CHAPTER 5 SATELLITE EARTH STATION

5.1 Introduction

Satellite communication plays a huge role in SLT international transmission section. When Common-Wealth Summit was held in Sri Lanka, there was no a reliable mechanism to do the international broadcast. Padukka satellite Earth station was started at this period. Dr. Arthur C. Clarke reveals a lot of important facts regarding satellite communication. He discovered that a satellite orbited at a distance of 36,000 km (i.e. from the Earth surface) would be geostationary. Further more he explains that it rotates in the same direction as the Earth and the Earths orbital velocity is equal to the angular orbital velocity of the satellite. Thus if it is placed in an equatorial orbit; the satellite will place stationary relative to the Earth. The period of rotation T of a satellite around the Earth was given by:

2 x x r3/2 T = (gs x R )
2 1/2

Let T is the period of rotation of the satellite.(i.e. around the Earth)

Where , T = Period of rotation R = Radius of Earth r = Radius of orbit

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gs = Gravitational acceleration on Earth surface( 9.81ms

-2 )

Dr. Arthur C. Clarke reveals that three satellites can illuminate the whole globe. According to that concept; three regions were identified.

(i) IOR - Indian Ocean Region (ii) POR - Pacific Ocean Region (iii) AOR - Atlantic Ocean Region

IOR

EARTH

POR

AOR

Figure 5.1: Three satellites illuminate the whole globe The satellites are placed in geostationary orbits by balancing the centrifugal force and the gravitational force. For more explanation;

mxv
=

GxmxM R2

R
Where, m = Mass of the satellite M = Mass of the Earth

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R = Total radius G is a Constant

Since, Linear velocity = Radius x Angular Velocity By solving the above equations, R = 42,000 km

Since the radius of Earth is 6378 km, The distance from the Earth surface = 35,622 km (Approximately 36,000km)

5.2 Satellite Architecture

Communication data passes through a satellite using a signal path known as a transponder. Typically satellites have between 2 and 72 transponders. A single transponder is capable of handling up to 155 million bits of information per second. Its capability varies from simple voice or data to the most complex and bandwidth intensive video, and audio and Internet content.

5.3 Orbit location

The location of a geostationary satellite is referred to as its orbital location. International satellites, are normally measured in terms of longitudinal degrees East( E )from the Prime Meridian.
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5.4 Foot Print

The geographic area of the Earths surface over which a satellite can transmit to, or receive from, is called the satellites footprint. The footprint can be tailored to include beams with different frequencies and power levels.

5.5 Earth Station Equipments

Transmission

Receive

Modulator IF combiner Up converter RF combiner High Power Amplifiers Antenna

Demodulator IF Divider Down converter RF Divider Low Noise Amplifier Antenna

Antenna

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Satellite dish

Earth Station Block Diagram

Feeder

HPA

HPA

LNA

LNA

RF Combiner UP Converter IF Combiner

RF Combiner UP Converter IF Combiner

RF Divider Down Conveter IF Divider

RF Divider Down Conveter IF Divider

Modulator

Modulator

Demodulator

Demodulator

Multiplexer , Demultiplexer , Terrestrial Radio Link International Switching Center (ISC)

Figure 5.2: Earth Station Equipments

5.6 Radio Frequency Bands

Several frequency bands are used in satellite communication. However C band and Ku band are used immensely for the satellite communications

Table 5.6.1: Radio Frequency Bands Band UHF L S C X Ku K Ka Frequency/ (GHz) 0.3 1.0 1.0 1.5 1.5 3.9 3.9 8.0 8.0 12.5 12.5 18.0 18.0 26.5 26.5 0.0

5.7 Orbits

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A satellite is placed in orbit, when it is launched. Several types of orbits exists. Those are (i) Geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) (ii) Medium Earth orbit (MEO) (ii) Low earth orbit (LEO)

Figure 5.3: Different Orbits

5.7.1 Geostationary Earth orbit [GEO]

Geostationary Earth orbit is at height of 22,282 miles above the equator (35, 786 Km) , the satellite travels in the same direction and at the same speed as the Earths rotation on its axis, taking 24 hours to complete a full trip around the globe. Thus, as long as satellite is positioned over the equator in an assigned orbital location, it will appear to be stationary with respect to a specific location on the Earth.

