Satellite

Communications
Basics
Installation,
Operations &
Maintenance
(IOM)

iDS v7.0

June 2007 Chapter 2

 Copyright Notice
iDirect Technologies Technical Training Manual
Copyright © 2002; 2004 - 2007, iDirect, Inc. All rights reserved. This
training material may not be reproduced, in part or in whole, without the
permission of iDirect, Inc.
All other brands or product names are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective holders.
Printed in the USA.
No part of this work covered by copyright may be reproduced in any
form. Reproduction, adaptation, or translation without prior written
permission is prohibited, except as allowed under the copyright laws.
This publication is provided by iDirect Technologies as-is without
warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including, but not limited
to, the implied warranties or conditions of merchantability or fitness for a
particular purpose. iDirect Technologies shall not be liable for any errors
or omissions which may occur in this publication, nor for incidental or
consequential damages of any kind resulting from the furnishing,
performance, or use of this publication.
Information published here is current or planned as of the date of
publication of this document. Because we are improving and adding
features to our products continuously, the information in this document
is subject to change without notice.

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 2

 Satcom Training Objectives
Understanding Geographically - synchronous Earth Orbiting (GEO) satellites
Stationary, ‘Fixed’ orbit
Compare with Low (LEO) & Medium (MEO)
Examine a typical satellite link
Components and Carriers
Conversion values and location
Describe the different (carrier) frequency
bands used within a satellite network
C, Ku, Ka, L-Bands
Intermediate Frequency (IF) vs.
Radio Frequency (RF)
Describe the various components of the
satellite network hardware
Earth station
Transponder
Up & Down Converters
Discuss many important SatCom terms & principals
Propagation Delay, Signal Polarization, Frequency
Single Channel Per Carrier (SCPC), or
Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) vs. Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) Carriers
Uplink/Downlink vs. Upstream/Downstream (Inbound/Outbound)
Star (point-to-multipoint) vs. Mesh (point to point) Topologies

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 3

 Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO)

Never Placed in
non-Equatorial Orbit

Orbital Plane (known

as the “Clark Belt”)

22,240 Miles
Degrees of Longitude 35,790 Km

EQUATOR

Station
2o spacing
916 miles
Keeping
1,475 km

Orbital Circumference: 164,870 miles Geosynchronous Orbit @ 0o Latitude, directly over the equator
265,490 km Therefore, Orbital position is reported in degrees of Longitude
Orbital Velocity: 6,870 mph Typical Orbital period = Earth rotation, 23hr 56min 4sec
11,060 kph Satellite orbits in a ‘figure-eight’ when viewed from the ground

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 4

 Terminology – Propagation Delay
GeoSynchronous Orbit
Propagation Delay

Distance Speed of Light

22240 miles 186,282 mps
35790 kilometers 299,762 kms

Therefore:
distance/speed = time
22240/186282 = .119 sec, (~120 msec) or
35790/299762 = .119 sec, so

120 ms Uplink delay

+ 120 ms Downlink delay
240 ms Total delay, one way . . .

480 ms Total Round-trip Delay (for a simple ICMP ‘Ping’ and return)

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 5

 Frame Start Delay (FSD)

Transmission Delay is Unique to Each

Earth Station’s Geographic (GEO) Location
Reported in Degrees, Minutes & Seconds
Hemisphere; N/S (Latitude) or E/W (Longitude)
Distance from Equator Determines Delay
Calculation Based on Three Factors
GEO Location of the Teleport (Hub)
GEO Location of the Satellite
GEO Location of the Remote C
Earth Station (VSAT) B
A
Synchronizes Network Bd Equator
Timing Across All
Remote Sites Ad Distance from Satellite
Cd > Bd > Ad
IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 6
 Terms to Remember
Uplink (carrier or channel) Frequency
Transmission path from earth station to satellite
Downlink (carrier or channel) Frequency
Transmission path from satellite to earth station
Downstream, aka Outroute or Outbound
Signal (carrier) frequency from Hub to Remotes
• Downstream Uplink (Hub to Satellite)
• Downstream Downlink (Satellite to Remotes)
Upstream, aka Inroute or Inbound
Signal (carrier) frequency from Remotes to the Hub
• Upstream Uplink (Remotes to Satellite)
• Upstream Downlink (Satellite to Hub)
Downstream & Upstream carriers typically use
the same satellite & transponder, but . . .
Not a requirement for iDirect ‘Star’ network topology
Absolute requirement for iDirect ‘Mesh’ network
topology

