21/05/2020

EEE 443: Radar and Satellite

Communication

Course Teacher: Dr. Md. Saifur Rahman

Professor
Department of EEE, BUET

One-Way Satellite Communication Links

A broadcast link, like the DBS-TV system (Ku-/Ka-band) is a
one-way system: has one uplink and one downlink, as shown.

outbound
uplink path

outbound
downlink path

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One-Way Satellite Communication Links

A broadcast link, like the DBS-TV system as shown below, is
a one-way system, with just one uplink and one downlink.
Satellite

outbound outbound
uplink path downlink path

Earth Earth
Station Station

One-Way Satellite Communication Link

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Satellite Link Design Procedure

Satellite Communication Link Design Procedure
The design procedure for a one-way satellite
communication link can be summarized by the following 10
steps. The return link design follows the same procedure.
1. Determine the frequency band in which the system
must operate. Comparative designs may be required to
help make the selection.
2. Determine the communications parameters of the
satellite. Estimate any values that are not known.
3. Determine the parameters of the transmitting and
receiving earth stations.
4. Start at the transmitting earth station. Establish an uplink
power budget and a transponder noise power budget to find
(C/N)up in the transponder. 4

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Satellite Link Design Procedure

5. Find the output power of the transponder based on
transponder gain or output backoff.
6. Establish a downlink power and noise budget for the
receiving earth station. Calculate (C/N)dn and (C/N)o for a
station at the edge of the coverage zone (worst case).
7. Calculate SNR or BER in the baseband channel. Find
the link margins.
8. Evaluate the result and compare with the specification
requirements. Change parameters of the system as
required to obtain acceptable (C/N)o or SNR or BER values.
This may require several trial designs.
9. Determine the propagation conditions under which the
link must operate. Calculate outage times for the uplinks
and downlinks. 5

Satellite Link Design Procedure

10. Redesign the system by changing some parameters if
the link margins are inadequate. Check that all
parameters are reasonable, and that the design can be
implemented within the expected budget.
The following sample system design demonstrates how the
ideas developed in this chapter can be applied to the design
of a satellite communication system.

System Design Example

This example examines the design of a satellite
communication link using a Ku-band geostationary satellite
with bent-pipe transponders to distribute digital TV signals
from an uplink earth station to many receiving stations
throughout the United States.
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Satellite Link Design Example

The design requires a clear sky overall (C/N)o or CNR of
17.0 dB at the receiving earth station, which will result in no
bit errors in the received digital video signal when FEC
encoding is applied to the transmitted signal.
The minimum allowed overall (C/N)o or CNR is 9.5 dB to
ensure that the BER in the earth station receiver does not
exceed 10−6. The transmission method is QPSK with 6 dB
FEC coding gain, using the DVB-S standard.
The uplink transmitter power and the receiving antenna gain
and diameter to meet the specification are determined.
The available link margins for each of the systems are found
and the performance of the systems is analyzed when rain
attenuation occurs in the satellite-earth paths.
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Satellite Link Design Example

The advantages and disadvantages of implementing Uplink
Power Control (UPC) are considered.
Since the uplink station will be distributing TV signals to
hundreds of cable TV head ends, the probability of an
outage on the uplink must be made very small.
The next Figure shows an illustration of the satellite
video distribution system.
In this example, the satellite is located at 73°W and has 28
Ku-band transponders. However, for international
registration of this satellite location, the location would be
denoted as 287°E. (i.e. 360°– 73° ).

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Satellite Link Design Example

Fig. x: Illustration of video distribution system supplying cable TV signals via a GEO satellite.
Satellite distribution of TV programs to cable TV systems is widely employed because a single
uplink earth station and a GEO satellite can send hundreds of TV channels to every cable
TV system in an entire continent. 9

Satellite Link Design

The link budgets developed in the examples next, use
decibel notation throughout.
The satellite and earth stations are specified in Table 4.6a
and the propagation conditions in Table 4.6b.

Table 4.6a: System and Satellite Specification

Ku-Band Satellite Parameters
Geostationary at 73⁰ W longitude, 28 Ku-band transponders
Total RF output power 2.24kW
Antenna gain, on axis, (transmit and receive) Gt, Gr 31 dB
Receive/Transponder system noise temperature Ts sat 500K
Transponder saturated output power: Ku band Pt sat 80W
Transponder bandwidth: Ku band Btransp 54MHz

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Satellite Link Design

Table 4.6a: System and Satellite Specification (Continued)
Signal
Compressed digital video signals: symbol rate Rs 43.2Msps
Minimum permitted overall (C/N)O in receiver (C/N)O 9.5 dB

Transmitting/Uplink Ku-Band Earth Station

Antenna diameter D 5.0m
Aperture efficiency of Transmitting antenna ηA 68%
Uplink frequency f up 14.15 GHz
Required C/N in Ku-band transponder (C/N)up 30 dB
Transponder HPA output backoff Bo xp 1.0 dB
Miscellaneous uplink losses Lmisc up 0.3dB
Location: −2 dB contour of satellite uplink antenna.

