Amity School of Engg &

Technology
M.Tech ECE, Semester II
Satellite Communication
Module 3 Lecture 1

Dr Sanmukh Kaur

1
 Learning Objectives & Outcomes

 To understand the factors affecting TCP performance on satellite links

 Ability to analyze the factors affecting and enhancing TCP Performance

2
 Module III: Satellite in networks and DBS television
Satellite Links and TCP

 Although satellite links have formed part of the internet from its beginning, the rapid
expansion of the internet and the need to introduce congestion control have
highlighted certain performance limitations imposed by satellite links.

 In the ideal case, the virtual link between TCP layers should not be affected by the
physical link, and certainly the transmission control protocol is so well established
that it would be undesirable to modify it to accommodate peculiarities of the
physical link

3
 Factors affecting TCP performance over satellite links
 Bit error rate (BER) :

 satellite links have a higher bit error rate (BER) than the terrestrial links forming the
internet.

 Typically, the satellite link BER without error control coding is around 10-6 , whereas
a level of 10-8 or lower is needed for successful TCP transfer.

 The comparatively low bit error rate on terrestrial links means that most packet losses
are the result of congestion, and the TCP send layer is programmed to act on this
assumption.

 When the packets are lost as a result of high BER , the TCP layer assumes that the
congestion is at fault and automatically invokes the congestion control measures.

4
 Factors affecting TCP performance over satellite links
 This slows the throughput

 Round-trip time (RTT) :

 The round-trip time (RTT) is the time interval that elapses between sending a TCP
segment and receiving its ACK.

 With geostationary (GEO) satellites, the round-trip propagation path is ground

station to satellite to ground station and back again.

 The range from ground station to the satellite is of the order of 40,000 km, and
therefore, the propagation path for the round trip is 4 x 40, 000 = 160,000 km.

 The propagation delay is therefore 160,000/3 x 108 = 0.532 s.

 This is space propagation delay.

5
 Factors affecting TCP performance over satellite links
 The total round-trip time must take into account the propagation delays on the
terrestrial circuits and the delays resulting from signal processing.

 The send TCP layer must wait an RTT value of 0.55 s to receive the ACKs and it
cannot send new segments until ACKs are received.

 This may lengthen TCP timeout period and slow the throughput.

 For interactive applications such as Telnet, the delay is highly undesirable.

 Bandwidth-delay product (BDP):

 In bandwidth delay product (BDP), the delay part refers to the RTT, as the sender has to wait
this amount of time for the ACK before sending more data.

6
 Factors affecting TCP performance over satellite links
 The bandwith refers to the channel bandwidth.

 Bandwidth and bit rate are directly related. In network terminology, the bandwidth is
usually specified in bytes per second.

 Variable Round –Trip Time :

 In case of low earth orbit (LEOs) and medium earth orbits (MEOs), the propagation
delays will be much less than that for the GEO.

 The slant range to LEO is typically on the order of a few thousand kilometers at
most and for MEOs, a few tens thousands kilometers.

 The problem with these orbits is variability of delay.

7
 Factors affecting TCP performance over satellite links
 As these satellites are not geo-stationary, the slant range varies.

 For continuous communications there is the need for intersatellite links, which also
adds to the delay and variability

 For LEOs, the delay can vary from a few to about 80 msec.

Enhancing TCP over satellite channels

 The first two mechanisms listed do not require any changes to the TCP . The others
do require extensions to the TCP with the condition that any extensions to the TCP
must maintain compatibility with networks that do not employ the extensions.
 Path MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) discovery

 This method allows the sender to find the largest packet and hence largest TCP
segment size that can be sent without fragmentation.
8
 Enhancing TCP over satellite channels
 The congestion window is incremented in segments; hence larger segments allow
the congestion window to increment faster in terms of number of bytes carried.

 There is a delay involved in implementing path MTU -Discovery

 Forward error correction (FEC)

 Lost packets , whether from transmission errors or congestion, are assumed by TCP
to happen as a result of congestion , which means that congestion control is
implemented , with its resulting reduction in throughput.

 Application of FEC therefore should be used where possible.

9
 Enhancing TCP over satellite channels
 Slow Start and Congestion Avoidance

 Slow start and congestion avoidance controls the number of segments transmitted,
but not the size of the segments.

 Using Path MTU – Discovery can increase the size, and hence the data throughput
is improved.

 Fast Retransmit and Fast Recovery

 From the nature of the ACK received , the fast retransmit algorithm enables the
sender to identify and resend a lost segment before its timeout expires.

 Since the data flow is not interrupted by timeouts, the sender can infer that the
congestion is not a problem , and the fast recovery algorithm prevents the
congestion window from reverting to slow start.
10
 Enhancing TCP over satellite channels
 TCP Large Window

 The receive window size is limited by the address field to 64 kilobytes maximum.

 By introducing a window scale extension into the TCP header, the address field can be
effectively increased to 32 bits.