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 7

 Terminology – Frequencies Supported

Frequency – Number of times sinusoidal waveform repeats in 1 second

Waveform exhibits Amplitude (max and min values from reference)
Phase (direction) of carrier frequency can be shifted as required
Expressed in Cycles-per-Second, or Hertz (Hz)
C-Band Frequency Range – Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum
Typical Uplink Frequency 5925 MHz to 6425 MHz
Extended Uplink Frequency Ranges – 5850 MHz to 6425 MHz
Typical Downlink Frequency 3700 MHz to 4200 MHz
Extended Downlink Frequency Ranges also supported
Ku-Band Frequency Range – Radio frequency (RF) spectrum
Typical Uplink Frequency 14000 MHz to 14500 MHz
Extended Uplink Frequency Ranges – 13750 MHz to 14750 MHz
Typical Downlink Frequency 11700 MHz to 12200 MHz
Extended Downlink Frequency Ranges – 10950 MHz to 12750 MHz
L-Band Frequency Range – iDirect IF
Intermediate Frequencies (IF) used for both receive and transmit direction
Range between 950 MHz and 2150 MHz (typical 950 – 1700 MHz)
Translates easily into operational RF frequencies discussed above
Ka, X-Band Frequencies supported via L-Band IF Interface
IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 8
 Data Input vs. Modulation Schemes
Frequency = (# of Cycles per Second)
Data 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0
Sinusoidal
Waveform
ASK
Time
FSK

PSK 1 Cycle or
Hertz – Hz

ASK – Amplitude Shift Keying How many degree shift shown?

Transitions ‘key’ signal on/off
Constant frequency
FSK – Frequency Shift Keying
Transitions ‘key’ signal frequency change
Time
Amplitude never varies
PSK – Phase Shift Keying (BPSK, QPSK)
Transitions ‘key’ a shift in the signal phase
Constant frequency and amplitude Phase Change On Data Transition
IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 9
 The Satellite – Major Components
Antenna – Receives composite spectrum across entire uplink
Antenna, divider and receive Bandpass Filter
Bandpass Filter allows only desired signals to pass, rejecting all others
Amplifier - Receive
The Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) amplifies the received signal
Transponders – typically many, with varied configurations
Receives transmission from earth via uplink, amplifies, converts and retransmits the
signal (as the downlink) to receiving earth stations
Includes receiving antenna, broadband receiver and frequency converter, with mixer
for frequency translation
Frequency Converter Æ Mixer (per transponder)
Intermediate step between the receive and transmit components
Utilizes a known stabilized frequency source (Local Oscillator, or L/O)
Translates received Uplink frequency into transmitted Downlink frequency
Amplifier - Transmit
The High Power Amplifier (HPA) increases the power level of the transmitted signal
Antenna – Transmits downlink to receiving earth station
Antenna, combiner/isolation and transmit Bandpass Filter

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 10

 Transponder Block Diagram
RX Antenna (Uplink) TX Antenna (Downlink)
14.0-14.5 GHz (F1) 11.7- 12.2 GHz (F1-F2)

Mixer
Rx Band Pass Tx Band Pass Output Switching
Filter Filter (OMUX) & Isolation

Low Noise
High Power
Amplifier
Local Oscillator (L/O) Amplifier
(LNA)
Transponder 2300 MHz (F2) (HPA)

