Basic Satellite System

Lecture 2

MUHAMAD ASVIAL
Center for Information and Communication Engineering Research (CICER)
Electrical Engineering Department, University of Indonesia
Kampus UI Depok, 16424, Indonesia
asvial@ee.ui.ac.id
http://www.ee.ui.ac.id/cicer

Objectives

Satellite Classification
Basic Satellite System
Earth Station or Ground Segment
Space Segment or Satellite
Satellite Spacing

Satellite Repeater/Transponder
Satellite Link Models
LNA/HPA Characteristics
Hypothetical Reference Circuit
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Satellite CommunicationsCommunications-II

SATELLITE CLASSIFICATION
Basic Definitions
Roll, Pitch, and Yaw

Satellite CommunicationsCommunications-II

SATELLITE CLASSIFI
CATION
Spinner Satellites use the angular mome
ntum of its spinning body to provide roll a
nd yaw stabilization

Less common type

Mostly used in relatively high-altitude geosy
nchronous or Molinya orbits
Intelsat VI Satellite, DSP (Defense Support P
rogram) Satellite of USA
its (Intelsat VI) body (lower part having solar
panels around) spins like a top at approx. 1
5 rpm around pitch axis. The upper part, co
ntaining communication payload, is de-spu
n relative to the rest of the body to keep its
antennas pointing continuously towards Eart
h

DSP Satellite

Intelsat VI Satellite

Satellite Classification
Three-Axis Stabilized Satellites keep t
heir body fixed relative to Earths surface a
nd an internal subsystem provides roll and
yaw stabilization

Their body is roughly box-shaped and have

deployable solar-array panels
Examples: Defense Meteorological Satellite
Program (DMSP), Japanese Earth Resource
s Satellite (JERS), Russian Communication
Satellite, Gorizont.
All these keep their bodies stable thru inertia
except for a slow motion about one axis to
keep their payload antennas and sensors co
ntinuously pointing towards Earth. The solar
panels are counter-rotated to track the sun.
However, European Infrared Space Observa
tory (ISO), does not need any such adjustm
ent due to restriction on attitude or low pow
er requirement

Basic Satellite System

User interface

Terrestrial interface

Terrestrial interface

User interface

User interface

Figure: Structure of a satellite system

Satellite System Configurations

Configurations
Star
Mesh

(a)

(b
)
Figure: Network topology star

Figure: Mesh network topology

System Components
Solar
panels

Figure: Basic communications satellite components

Satellite Spacing in Orbit

Spatial separation between any two satellites depends on several fa
ctors that include: [1o-2o]

Beam widths and side-lobe radiation of both satellite antennas and earth station
RF carrier frequency
Encoding and modulation technique used
Acceptable limit of interference
Transmit carrier power

= cos-1[dA2 + dB2 - 2 r2 (1 cos)]/2 dAdB

where,
: angular separation between satellites as
viewed by the earth stations
: angular separation between the satellites as
viewed from the center of the earth i.e., is
simply the difference in the longitudinal positions
of the two satellites

2@6/4 GHz
1.5@14/12GHz
Signal to
satellite B

Figure: Satellite separation

Transponder (A Repeater)

Signal Amplification ( 110 dB Gain)

Frequency Down-Conversion

Figure : Types of transponders (a)

conventional transparent (non regenerative
satellite, and (b) processing (regenerative)
satellite

Processing

Transparent

Functions and Types

 SATELLITE Transponder (A Repeater in the Sky)

Transparent Transponder
Amplification and Frequency Translation and No Processing

Figure Transparent Transponders

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Transponder

Processing/Regenerative Transponder
Amplification and Frequency Translation along with Signal Proce
ssing
Carrier
regeneration.
fr

Mixer
ft

LNA

Dem.

Regeneration.

Mod.

HPA

BPF

ft

fl

Local oscillator

Figure : A regenerative repeater for digital signals

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Transponder
Frequency Translation
Up-Conversion

IF frequency (70 MHz/140MHz) translated to Higher Frequen

cy using Single or Double Stage Conversion Process
cos(0t + ) coslt

IF = ll + 0

Product
modulator
IF carrier
cos(0t + )

Mixer 1
BPF1

Mixer 2
BPF1

BPF2

l > 0
l

ll

l2

Figure: Up-converter schematic diagram (a) single conversion (b) double conversion (c)
frequency spectrum

12

Transponder
Frequency Translation
Up-Conversion

IF frequency (70 MHz/140MHz) translated to Higher Freque

ncy using Single or Double Stage Conversion Process

13

Transponder
Frequency Translation
Down-Conversion

RF Frequency is translated to IF frequency (70 MHz/14

0MHz) using Single or Double Stage Conversion Process

Mixer
u

Mixer 2
0 u

BPF

BPF2

Mixer 1
0

BPF1

l1
l2

(a)

(b)

(c)
Figure : Down-converter schematic diagram (a) single conversion, (b) double conversion (c)
frequency spectrum

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Transponder
Classification based Frequency Conversion
Single Conversion Transponder
6 GHz bandpass filter

