1.

Calculation of Uplink path loss

1.Up link frequency Up link frequency is frequency at which Ground Station is

communicating with Satellite. For C band up link frequency is in the order of 6 G
Hz

2. Up link path loss Up link path loss depend on up link frequency & distance
between satellite and ground station

Up-link path loss=10 log(4dC/f)2…(dB)………[1]

Here
‘d’ is the distance between satellite & ground
station ‘f’ is the frequency; C is the
velocity of light

Example: Distance between satellite & earth station is ‘d’= 37,000 Km

Up link frequency ‘f’= 6.175 G Hz
uplink loss or free space loss= 10
log(4*37000*C/f)2 = 20 log(4*37000*C/f)
= 20log(4**37000*3*108/f)
= 199.61 dB

2.Calculation of Transmit antenna gain

1.Antenna diameter
Diameter of parabolic reflector antenna is referred as antenna diameter. It
is denoted by ‘D’

2.Antenna efficiency
Antenna efficiency is the ratio of input power to the radiated power of the
antenna. It is denoted by ‘’. The value of ‘’ lice between 0.55 to 0.73

3.Antenna gain GT
The isotropic power gain of the antenna, GT, is defined as the power density in
the maximum direction, denoted here by PD , to the power density archived by a
100% efficient isotropic radiator.

Thus GT=PD/(PT/4)
PT is the total power radiated.
Antenna gain in GT = 10 log (2D2/(2*100))
= 10 log (2D2/((C/f)2*100))
=10 log (2D2/((3/10*f)2*100))
=10 log (2D2/(3/f)2)……………(dB)………..[2]

Example Calculation of the gain of a 3.80-m parabolaidal antenna operating

frequency of 6.175 G Hz & aperture efficiency of 0.55
 GT=10 log (2D2/(3/f)2)
Hence GT=45.21 dB

3.Calculation of Transmit EIRP (in dB W)&operating FD

1. Transmit power –per carrier It is the power given to the antenna at the Earth
station to radiate power. It’s range lice in the watts.

2. Transmitter feeder loss Losses will occur in the connection between the
transmitting antenna and the transmitter proper. Such losses will occur in the
connecting wave-guides, filters and couplers.

3.Antenna pointing loss When a satellite link is established, the ideal situation is to
have the earth station and satellite antennas aligned for maximum gain. There are
two possible sources of off axis loss , one at the satellite and one at the earth station
. The off axis loss at the satellite is taken in to account by designing the link for
operation on actual satellite antenna contour. The off axis losses at the earth station
is referred to as the antenna pointing loss.

Antenna pointing losses are usually only a few tenths of a decibel.

4. No of carriers By frequency multiplexing scheme we can transmit any

number of carriers through an antenna.

5.Transmit EIRP This is the product of actual power given to transmitting antenna
and antenna power gain of transmitting antenna.
That the equivalent isotropic power (EIRP) may be defined as
EIRP=PTGT
EIRP is often expressed in decibels relative to 1 watt, or dBW. Let Pt be in Watts
then EIRP = [PT]+[GT] dBW
If we consider transmitter feeder loss & antenna pointing loss in to account

Transmitter EIRP= 10 log (Transmitter power per carrier )-Transmitter

Feeder loss + Transmitter antenna gain – antenna pointing loss
………(db W)…………..[3]

Example Calculation of transmit EIRP for an antenna having the following

data. Transmit power per carrier- 0.28 W, antenna feeder loss-1.00 dB, antenna
pointing loss-0.70 dB And transmitter antenna gain 45.21dB.
Solution
Transmit EIRP = 10 log (0.28)-1 + 45.21- 0.70
= 37.98 dB

6.Satellite operating flux density (dB /Sq m) The traveling tube amplifier in a
satellite transponder exhibits power output saturation. The flux density required in
the receiving antenna to produce saturation of the TWTA istermed the saturation
flux density.
Satellite operating flux density = Transmitter EIRP –Up link Rain attenuation –
 162.2
………(dB /Sq
m)……………………….[4]

Example : calculate satellite operating flux density (dB /Sq m)for the satellite
having EIRP 37.98 dB and no rain attenuation .
Solution
Satellite operating flux density dB/Sq m = 37.98- 162.2
= -124.21 dB/Sq m

7. Amplifier back off To reduce inter-modulation distortion, the operating point of

the TWT must be shifted to the linear portion of the curve, the reduction in input
power being referred as input back off. When multiple carriers present, the power
around saturation, for any carrier, is somewhat less than the achieved with single
carrier operation.