Output after mixer Input, or Receive Band Pass Filter

Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) acts as a low
F1-F2
F1-F2 F1
F1+F2
+F2 power pre-amplifier
F1-2F2
F1-2F2 F1+2F2
F1+2F2 Mixer, or Frequency Down Converter
F1-3F2
F1-3F2 F1+3F2
F1+3F2 Includes Local Oscillator, or L/O
F1-4F2
F1-4F2 F1+4F4
F1+4F4
.. .. Output filter (OMUX)
.. .. High Power Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier
.. .. (HPA or TWTA)
Output isolation & switching
IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 11
 Typical Satellite Foot Print
‘Lines of Force’ indicate receive signal
strength for any given location
Sites within Foot Print can ‘see’ or receive
satellite downlink signal
The Signal Quality or strength of a signal
depends on actual location within Foot Print

Regional Beam Coverage

EIRP - Effective Isotropic Radiated Power

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 12

 Terminology – Signal Polarization/Linear

Signal Polarization - a property of electromagnetic waves, such as light &

other like forms of signal radiation (Radio Frequency Carrier)
Frequency, Amplitude & Phase - 3 dimensions of electromagnetic waves
A simple plane wave is 2-dimensional (typical light waves)
The plane is perpendicular to the direction the wave is propagating in, and
The electric vector can be decomposed into 2 orthogonal components (meaning
composed of, or relating to right angles)
Referred to herein as ‘Horizontal’ and ‘Vertical’, these 2 components have their
roots in analytic geometry (X and Y axis respectively)
For a simple harmonic (or carrier) wave, where the amplitude of the electric
vector varies in a sinusoidal manner, these 2 components DO have EXACTLY
the same frequency
These 2 components have other defining characteristics that can differ
First, the 2 vector components may not have the same amplitude
Second, the 2 vector components may not have the same phase, that is – they may
not reach their maxima & minima at the same time in the fixed plane
Linear Polarization occurs where the 2 vector components are “in phase”
The direction of the electric vector in the plane, which is determined by the vector sum
of these two orthogonal components, will always fall on a single line in the plane
The direction depends on the relative amplitude of these 2 vector components
Linear polarization can be in any angle in the plane, but once set, it never varies
IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 13
 VSAT Linear Feed Assembly

BUC

Example – Ku Band, Cross-Polarization Linear Feed Assembly

BUC Block Up Converter

LNB Low Noise Block (Down Converter)
OMT Orthogonal Mode Transducer (Allows for simultaneous TX/RX of opposite polarization
signals using the same or common antenna feed assembly)
Orthogonal Relating to or composed of right angles.
Having a set of mutually perpendicular axes
Cross-Pol Cross-Polarization, meaning opposite linear polarization is used for TX and RX
Co-Pol (not shown) Coincident-Polarization, using the same linear polarization for TX and RX

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 14

Physical Aspect - Linear Polarization

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 15

 Terminology – Signal Polarization/Circular

Circular Polarization occurs where the two orthogonal components

are exactly ninety degrees – “out of phase”
In this case, both components have exactly the same amplitude
Also, one component is at zero (reference) when the other component is
at maximum or minimum amplitude
Notice that there are two possible phase relationships that satisfy
this requirement
The x component can be 90 degrees ahead of the y component
The x component can be 90 degrees behind the y component.
In this case the electric vector in the plane formed by summing the
two components will rotate in a circle
The direction of rotation will depend on which of the two phase
relationships exists
Depending on which way the electric vector rotates, there are two
alternatives
Right-Hand Circular polarization
Left-Hand Circular polarization
IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 16
 VSAT Circular Feed Assembly

Example – C Band, Circular Feed Assembly

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 17

 Terminology - Carrier Types
Single Channel per Carrier - SCPC
iDirect Hub Downstream (Star Group Broadcast) Carrier
Term SCPC comes from older analog transmission technology, when a
single satellite carrier could carry only one data channel
Used for economical distribution of broadcast data, digital audio & video,
as well as for full-duplex or two-way data, audio/video communications
User data is transmitted to the satellite continuously on a single satellite carrier
The satellite signal carrier is received at a distant earth station location
Receipt by a Single location, indicates a point-to-point link (SCPC-SCPC)
Receipt by many locations in a broadcast mode, provides connectivity among
multiple, geographically dispersed, point-to-multipoint sites (SCPC-TDMA)
SCPC can be referred to as TDM, or Time Division Multiplexed Carrier
Multiple, co-located baseband input sources are ‘multiplexed’ together using Time
as a controlling factor for a common output carrier
iDirect’s carrier is more like ‘Packet Division Multiplexing’ where Packets
themselves (specifically their sizes and QoS settings) are the controlling factor