5.7.2 Medium Earth orbits [MEO]

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Medium Earth orbits are primarily reserved for communication satellites that cover the North pole and the South pole. Unlike the circular orbit of the geostationary satellites, Medium Earth orbits are placed in an elliptical (Oval- shaped) orbit.

5.7.3 Low Earth orbits [LEO]

Low Earth orbits are much closer to the earth, requiring satellites to travel at a very high speed in order to avoid being pulled out of orbit b Earths gravity. At Low Earth orbits, a satellite can circle the Earth in approximately one and a half hours.

5.8 Satellite Earth Station Padukka

Padukka Satellite Earth Station is the only one satellite earth station in our country. It plays a big role in international transmission. It facilitates for voice, data, internet etc via satellites. Earth station antennas are directed to INTELSAT satellites which are placed over the Indian Oceanic Region (IOR).Padukka Earth station has several antennas and they C- band for their operations. The uplink frequency is 6 GHz and the downlink frequency is 4 GHz. Antennas can adjust their Azimuth and vertical angles automatically to have a direct line of sight with the satellite by using beacon signals. After receiving the uplink carriers, the transponders amplify them. Then it is converted in to the correct downlink frequency band. After that it is used to transmit to the high powered amplifiers which are stated on earth.

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ITMC SIC OTS

NSC CTO

SDH Optical
PDK_2A PDK_1A PDK_4B

Figure 5.4: Padukka Satellite Earth Station

5.8.1 Padukka 1A Earth Station

This is the countrys first satellite Earth station established in 1976. At that time this was an analogue, but now it has been fully converted into a digital earth station. PDK 1A Earth station has the standard A and is equipped with 30 m in diameter dish antenna and communicates with INTELSAT 60 degrees E Geo stationary satellite. This has IDR carriers. Services are voice, data, TV. This is monitored remotely. Year of Commission Antenna Diameter INTELSAT Standard Working Satellite Frequency of Operation Feeder : 1976 : 30 m : Standard A E/S : INTELSAT IOR 60 East : C- Band : 4 Port
0

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Polarization used Feeder Type Tracking System Services available

: Circular (A Pole and B Pole) : Cassegrain (Beam Waveguide Feed) : Automatic (Step, Programmed, Auto) : Digital TV, Voice, Internet, DAMA, Data

5.8.2 Padukka 4B Earth Station

This antenna previously located adjacent the SLTs OTS building and now it is being reinstalled in the Padukka E/S. This is the second earth station established in Colombo in April 1993 to meet the increasing demand of overseas telecom traffic. The standard of this earth station is standard B and is equipped with 11 m in diameter dish antenna. Communicate with NSS 57 degrees satellite. Year of Commission Antenna Diameter INTELSAT Standard Working Satellite Frequency of Operation Feeder Polarization used Feeder Type Tracking System Services available : 1993 : 11 m : Standard B E/S : INTELSAT NSS 57 : C- Band : 4 Port : Circular : Cassegrain (Beam Waveguide Feed) : Manual : Internet
0

5.8.3 Padukka 2A Earth Station

This is installed in 1995. This earth station is INTELSAT standard A and has an 18 m diameter antenna, 3 kW HPA and 100 W solid state power amplifier. This is a

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digital earth station. This has IDR carriers. Services are voice, data, TV. Communicate with INTELSAT 64 degrees E satellite. Year of Commission Antenna Diameter INTELSAT Standard Working Satellite Frequency of Operation Feeder Polarization used Feeder Type Tracking System Services available : 1995 : 18 m : Standard A E/S : INTELSAT IOR 64 East : C- Band : 4 Port : Circular (A Pole and B Pole) : Cassegrain (Beam Waveguide Feed) : Automatic (Step) : Digital TV, Voice, Internet, Data
0

5.8.4 AVN Antenna

This is used for digital TV transmission. Diameter is 4.6 m.