The input back-off is the difference in decibels between the carrier input at the
operating point, and saturation input that would be required for single carrier
operation.

8.Power rating of ground transmitter It the power delivered by the ground

transmitter. Power rating of ground transmitter can be expressed as

Power rating of ground transmitter =10((10 log (Number of carriers * Power per carrier)+amplifier
backoff)/10)

…………………………….[5]

Example : calculate power rating of ground transmitter operating at following

conditions. Number of carriers- 1, Power per carrier- 0.28 W, Amplifier back off-0
dB.
Solution
Power rating of ground transmitter
= 10((10 log (Number of carriers * Power per carrier)+amplifier backoff)/10)
= 0.28 W

4.Calculation of uplink to noise ratio

1.Up link rain attenuation (dB) Rain fall results in attenuation of radio waves by
scattering , and by absorption , of energy from the wave. Rain attenuation increases
with increasing frequency and in worse at Ku band compared to C band. Studies
have shown that the rain attenuation for horizontal polarization is considerably
greater than for vertical polarization.

2.Satellite G/T (dB/k) G/T ratio indicates figure of merit. G/T ratio is the ratio of
gain of the satellite to the thermal noise temperature of the satellite. G/T ratio
depends on the satellite components.
3.Uplink C/No(dB Hz) The up link of a satellite circuit is the link in which the earth
station is transmitting the signal and the satellite is receiving it .
Carrier to noise ratio of up link is given as
[C/No]U = [EIRP]U + [G/T]U - [losses] U + 228.6
=Transmitter EIRP- (Up link path losses + Up link rain
attenuation) + Satellite G/T + 228.6…………(dB)………………………..[6]

Example : calculate power rating of ground transmitter operating at following

conditions Transmitter EIRP37.97 dB W, Up link rain attenuation-0.0 dB, Up link
path loss 199.62 dB, satellite G/T(dB/K)-5.00
Solution:
[C/No]U = 37.97 –5.00-199.92+228.6
= 61.65 dB

5.Calculation of satellite operating down link EIRP

1.Saturated EIRP (dB W) It is the EIRP of the satellite, at which ground station
amplifier goes in to saturation.

2.Operating flux density (dB /Sq m) The traveling tube amplifier in a Earth station
transponder exhibits power output saturation. The flux density required in the
receiving antenna to produce saturation of the TWTA is termed the saturation flux
density.

3. Amplifier back off To reduce inter-modulation distortion, the operating point of

the TWT must be shifted to the linear portion of the curve from nonlinear portion, the
reduction in input power being referred as input back off. When multiple carriers
present, the power around saturation, for any carrier, is somewhat less than the
achieved with single carrier operation.

The input back-off is the difference in decibels between the carrier input at the
operating point, and saturation input that would be required for single carrier
operation.

4.Output back off Where in put back off is employed corresponding output back off
must be allowed for the satellite EIRP.

5.Satellite operating downlink EIRP(dB W) Satellite operating down link EIRP can
be calculated as follows
Satellite operating downlink EIRP(dB W)= Satellite operating flux density +
((Saturated EIRP –Output back-off )-(Saturation flux density –Input back-off))

………………………………[7]

Example Calculate satellite operating downlink EIRP (dB W) for the satellite
operating flux dencity-124.23 dB satellite EIRP 32 dB out put back off 6 dB
saturation flux density –83 dB input back off 9 dB
 Satellite downlink EIRP(dB W) = -124.23 + (( 32 – 6 ) – (-83 - 9 ))
= - 6.23

6.calculation of satellite operating band width

1. In put data rate (Kb/s) It is the number of actual message signals per second.

2. Link overhead factor (% Worst case) It represents additional transmitting delay

between message bits to avoid collision or inter-symbol interference of message
bits.