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 18

 Terminology - Carrier Types
Time Division Multiple Access - TDMA
iDirect Remote Site Upstream (Star/Mesh Bursting) Carrier
Transmission only occurs when data is queued up for transport
TDMA is a mechanism for sharing a satellite Uplink channel
A number of users have access to the whole channel bandwidth for a
small period of time known as a time slot
All users contend for available bandwidth based on QoS settings and
other related priority control parameters
Demand is requested by the remote site and is assigned by the
network hub when bandwidth is available
The iDirect Protocol Processor determines the amount of time &
the frequency the remote site will use for each burst
Sends Synchronized Burst Time Plan (BTP) to all remotes
Allocates bandwidth (time slots) dynamically
Assigns remote transmit frequency (and enables HLC modulator)

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 19

 Satellite Link Budget

Link Budget Analysis The process of correctly sizing uplink and

downlink paths
Must take into account:
Established Satellite performance
Path Loss (22,300 miles in space)
Atmospheric effects (weather, ion storms,
sunspots, etc.)
Frequency bands used (Ku, C, Ka)
Hub uplink antenna and amplifier performance
Downlink antenna size and receiver noise
figure
Assigns Transponder Uplink & Downlink
Frequencies
Link Budgets must account for any Mesh
TDMA carrier requirements
Remote site levels & commissioning
process more critical than ever (Mesh)

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 20

Link Budget – Rain Margin
Design for the specified availability
99.5% = @ 2 days of outage per year
99.9% is just 8 hours of outage per year
Typically an external Uplink Power
Control (UPC) device compensates for
rain fade of the Hub Downstream Carrier
iDirect’s Hub controls remote site
Upstream Carrier power only using our
Uplink Control Process, or UCP
iDirect’s Hub does monitor Downstream
(loopback) carrier power to reference UCP
adjustments (critical for Mesh)
iDirect’s Uplink Control Process
continually monitors & adjusts
Network Timing
Transmitted Frequency
Output (Transmitted) Power

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 21

 Satellite Frequency Breakdown
Uplink Start/Stop & Center Frequency Calculations
14002 MHz = Transponder (1) Low End (Start)
14000 + 2 MHz Guard Band
Guard Bands 14162 MHz
Transponder Guard Band
2 MHz 4 MHz
Bandwidth 14180 MHz 2 MHz
36 MHz
14198 MHz
Satellite Satellite
Start 36 MHz 36 MHz 36 MHz 36 MHz 36 MHz 36 MHz Stop

Xponder 1 3 5 7 9 11 …
14100 MHz 14500
MHz 14000
14060 MHz 14140 MHz 14220 MHz

14020 MHz = Transponder (1) Center Frequency 14180 MHz = Transponder (9) Center Frequency
14000 + 2 MHz Guard + 1/2 Transponder BW (18MHz) 14000 + 2 MHz Guard + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4 + 18

Therefore: Hence:
14038 MHz = Transponder (1) High End (Stop) 14162 MHz = Transponder (9) Low End (Start) Frequency
14000 + 2 MHz Guard + 36 MHz Transponder BW 14000 + 2 MHz Guard + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4

And: 14198 MHz = Transponder (9) High End (Stop) Frequency

Every Transponder Center Frequency will be 40 MHz 14000 + 2 MHz Guard + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4 + 36
greater in frequency [4 (GdBd) + 36 (Xponder BW)]

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 22

 Satellite Frequency Breakdown
Uplink Center Frequency Assignment (Example)
Requested & Assigned Downstream Bandwidth of 4 MHz (@ 14125.750 MHz)
Network Operator/Satellite Service Provider assigns bandwidth of 4 MHz
Network Operator/Satellite Service Provider assigns Uplink center frequency of 14125.750 MHz