 Allowing certain overheads, the maximum window size that can be declared is 2 30 = 1 Gb (1
Gb = 1073741824 bytes).

 The window size and hence the scale factor can be set locally by the receive TCP layer.

 TCP extension is to be implemented in sender and the receiver.

11
 Amity School of Engg &
Technology
M.Tech ECE, Semester II
Satellite Communication
Module 3 Lecture 2

Dr Sanmukh Kaur

12
 Learning Objectives & Outcomes

 To understand split TCP connections

 To understand the development of C-Band and Ku-Band Home Satellite TV

 Familiarization with factors for development of C-Band and Ku-Band Home Satellite
TV

13
 Split TCP connections

 Transmission control protocol (TCP) provides end-to-end connection , thus the TCP layers at
the sender and receiver are connected through a virtual link so that such matters as congestion
control , regulation of data flow etc can be carried out without intervention of intermediate
stages.

 The extensions to TCP are used to preserve this end-to-end connection.

 Consider the case when the end-to-end connectivity are split.

 One arrangement called spoofing for breaking the network is shown in Fig.1

 Spoofing refers to the fact that the TCP source thinks it is connected to the TCP destination ,
whereas the interworking unit (IWU) performs a protocol conversion.
14
15 Fig.1 Split TCP/IP Satellite link
  In the figure , TCP Reno refers to the TCP with extensions : Slow start , congestion
avoidance , fast retransmit , fast recovery , support for large windows and delayed
ACKs.

 At the IWU the data are transferred from the TCP Reno to the data link protocol.

 Any one of a number of link layer protocols may be used .

 At the destination end , the IWU performs the conversion back to TCP Reno.

16
 C-Band and Ku-Band Home Satellite TV
 In the early 1980s, the development of low noise Gallium Arsenide Field Effect
Transistor (GaAsFET) amplifiers and improved threshold extension frequency
modulation (FM) demodulators for video signal receivers allowed much smaller
diameter antennas to be used to receive C-band FM video signals distributed
through GEO satellites.

 A market rapidly developed in the United States for home satellite TV systems using
3 and 3.6m dish antennas (10 and 12 ft diameter) and set-top receivers that could
receive the video signals from domestic GEO satellites.

17
 C-Band and Ku-Band Home Satellite TV
 At that time, the signals were not encrypted, so owners of satellite dishes could
receive a wide range of television programming free of charge.

 Congress told the industry to scramble (encrypt) their signals and to charge
customers for the descrambling information, and then passed laws that made the
unauthorized use of descrambling equipment illegal.

18
 C-Band and Ku-Band Home Satellite TV

 An estimated 4 or 5 million C-band and Ku-band FM satellite TV systems were sold

in the United States by the time Ku-band DBS-TV arrived in the 1990s, using digital
transmission and 0.5m dishes, and offering more channels than the earlier system at
a comparable price.

 DBS-TV originally started in Europe and the United States in the 1980s using
analog FM transmission in Ku-band.

 Initially, satellite TV was much more successful in Europe than in the United States,
possibly because there were fewer alternative sources of TV programming in
Europe.

19
 C-Band and Ku-Band Home Satellite TV
 Most European countries offered only a handful of broadcast TV channels, and cable
service has never been as widespread in Europe as in the United States.

 The market for DBS-TV systems grew slowly in the 1980s, and then very rapidly
after the introduction of high capacity digital DBS-TV satellites in the 1990s.

 Primestar developed an analog (FM) DBS-TV service in the United states using
transponders on medium power (50-90 W) Ku band GEO satellites located at
850 west longitude , and a receiving terminal with a 1 m dish

20
 Amity School of Engg &
Technology
M.Tech ECE, Semester II
Satellite Communication
Module 3 Lecture 3

Dr Sanmukh Kaur

21
 Learning Objectives & Outcomes

 To study the multiplexing and multiple access techniques for satellite communication.

22
 Multiplexing and multiple access techniques
 The ability of a satellite to carry many signals at the same time is known as multiple
access.

 Multiple access allows the communication capacity of the satellite to be shared

among a large number of earth stations, and to accommodate the different mixes of
communication traffic that are transmitted through a satellite transponder.

 The signals that earth stations transmit to a satellite may differ widely in their
character – video, data, voice – but they can be sent through the same satellite using
multiple access and multiplexing techniques.

 Multiplexing is the process of combining a number of signals into a single signal, so

that it can be processed by a single amplifier or transmitted over a single radio
channel.

23
 Multiplexing and multiple access techniques
 Multiplexing can be done at baseband or at an IF.

 The corresponding technique that recovers the individual signal is called

demultiplexing.

 Multiplexing is a key feature of all commercial long distance communication

systems, and is part of the multiple access capability of all satellite communications
systems.

 The designer of a satellite communication system must make decisions about the
form of multiple access to be used.

 The multiple access technique will influence the capacity and flexibility of the
satellite communication system, its cost, and its ability to earn revenue.