3.FEC rate coding Forward error correction technique enables the receiver to both
Detect and correct errors without needing to inform the transmitter

4. Bits/Symbol (m) It is defined as the number of symbols transmitted by the

transmitter per bit

5. Effective in put data rate (kbps)

Effective in put data rate (kbps) can be calculated by the formula
Effective input data rate = Input data rate(kbps)/(1+Link over head
factor/100)
……………………………….[8]

Example: Calculate effective input data rate (kb/s) for a satellite input data rate
9.6 K B/S. And link overhead factor 0 %.
Effective in put data rate = Input data rate (K B/S)/(1+ link overhead factor/100)
= 9.6/(1+0/100)= 9.6 KB/S

6. Transmission rate(kbps)
Transmission rate = In put data rate / F E C rate coding
………………………[9]

Example: Calculate transmission rate (kb/s) for a satellite input data rate 9.6 K
B/S. FEC coding 0.50 .
Solution:
Transmission rate= In put data rate/FEC coding
=9.6/0.5=19.2 k B/S

7. Satellite operating band-width (kbps) per carrier

Satellite operating band width (kbps) per carrier
= (Transmission rate/Bits per symbol)*1.4
…………………………………[10]

Example: calculate satellite operating band-width(kbps)per carrier for the

satellite transmission rate 19.2 bits per symbol =2
Satellite operating band width (kbps) per carrier
= (Transmission rate/Bits per symbol)*1.4
=(19.2/2)*1.4=13.44 kB/S
7.Calculation of Downlink path loss

1.Down Link frequency Down link frequency is frequency at which satellite is

communicating with ground station. For C band up link frequency is in the order
of 4 G Hz , 12 G Hz for Ku band.

2.Downlink path loss Down link path loss depend on up link frequency & distance
between satellite and ground station.
Down link loss=10 log(4d/(C/f))2
Here
‘d’ is the distance between satellite & ground
station
‘f’ is the frequency of the down link wave
‘C’ is the velocity of the light = 3 x108 m/Sec
Down link loss = 20 log (4d/(3/10*f)………(dB)………………[11]
Here f is in Giga hertz

Example : calculate downlink path loss for the satellite located 37000 km far from
the earth station and operating 3,950 GHz frequency
Down link loss = 20 log (4d/(3/10*f)
= 195.73 dB

8.Calculation of receiver antenna gain

1. Antenna diameter Diameter of parabolic reflector antenna is referred as antenna

diameter. It is denoted by ‘D.

2.Antenna efficiency Antenna efficiency is the ratio of input power to the radiated
power of the antenna. It is denoted by ‘’. The value of ‘’ lice between 0.55 to 0.73.

3.Antenna gain GR The isotropic power gain of the antenna, GT, is defined as the
power density in the maximum direction, denoted here by PD , to the power density
archived by a 100% efficient isotropic radiator.
Thus
GR=PD/(PT/4)
PT is the total power radiated.
Antenna gain in GR (dB) = 10 log (2D2/(2*100))
= 10 log (2D2/((C/f)2*100))
=10 log (2D2/((3/10*f)2*100))
=10 log (2D2/(3/f)2)……(dB)……………..[12]

Example Calculation of the gain of a 3.8-m parabolaidal antenna operating

frequency of 3.95G Hz & aperture efficiency of 0.55
GR=10 log (2D2/(3/f)2)
=41.33 dB

9.Calculation of receiver G/T

1.Antenna elevation angle (deg) Antenna elevation effects the antenna noise
temperature. Antenna noise temperature decreases with increase of elevation.

2.Antenna noise temp Antenna noise temperature is the sum of all noise sources at
the antenna.

3.Increase in Antenna noise due to rain Rain effects the antenna noise temperature.
It increases the antenna noise temperature.

5.LNA noise temp LNA means Low Noise Amplifier. LNA noise temperature means
noise temperature of LNA.

6.System noise temp (k) It is the sum of all noise temperatures at the receiving
antenna

System noise temperature (k) = antenna noise temperature + increase in antenna

noise due to rain + LNA noise
temperature ……………………………(k)…………….[13]

Example: Calculate system noise temperature of a satellite having noise

temperature 25 K increase in antenna noise due to rain =0 K LNA noise
temperature = 50 K
Solution
System noise temperature = antenna noise temperature + increase in antenna
noise due to rain + LNA noise temperature
= 25 + 0 + 50 = 75

7.Receiver G/T (dB/ k) Receiver G/T is the Figure of merit at the receiver antenna.