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Satellite Link Design

Table 4.6a: System and Satellite Specification (Continued)
Receiving/Downlink Ku-Band Earth Station
Aperture efficiency of Receiving antenna ηA 65%
Downlink frequency fdown 11.45GHz
Receiver IF noise bandwidth Bn 43.2MHz
Antenna noise temperature Ta 30K
LNA noise temperature TLNA 110K
Required overall (C/N)O in clear air (C/N)O 17 dB
Miscellaneous downlink losses Lmisc dn 0.2 dB
Location: −3 dB contour of satellite transmitting antenna

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Satellite Link Design

Table 4.6b: Propagation Conditions
Rain attenuation and propagation factors
Ku-band clear air attenuation (worst case)
Uplink 14.15GHz 0.7 dB
Downlink 11.45GHz 0.5 dB
Rain attenuation (worst case)
Uplink 0.01% of year 6.0 dB
Downlink 0.01% of year 5.0 dB

Ku-Band Uplink Design

Step-1: We must find the uplink transmitter power
required to achieve (C/N)up = 30 dB (the main objective)
in clear air atmospheric conditions.

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Satellite Link Equation

What is a Link Equation?

where
La = attenuation in the atmosphere
Lta = losses associated with the transmitting antenna
Lra = losses associated with the receiving antenna

EIRP = Pt Gt
Fig.x: Calculation of received power from an uplink earth station with EIRP=Pt Gt watts
including losses. 14

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Satellite Link Design

Ku-Band Uplink Design
To do that we will first find the noise power in the
transponder (N) for 43.2MHz bandwidth, and then
add the uplink (C/N)up value of 30 dB to find the
transponder input power level.
The following table sets out these calculations as an
uplink noise power budget.
Uplink Noise Power Budget
Boltzmann’s constant k −228.6 dBW/K/Hz
Transponder noise temperature 500K Ts 27.0 dBK (26.9897)
Receiver noise bandwidth 43.2MHz B=Bn 76.4 dBHz (76.35484)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noise power in the transponder N=Pn −125.2 dBW
Formula used: N = kTB = kTs B, where k is the Boltzmann’s constant 1.38 x 10 –23 J/⁰K
15

Satellite Link Design

Ku-Band Uplink Design

Home Work: Show that where Boltzmann’s constant k has

a value of −228.6 dBW/K/Hz.

Hint:
Boltzmann’s constant is given by, k= 1.38 x 10 –23 J/ K
Boltzmann’s constant is given by, k= 1.38 x 10 –23 (W-S)/ K
Boltzmann’s constant is given by, k= 1.38 x 10 –23 W/ (Hz K)
[1.38 x 10 –23 (W/1W)]
k in dBW/K/Hz = 10 log10 [------------------------------------] = – 228.6
[(K/1K) (Hz/1Hz)]

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Satellite Link Design

Ku-Band Uplink Design
The received power level at the satellite transponder input
(Pr) must be 30 dB greater than the noise power, N.
Hence, Pr = N in dBW + 30 dB = – 125.2 + 30 = – 95.2 dBW.

The uplink antenna has a diameter (D) of 5.0m and an

aperture efficiency (ηA) of 68%. At 14.15 GHz the
wavelength (λ) is 2.120 cm = 0.0212 m.
Thus the antenna gain is
Gt = 10 log10 [ηA x (πD/λ)2]
= 10 log10 [0.68 x (π x 5/0.0212)2]
= 10 log10[373316.2932]
= 10 x 5.572076945
= 55.72 dB 17

Satellite Link Design

Ku-Band Uplink Design
The free space path loss is Lp= 10 log10 [(4πR/λ)2]

Assuming a distance to the satellite of R=38500 km =

38500000 m, the free space path loss is
Lp = 10 log10 [(4 x π x 38500000/0.0212)2]
= 10 log10 [5.207981888 x 1020]
= 10 x 20.717
= 207.17 dB

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Satellite Link Design

Ku- Band Uplink Design
The following table sets out these calculations as an uplink
carrier power budget.
Uplink (Carrier) Power Budget
Earth station transmitter power Pt Pt dBW
Earth station antenna gain Gt 55.72 dB (Calculated)
Satellite receiving antenna gain Gr 31.0 dB (Given)
Free space path loss Lp − 207.17 dB (Calculated)
Earth station on −2dB contour Lant − 2.0 dB (Given)
Atmospheric path loss Lup − 0.7 dB (Given)
Miscellaneous losses Lmisc − 0.3 dB (Given)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Received power at transponder input Pr Pt – 123.45 dBW