5.8.5 SLT FLY (Mobile Earth Station)

Diameter is 2.4 m. This is used for live telecast cricket matches, SNG to overseas countries. This is good for digital transmission. This is a mobile earth station. In this system the Up link frequency is always greater than the down downlink frequency. This is because the attenuation is high in higher frequencies and it requires more power to transmit the signal. If the high frequency is used to transmit the signal, satellite will require more power and hence greater in size. So high frequency signal will generate from the satellite base station and low frequency signal will generate from the satellite. Year of Commission Antenna Diameter : 1999 : 2.4 m 45

INTELSAT Standard Working Satellite Frequency of Operation Feeder Polarization used Feeder Type Tracking System Services available

: Standard H3 E/S : Any : C- Band : 2 Port : Liner or Circular : Offset : Manual : Digital TV

5.9 Earth Station Block Diagram

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Local End

Main Link

International Link

2M Link DSU DATA Node TX Room SLT Remote Site Local End LAN Customer A DSU Satellite Link DATA Node ITMC TX DATA Node Room SLT Head Office SEA-ME-WE

Cable

Router

Router SLT Head Office

LAN Customer B

Feeder

HPA

HPA

LPA

LPA

RF Combiner UP Converter IF Combiner

RF Combiner UP Converter IF Combiner

RF Divider DOWN Converter IF Divider

RF Divider DOWN Converter IF Divider

Modulator

Modulator

Demodulator

Demodulator

Multiplexer, Demultiplexer, Terrestrial Radio Link International Switching Centre (ISC)

Figure 5.5: Earth station block diagram

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5.9 International Telephone Call Connection

6 GHz Transmit Path 4 GHz Receive Path Sri Lanka ITMC

81-839291414

6 GHz Transmit Path

Japan ITMC

ISC

81-839291414

ISC

NSC

0-81-839291414

NSC

SC

00-81-839291414 839291414

SC

Figure 5.6: How an International Call Is Initiated When a person is trying to get a call to another country two portions of the number should be directed to the telephone exchange. Initially international entrance number (i.e. 00).Then the country code and the telephone number should be entered. For an example let the call was taken to 00-91-123456789.Since it consists a zero at the beginning the telephone exchange directs the call to the National Exchange at Colombo. Then the National Exchange directs the call to the International Exchange since the second number also zero. Next the International Exchange classifies the international calls according to the country code (Here the country is 91 and its the country code of India).Then it is directed to the International Transmission and Maintenance Center (ITMC). Then it is directed to the cable centers or to the satellite Earth Station.

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5.9 Features of the communication via satellite

5.9.1 Advantages
Wide-area broadcasting Multi-destination delivery Distance-independent cost Robustness against natural disaster Easy setup at any point on the ground Small fluctuation of delay-time.

5.1.2 Disadvantages
Physically significant delay-time Effects due to rainfall and airplanes

5.10 Training Experience

Padukka Satellite Earth Station is a place which I learned lot of important things. During the training period I was able to get the maximum from it. I got an overall knowledge about how to do a satellite communication. In the very first day we were participated for few lectures. From that we identified the importance of satellite communication; and how it contributes to enhance the demand of 49

SLT. Then we went to see the different antennas mounted on the land. We observed PDK 1A and PDK 2A antennas. And with the help of the technical staff we got the theoretical background for that. And also we went to the equipment room and observe the modems, IF & RF combiners, up/down converters and power amplifiers. When we find the newest versions of converters power amplifiers; we studied the additional features of them with compare to the older ones. We analyze the frequency spectrum and study the behavior of the signal. Study the reasons for selecting c band for the transmission. And also we got to know how to direct an antenna to a proper direction. We got the opportunity to go to the top of the antenna. We observe the structure of the antenna. And also we study about the automatic cracking system of that. The other important thing is that we got to know about the South Asian news sharing system. Sri Lanka also provides local news for that. We study about that process and practically involved in uploading our carrier signal at the proper time. And also we discussed about the legal background of this process. Considering all aspects; I can say that the training period at Satellite Earth Station give me a huge knowledge in satellite communication.

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