Receiver G/T (dB/K) = Receiver Antenna gain – 10 log(system noise

temperature)
… (dB/k)…………………….[14]

Example: Calculate Receiver G/T (dB/K) of a satellite having antenna gain 41.33
, over all receiver noise temperature = 75 K
Receiver G/T (dB/K) = Receiver Antenna gain – 10 log(system noise
temperature)
= 41.33- 10 log(75)
=22.579 (dB/K)

10.Calculation of link margin

1.Down link rain attenuation Rain fall introduces attenuation by absorption and
scattering of signal energy, and the absorptive attenuation introduces noise.
Effective noise temp of rain as
Train =TA(1-(1/A))
Where TA is known as apparent absorber temperature. It is a measured parameter,
which is a function of many factors, including physical temperature of rain, and
scattering effect of the rain, and the scattering effect of the cell on the thermal noise
incident up on it. The value of the apparent absorber temperature lies between 270
and 290 K .
Total sky noise temperature is the clear sky temperature plus the rain temperature
TSky= Tcs+TRAIN
Where TCs is the clear-sky noise temperature

2.Receiver antenna pointing loss When a satellite link is established, the ideal
situation is to have the earth station and satellite antennas aligned for maximum
gain. There are two possible sources of off axis loss , one at the satellite and one at
the earth station . The off axis loss at the satellite is taken in to account by designing
the link for operation on actual satellite antenna contour. The off axis losses at the
earth station is referred to as the antenna pointing loss.

Antenna pointing losses are usually only a few tenths of a decibel.

3.Eb/No required for BER of 1/ 107 It is Signal to noise ratio required to achieve Bit
Error Ratio of 1 error bit per 107 message bits.

4.Down link C/No (dB Hz) It is the down link carrier to noise ratio. It can be
calculated as follows.

Down link C/No(dB Hz) = Satellite operating EIRP - Downlink path loss - Down link
rain attenuation - Receiving antenna pointing loss + Receiver G/T +228.6.

……………………………….[15]

Example : Calculate Down link C/No(dB Hz) for the Satellite operating EIRP =-
6.23 dB W, Downlink path loss =195.74 dB, Down link rain attenuation=0 dB,
Receiving antenna pointing loss = 0.70 dB, Receiver G/T =22.58(dB/K)
Solution
Down link C/No(dB Hz) = Satellite operating EIRP - Downlink path loss - Down
link rain attenuation - Receiving antenna pointing loss + Receiver G/T +228.6.
= -6.23-195.74-0-0.70+22.58+228.6
= 48.51 dB Hz

5.Over all Down link C/No (dB Hz) It is the some of carrier to noise ratio at the
down link and carrier to noise ratio at the up link. It can be calculated as follows

Over all Downlink(C/N0) (dB Hz)= -10*LOG (10-(C/No)U+10-(C/No)D)…………..[16]

Here
(C/No)U = Up link C/N ratio.
(C/No)D = Downlink C/N ratio.
It is the effective C/N ratio of the total system (Transmitter & receiver )

Find over all carrier to noise ratio of the satellite Up link C/N ratio = 61.95,
Downlink C/N ratio= 48.51
Over all Downlink(C/N0) (dB Hz)= -10*LOG (10-(C/No)U+10-(C/No)D)
= 48.32
 Available Eb/No It is the ratio of signal to noise ratio of the system. It can be
calculated as follows.
Available Eb/NO = over all downlink (C/No) / Input data rate
Available Eb/NO (dB)= Over all downlink (C/No)(dB) - Input data rate (dB)
= Over all downlink(C/No)(dB) – 10log (input data rate in
3
KB*10 ).
……………..………………………[17]

Find Available Eb/NO (dB) for the satellite Over all downlink (C/No)(dB) =48.32,
Input data rate (dB)= 9.6 KB/S.
Available Eb/NO (dB)= Over all downlink(C/No)(dB) – 10log (input data rate in
KB*103 = 48.32- 10 log(9.6 * 103)
= 8.63 dB.

Available link margin It is the Difference between ‘Available Eb/No’ and ‘Eb/No
required for BER of 1/107’ in dB.
Available link margin = Available Eb/No(dB) – Eb/No required for BER of 1/
107 (dB)
………………………………………..[18]

Find Available link margin for the satellite Available Eb/No(dB) =8.63 and
Eb/Norequired for BER of 1/ 107 (dB) = 6.5.
Available link margin = Available Eb/No(dB) – Eb/No required for BER of 1/
107 (dB)
= 8.63-6.5 = 2 dB.