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Satellite Link Design

Ku-Band Uplink Design
The required power at the transponder input to meet the objective of
(C/N)up = 30.0dB is calculated as Pr = – 95.2 dBW before.
Thus,
Pt – 123.45 dB = – 95.2 dBW
Pt = (– 95.2 + 123.45) dBW
Pt = 28.25 = 28.3 dBW or 675 W
Hence the required uplink transmitter power Pt is given by
28.3 dBW or 675 W.
Comments and Suggestions: This is a relatively high
transmit power so we could increase the transmitting
antenna diameter to increase its gain, allowing a reduction in
transmit power. For example, a 7m-diameter antenna has a
gain 2.9dB greater than a 5m-diameter antenna, which
would allow a reduction in transmitter power to xxxW. 20

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Satellite Link Equation

What is a Link Equation?
where
La = attenuation in the atmosphere
Lta = losses associated with the transmitting antenna
Lra = losses associated with the receiving antenna

EIRP = Pt Gt

Fig.x: Calculation of received power from a satellite with EIRP = Pt Gt watts including losses.
21

Satellite Link Design

Ku-Band Downlink Design
The first step is to calculate the downlink (C/N)dn that will provide
(C/N)o = 17dB (16.9897 ⇒ 50) when (C/N)up = 30dB ⇒ 1000.
Rearranging Eq. (4.43),
1 ∕ (C/N)dn = 1 ∕ (C/N)o – 1 ∕ (C/N)up (not in dB)

Thus, 1/(C/N)dn = 1/50 − 1/1000 = 0.019

(C/N)dn = 52.6 ⇒ 17.21 =17.2 dB

We must find the required receiver input power to give

(C/N)dn = 17.2 dB and then find the receiving antenna
gain, Gr.

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Satellite Link Design

Ku-Band Downlink Design
The following table sets out these calculations as an
downlink noise power budget.
Downlink Noise Power Budget
Boltzmann’s constant k −228.6 dBW/K/Hz
Receiving system noise temp = 30 +110K=140K Ts 21.5 dBK (21.4613)
Receiver noise bandwidth, 43.2MHz Bn 76.4 dBHz (76.35484)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noise power in the transponder N −130.7 dBW

The power level at the earth station receiver input must

be 17.2 dB greater than the noise power in clear air.
Hence, the power level at the earth station receiver input,
Pr = N in dBW + 17.2 dB
= – 130.7 dBW + 17.2 dB
= – 113.5 dBW.
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Satellite Link Design

Ku-Band Downlink Design
Now, we need to calculate the path loss at 11.45 GHz.
At 14.15 GHz path loss was 207.2 dB. At 14.15 GHz path
loss was 207.2 dB. At 11.45 GHz path loss is (lowered to)
Lp = 207.2 − 20 log10 (14.15 ∕ 11.45) = 205.4 dB
We can also calculate path loss using the original formula and
using a λ corresponding to the 11.45 GHz downlink frequency.
Lp= 10 log10 [(4πR/λ)2]; where R = 38500000 m and λ= 2.62
cm = 0.0262 m. It should result in Lp = 205.4dB
The transponder is operated with 1 dB output back off, so the
output power is 1 dB below 80W (80W⇒ 19.03 = 19.0 dBW).

Hence, Pt = 19 dBW − 1 dB = 18 dBW. 24

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Satellite Link Design

Ku-Band Downlink Design
The following table sets out these calculations as a
downlink carrier power budget.
Downlink Carrier Power Budget
Satellite transponder output power Pt 18.0 dBW
Satellite antenna gain Gt 31.0 dB
Earth station antenna gain Gr Gr dB
Free space path loss Lp −205.4 dB
Earth station on −3 dB contour of satellite antenna Lra −3.0 dB
Clear sky atmospheric loss Ldn −0.5 dB (Given)
Miscellaneous losses Lmisc −0.2*dB (Given)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Received power at earth station, Pr Gr – 160.1 dBW

* Here, the writer assumes – 0.3dB instead of – 0.2 dB, in his solution in the
text book.
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Satellite Link Design

Ku-Band Downlink Design
The required power into the earth station receiver to meet the
(C/N)dn =17.2 dB objective is calculated as Pr = – 113.5 dBW
before.
Hence the receiving antenna must have a gain Gr where
Gr − 160.2 dB = −113.5 dBW
Gr = 46.7 dB or 46774 as a ratio (10 (46.7/10) =104.67 =46773.5)

The earth station antenna diameter, D, is calculated from the

formula for antenna gain, G, with a circular aperture and an
aperture efficiency of 0.65 (65%)
Gr = 46774 = 0.65 × (𝜋 D ∕𝜆 )2

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Satellite Link Design

Ku-Band Downlink Design

At 11.45 GHz, the wavelength is 2.62 cm = 0.0262 m.

Gr = 46774 = 0.65 × (𝜋 D ∕𝜆 )2

Evaluating the above equation to find D gives the required

receiving antenna diameter as D = 2.23716 m ≈ 2.24m.

A 2.24m antenna could be used in practice, or a larger dia

antenna could be used to increase the downlink rain
attenuation margin.

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