14125.750 MHz = Assigned Uplink Center Frequency

14000 + 2 + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4 + 18 - 14.250 = 14125.750 MHz, or . . .
Assigned Frequency = 14000 + 2 + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4 + 3.75 = 14125.750 MHz

14125.750 MHz 14140 MHz

Satellite Satellite
Start 14158 MHz Stop
Xponder 1 3 5 7 9 11 …
2 36 4 36 4 36 4 18 18 4 36 4 36 4 ...

MHz 14000 14122 MHz 14500

14140 MHz = Transponder (7) Center Frequency 14140 MHz = Transponder (7) Center Frequency
14000 + 2 MHz Guard + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4 + 18 14000 + 2 MHz Guard + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4 + 18

Therefore:
14125.750 MHz = Assigned Uplink Center Frequency
Configured on the Low End Half of Transponder 7
Calculate to Center Frequency of Transponder, then
Examine if Bandwidth on Low End or High End half
Or, Calculate from Transponder Start/Stop Frequency
Hence:
14122 MHz = Transponder (7) Low End (Start) Frequency
14000 + 2 MHz Guard + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4
14158 MHz = Transponder (7) High End (Stop) Frequency
14000 + 2 MHz Guard + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4 + 36 + 4 + 36

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 23

 Satellite Frequency Assignment
Downstream (Uplink) Center Frequency Assignment
Guard Bands Guard Band
14140 MHz 2 MHz
2 MHz 4 MHz
Satellite Satellite
Start 14122 MHz 14158 MHz Stop

Xponder 1 3 5 7 9 11 …

User Traffic BW (4 MHz) Transponder 14500

MHz 14000 14123.750 to 14127.750 Bandwidth 36 MHz

Guard Band .8 MHz Guard Band .8 MHz

14122.950 to 14127.750 to
14123.750 4 MHz 14128.550 MHz

Center 14125.750 MHz

Leased Start 14122.950 Leased Stop 14128.550 – (Leased bandwidth required, 5.6MHz)
Assigned Start 14123.750 MHz Assigned Stop 14127.750 MHz

Satellite user bandwidth required is 4 MHz

Network Operator assigns a transmit Uplink Center Frequency of 14125.750 MHz, the center of the user required BW
Network Operator also requires/provides for a Guard Band ‘on either side’ of the assigned user bandwidth
Guard Band is typically 40% of allocated bandwidth (called 1.4 Channel spacing)
Therefore, 4 MHz x .4 = 1.6 MHz = .8 MHz on low end and .8 MHz on high end
Network Operator will not assign these guard band frequencies to other users

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 24

 1.25 v 1.4 Spacing
Guard Band of .4 MHz Usable Bandwidth Guard Band of .4 MHz
14123.250 to 14123.750 14123.750 to 14127.750 14127.750 to 14128.250

Bandwidth
14122 4 MHz 14158
Savings
(.3 MHz)
Leased Start 14123.250 Leased Stop 14128.250

.3MHz Guard Guard .3MHz

Band 4 MHz User Bandwidth Band
.5MHz .5MHz

14125.750 MHz
Leased Bandwidth (5 vs 5.6 MHz) Bandwidth
Savings
iDirect Supports 1.25 Channel Spacing (.3 MHz)
Benefit of lower overall Bandwidth requirements on Satellite
(14.3% savings vs. 1.4 spacing)

Satellite Downstream bandwidth required 4 MHz

Network Operator still provides a Guard Band ‘on either side’ of the assigned user bandwidth, however
iDirect network solution reduces this requirement for guard bands by almost ½.
Guard band using 25% of allocated bandwidth is called 1.25 Channel spacing
4 MHz x .25 = 1 MHz = .5 MHz on low end and .5 MHz on high end
Network Operator will not assign these guard band frequencies to other users

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 25

 1.2 Carrier Spacing Case Study
iDirect Network Prior to Carrier Bandwidth Optimization
(40% Guardband or 1.4 Channel Spacing)

Downstream
User Data (Info) Rate Upstream #1 Upstream #2 Upstream #3
= 5Mbps 1Mbps 1Mbps 1Mbps

4.4136 MHz 882.7 kHz 882.7 kHz 882.7 kHz

7.0618 MHz Total

iDirect Network After Carrier Bandwidth Optimization

(25% Guardband or 1.25 Channel Spacing)
Allows a fourth Upstream Carrier to be added with room to spare!