4 GHz bandpass filter

LNA

Mixer
fr

LPA

HPA

4 GHz bandpass filter

ft

ft
BPF

BPF

BPF

Preamplifier

fl

4 GHz downlink antenna

6 GHz uplink
antenna
2225 MHz

Local oscillator

Figure : Simplified single-conversion transponder for 6/4 GHz band

15

Transponder
Classification based Frequency Conversion
Double Conversion Transponder

1 GHz amplifier

14 GHz
LNA
BPF1

fr

1st Mixer
fIF

fl1

11 GHz
HPA

2nd Mixer
fr

IF
Amplifier

ft

BPF2

ft

fl2

14 GHz uplink
antenna
Up converter
1st Local oscillator 13
GHz

BPF3

11 GHz
downlink
antenna

2nd Local oscillator 10

GHz

Figure : Simplified double-conversion transponder (bent pipe) for 14/11 GHz band

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Transponder
Classification based Frequency Conversion
Broadband Multiple-Channel Transponder
Channelization
F1 HPA

5925 MHz 6425 MHz

500 MHz
bandwidth
LNA

BPF
F1

500 MHz
bandwidth
amplifier

BPF
F1
3700 MHz 4200 MHz

Combiner

Mixer

2.225 GHz

BPF
Fn

Local oscillator

BPF
Fn
Fn HPA

nB

n-1

F1

F2

fr

n-1
Fn-1

F
n

ft

Figure : Broadband multiple-channel repeater

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Transponder
Classification based Frequency Conversion
Multi-Channel Receiver Transponder
Mixer
BPF F1

LNA

BPF

HPA

BPF

Combiner

5925 MHz 6425 MHz

Demux

LO

3700 MHz 4200 MHz

2.225 GHz
Mixer

BPF Fn

LNA

BPF

LO

HPA

BPF

2.225 GHz

Figure : Multi-channel receiver transponder example

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Satellite Link Model

A Satellite System Basic Sections: Uplink, Satellite Tr
ansponder, and Downlink
Satellite Uplink Model

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Satellite Link Model

A Satellite System Basic Sections: Uplink, Satellite Transpon
der, and Downlink
Transponder (Transmitter + Responder) Model

Tunnel Diode

RF-to-RF Repeater
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Satellite Link Model

A Satellite System Basic Sections: Uplink, Satellite Tr
ansponder, and Downlink
Downlink Model

Tunnel Diode/
Parametric Amplifier

21

 SATELLITE LINK MODEL

Cross-Link or Inter-Satellite Link (ISL) Model

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 LNA Characteristics
LNA-a non-linear device
1-dB Compression Point
Power
3rd order Intercept point-a hypotoutput
hetical power level where the operating
power of the 3rd order inter-modulation
product (generated by the amplifier whe
n two equal level signals at frequency
1 and 2 are applied and it generates a t
hird order inter-modulation product 2
1 - 2) is equal to the power of 1 and
2

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 HPA Characteristics
HPA-a non-linear device
HPA Devices
TWT Amplifier- most com
monly used, BW=500 MHz
, BW Efficiency = 10%
Klystron Tube- Better BW
Efficiency (2%) and Highe
r Gain but at Smaller BW
Solid State Power Amplifie
r (SSPA) IMPATT Diode
use as final stage Amplifie
r for lower frequencies an
d low power applications

Operating
point

Figure 4.9.1-1 Transfer characteristics of TWTA

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 HPA Characteristics
Back-Off Loss
Lbo is reduction in Rated O/P Power of HPA to bring it into Linear Region

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 Hypothetical Reference Circuit

Hypothetical Reference Circuit Connection (HRX)-the total le
ngth of HRX, end-to-end, of 64 kbps circuit is 27,500km
27,500 km
Local

National

L
E

P
C

S
C

International

T
C

I
S
C

I
S
C

I
S
C

I
S
C

National

IS
C

T
C

SC

Local

PC

LE

S: Subscriber
LE: Local Exchange Figure Digital hypothetical Reference Circuit (HRX)
TC:Tertiary Center
PC:Primary Center
SC: Secondary Center
ISC:International Switching Center
Switch: Transition element
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 Hypothetical Reference Circuit

HRX Quality Demarcation- The international section, from terminal I
SC to terminal ISC, is considered as stretching 2500km and providing a hig
h grade of service
27,500 km
25,000 km
T-reference point
(Note 1)

1250 km

Note 2

Note 2

1250 km

LE

Local
grade

LE

Medium
grade

High
grade

Medium
grade

Local
grade

Figure HRX quality demarcation

Note 1: The T-reference point is an ITU-T defined subscriber/network ISDN interface
Note 2: This point may be at the LE, PC, SC, TC or ISC depending on the country size
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 Hypothetical Reference Circuit

Gateway Earth Station in HRX an important part of high-grade int
ernational section covering about 12, 500 km, leaving 12, 500 km for back
haul and/or international transit sections

Sub

Sub
LE

ISC

ISC
3000km

Local
grade

Mediumgr
ade

LE

240km

High grade

Medium
grade

Local
grade

Figure Sample 64 kb/s connection including a satellite link

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