frequency. C) We can use same antenna for transmission and reception if we use different frequencies. SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONQ. Why uptink freq: cater than downlink frequency? i) Athigh frequencies, attenuation is more; hence more power will be required for the signal to reach the destination. To generate high power, HPA with high rating & heat sinks are required. Thus it will ing of equipment and also increase the weight of the equipment. Thus it is rite high power at earth, inerease power supply rat feasible to gene ii) igh frsqueney implies lesser wavelength, which implies greater directivity. As ES has to transmit the signals to the satellite, the antenna must be hightly directive, hence uses high frequency for uplink i Q. Di between active & passive Satellite? Active Satellite. Passive Satellite. 1 | Active satellite carries antenna system, It simply reflects back the signal from ES transmitter, receiver and Power supply. i: | transmitter to different regions of earth works as active repeater. It uses frequency | without frequency conversion or |__| conversion and amplification technique. amplification. 2 | Asaltitude increases the communication _| As altitude increases its communication capability with direetional antenna is capacity decreases as it is simply a reflector greater, (without amplification). d 3 | Asit requires sophisticated electronics As it doesn’t requires sophisticated more expensive. el equipments, iti -ctronics equipments, itis less expensive. Compare on the basis of advantages: The satellite communication & terrestrial communication. Satellite communication Terrestrial commtinication It can cover the area from small service area to as largd Terrestrial relays are point to point, as country or region, One satellite can cover 1/3 rd of earth surface, Once satellite is positioned,the ES can be installed and | Installation period ig more for ‘communication can be established in a day or few hours terrestrial circuits. Mobile communication can easily be achieved as degred Terrestrial system have greater of flexibility is high in connecting mobile vehicle. limitations, SATELLITE COMMUNICATION Arhnhhte etnnnarannet Ge HARM HAH BEAD HHA DAD | ee ae aeturing cost is high, its average operatin] Operating time is less cost is low. A satellite works continuously for a year to| f ies = Cost is independent of the distance. Cost is proportional to the distance Satellite is single active repeater. It requires several repeaters to compensate path loss. Q State the disadvantages of satellite communication? 1) Signal delay occurs in satellite communication. e.g. 270 ms in geosat. orbit for the signal transmitted from ES to Satellite and back to the earth location. 2) After launching the satellite, repairing of equipments is nearly impossible. 3) Launching cost of satellite is high. $ 4) Attenuation of signai is high, hence requires high gain antenna, special amplifier for reception ete. ‘This increases the cost of satellite communication transmitting and receiving stations. we are the applications of satellite communication? ‘The satellite communication supports many applications as under:~ 1)Communication: Satellite is used for satellite TV, Telephony via satellite and for data communication purpose. 2)Remote Sensing & earth obse terrain mapping ete ion: Satellite can be used to discover the hidden mineral resources, 3)Meteorological: Satellite are used for weather forecasting, flood forecasting ete. 4)Military: Satellite can be used to set up communication links between border forces and headquarters, spying, navigation of ships, aircrafts ete. 5)Scientifie and technological applications: Satellite are sued for astronomical research & also to study & monitor different layer of atmosphere etc. In short, the satellites are used for voice, data, and video communication to the fixed and mobile terminals. Massaging and voice communication for desktop and pocket size terminals, In GPS, it is used for tracking and monitoring the movement of the vehicles. It is used as the backbone for relief operation of the remote areas. DBS service provides world wide paging services. MSS service gives full international roaming to mobiles. VSAT is used for applications like educational, business etc. It» is used as back up to the existing terrestrial services etc... SATELLITE COMMUNICATION