Downstream
User Data (Info) Rate Upstream #1 Upstream #2 Upstream #3 Upstream #4
= 5Mbps 1Mbps 1Mbps 1Mbps 1Mbps

3.7831 MHz 756.620 kHz 756.620 kHz 756.620 kHz 756.620 kHz
6.80958 MHz Total

In this case study, an additional 1Mbps upstream channel is added to an

existing network and the overall bandwidth required actually decreases by
exploiting the reduced guardband between channels!
IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 26
 SCPC - Time Division Multiplexing

36 MHz 36 MHz 36 MHz 36 MHz 36 MHz 36 MHz

14000 14500
4M
14122 14158

14125.750
Broadcast to All
Network Remotes
SCPC TDM
Downstream Carrier User E

User D

Uplink
Downlink
Hub/Teleport Location User A User B User C
IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 27
 Network Block Diagram - Downstream

Uplink – 14125.750 MHz Downlink – 11825.750 MHz

2300 MHz L/O
Hub Location (Teleport) Remote Location (VSAT)
1325.750 MHz 14125.750 MHz
Up Up
HUB Conversion Conversion
Tx HPA HPA Tx
HLC Remote
Rx Rx
12800 BUC 13050
L/O L/O

LNA
LNA
10750
L/O Conversion Calculations (Ku-Band) 10750
1325.750 calc’d L-Band Hub TX LNB L/O
Down
Conversion + 12800.000 Up Converter L/O Down
14125.750 Ku-Band Uplink RF Conversion
- 2300.000 Sat Xponder L/O (typical)
11825.750 Ku-Band Downlink RF 11825.750 MHz 1075.750 MHz
Uplink
- 10750.000 LNB L/O
Downlink 1075.750 calc’d L-Band Remote RX

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 28

 Satellite Frequency Assignments

Upstream (Uplink) Center Frequency Assignment

14000 Guard Bands Transponder 14500
2 MHz 4 MHz Bandwidth 36 MHz Guard Band
Satellite Satellite
2 MHz
Start Stop
Xponder 1 3 5 7 9 11 …

Guard Band 36 kHz

14123.304 to
Guard Band 36 kHz
14123.350 MHz
14123.710 to
14123.755 MHz
14122 14158

14123.304 14123.755 Leased Bandwidth (450 kHz @ 14123.530 MHz)

Upstream TDMA Traffic 360 kHz BW
14123.350 to 14123.710

Satellite Upstream Bandwidth required 360 kHz

Guard Band required is 36 kHz for each
1.25 Channel spacing (25 % Guard Band)
360 Hz x .25 = 90 kHz = 45 kHz on low end and 45 kHz on high end
Network Operator will not assign these guard band frequencies to other users

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 29

 Star/Mesh –Single TDMA Upstreams

36 MHz 36 MHz 36 MHz 36 MHz 36 MHz 36 MHz

14000 14500 Single Upstream

14122 14158

14123.530
430 kHz
TDMA Upstream
Downlink
C E

User E
TDMA Bursts (Upstream Carrier)
on a ‘Demand’ Basis
D

User D

A B
Uplink
Hub/Teleport Location Downlink
User A User B User C
IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 30
 Star – Multiple TDMA Upstreams
36 MHz 36 MHz 36 MHz 36 MHz 36 MHz 36 MHz

14000

14122 14158
14500
Multiple Upstreams E
C
14123.530
430 kHz TDMA Upstream
Downlink

B
User E
TDMA Bursts (Upstream Carrier)
on a ‘Demand’ Basis
D

User D

A
Uplink
Hub/Teleport Location Downlink
User A User B User C
IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 31
 Network Block Diagram - Upstream

Downlink – 11823.530 MHz Uplink – 14123.530 MHz

2300 MHz L/O Remote Location (VSAT)
Hub Location (Teleport)
14123.530 MHz 1073.530 MHz

Up Up NETMODEM
HUB Conversion Conversion
Tx Tx
HPA HPA
HLC NMII+
Rx Rx
12800 BUC 13050
L/O L/O

1073.530 11823.530
LNA
MHz MHz
LNA
10750
L/O Conversion Calculations (Ku-Band) 10750
1073.530 calc’d L-Band Remote TX LNB L/O
Down
Conversion + 13050.000 Block Up Converter L/O Down
14123.530 Ku-Band Uplink RF Conversion
- 2300.000 Sat Xponder L/O (typical)
11823.530 Ku-Band Downlink RF Uplink
- 10750.000 Down Converter L/O
1073.530 calc’d L-Band Hub RX Downlink

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 32

 Terminology
D-TDMA
Deterministic - Time Division Multiple Access
Technique used to prevent collisions of remotes transmitting
simultaneously
Network timing provided by synchronized burst time plan
Time slot assignments provide guaranteed delivery
Improves throughput by reducing/eliminating retransmissions
MFD-TDMA
Multiple Frequency D-TDMA
Allows remotes to better utilize shared bandwidth
Hub can control data traffic flow to ‘load balance’ during normal
network operations
Implemented only for Star networks with current version
Mesh remotes are restricted to one Upstream carrier in v7.0 (Mesh,
Phase I)

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 33

 iDirect D-TDMA Network Architecture
Remote receives a minimum, dedicated
Bandwidth
Remote Allocated Additional Bandwidth
Dynamically
Multiple times-per-second, based on Demand
Upstream Once every Frame (default), or as configured
64K – 4 M
Bandwidth Allocated based on:
Downstream Queue depth at each Remote
128K – 18 M
CIR configuration
QoS/Prioritization configuration
Rate Limit imposed for each site

4 Mbps

1 2 10 n

25 kbps
3.75 Mbps Burstable Bandwidth

Hub Remote-1 Remote-10

Remote-2

Remotes

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 34

 Forward Error Correction (FEC)
Forward Error Correction (FEC)
A technique for allowing a receiver to correct errors itself, without reference
to the transmitter
It does this by using additional information transmitted
along with the data (check, or parity bits) and employing one of many
possible error detection techniques
The receiver can correct a small number of the errors that have been
detected
If the receiver cannot correct all detected errors, the data must still be re-
transmitted
The resulting check bits detract from potential traffic payloads; the lower the
quoted FEC rate, the more overhead is required for check bits
Turbo Product (Block) Code (TPC) on Upstream as FEC
Small block (128 Byte – 1kb)
Large block (512 Byte – 4kb)

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 35

 Supported FEC Rates/Block Sizes
SCPC Modulation Modes and FEC Rates
FEC Rate Block Size Modulation NM II/II+ iNFINITI
0.431 1K QPSK 3
0.431 1K BPSK 3
0.495 4K QPSK 3
0.533 1K QPSK 3
0.533 1K BPSK 3
0.793 4K QPSK 3 3
0.793 4K BPSK 3
0.879 16K QPSK 3

TDMA Modulation Modes and FEC Rates

FEC Rate Block Size Modulation NM II/II+ iNFINITI
0.431 1K QPSK 3
0.431 1K BPSK 3
0.533 1K QPSK 3
0.533 1K BPSK 3
0.660 1K QPSK 3 3
0.660 1K BPSK 3
0.793 4K QPSK 3 3
0.793 4K BPSK 3

IOM Chapter 2 - SatCom Basics 36

 Satellite
Communications
Basics
Installation,
Operations &
Maintenance Thanks, . . .
(IOM)
Questions? . . .
iDS v7.0

June 2007 Chapter 2