24
 Multiplexing and multiple access techniques
 The basic problem in any multiple access system is how to permit a changing group
of earth stations to share a satellite in such a way that satellite communication

- Capacity is maximized
- Bandwidth is used efficiently
- Flexibility is maintained
- Cost to the user is minimized while revenue to the operator is maximized.

 Usually, all of these requirements cannot be satisfied at the same time and some may
have to be traded off against others.

 Generally, the trend in large GEO satellites has been to provide wide bandwidth high
power transponders that can carry any mixture of RF signals.

25
 Multiplexing and multiple access techniques

26
 Multiplexing and multiple access techniques
 In frequency division multiple access (FDMA) all users share the satellite at the
same time, but each uplink earth station transmits at a unique allocated frequency.

 Each radio station is allocated a frequency and a bandwidth, and transmits its signals
within that part of the frequency spectrum.

 FDMA can be used with analog or digital signals.

 In time division multiple access (TDMA) each user is allocated a unique time slot at
the satellite so that signals pass through the transponder sequentially.

 Because TDMA causes delays in transmission, it is used only with digital signals.

27
 Multiplexing and multiple access techniques
 In code division multiple access (CDMA) all users transmit to the satellite on the
same frequency and at the same time.

 The earth stations transmit coded spread spectrum (SS) signals that can be separated
at the receiving earth station by correlation with the transmitted code.

 For example, in the global positioning system (GPS) each individual GPS satellite
transmits a different coded spread spectrum signal.

 The signals are nearly orthogonal, allowing a GPS receiver to extract the spread
spectrum signal for one satellite in the presence of similar spread spectrum signals
from other visible GPS satellites.

28
 Multiplexing and multiple access techniques

29
 Multiplexing and multiple access techniques

 Multiplexing applies to signals that are combined together into a single stream at
one location, whereas multiple access refers to signals from a number of different
geographical locations that pass through the same satellite transponder.

 In all three of the classical multiple access techniques, some resource is shared.

 If the proportion allocated to each earth station is fixed in advance, the system is
called fixed access (FA) or preassigned access (PA).

 If the resource is allocated as needed depending on changing traffic conditions, the

multiple access technique is called demand assignment multiple access (DAMA).

30
 Multiplexing and multiple access techniques

 Demand assignments with FDMA is sometimes used in very small aperture terminal
(VSAT) systems, where earth stations may have traffic to send only intermittently.

 Fixed assignment is wasteful of transponder capacity, so demand assignment is used.

 Demand assignment can also be used with CDMA to reduce the number of signals
in the transponder at any one time.

 The Globalstar LEO mobile satellite system uses CDMA with demand assignment.

 Systems that combine both FDMA and TDMA techniques are sometimes called
hybrid multiple access schemes

31
 Amity School of Engg &
Technology
M.Tech ECE, Semester II
Satellite Communication
Module 3 Lecture 4

Dr Sanmukh Kaur

32
 Learning Objectives & Outcomes

 To identify the bit rates for digital television

 To understand the process of Video MPEG compression

33
 Bit rates for digital television

 The bit rate for digital television depends very much on the picture format

 It varies from 118 Mb/sec for standard television at the lowest pixel resolution to 995 Mb/sec for
high-definition TV at the highest resolution.

 According to the international CCIR-601 television standard, for studio-quality television

pictures when digitized, the required bit rate is 216 Mb/sec.

 For commercial viability reasons, a single DBS transponder needs to carry somewhere between
four and eight TV programmers.

 The programmes may originate from a variety of sources , film, analog TV, CDs and
videocassette.
34
 Bit rates for digital television

 Before transmission, these are all converted to digital, compressed, and then time
division multiplexed (TDM).

 This TDM baseband signal is applied as QPSK modulation to the uplink carrier
reaching a given transponder.

 The compressed bit rate, and hence the number of channels that are carried, depends
on the type of programme material.

 For programmes like talk shows since there is a little movement lowest bit rate is
required.

 But sports channels with lots of movement require comparative large bit rates

35
 Bit rates for digital television

 Typical values for various programs are : 4Mb/sec for a movie channel , 5Mb/sec for
a variety channel, and 6 Mb/sec for a sports channel

 Compression of bit rate is carried out to MPEG (Moving Pictures Expert Group)
standards.

 MPEG is a group within the international standard organization and the international
electrochemical commission (ISO/IEC), which has defined standards for the
transmission and storage of moving pictures and sound.

 The standards are concerned only with the bit-stream syntax and the decoding
process.

36
 Bit rates for digital television
 Syntax covers such matters as
- bit rate
- picture resolution
- time frames for audio
- packet details for transmission

37
 MPEG Compression
Video compression

 For this, MPEG-2 is used. Fig.1 shows the process.

 The analog outputs from the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) colour cameras are
converted to a luminance component (Y) and two chrominance (Cr) and (Cb).

 The matrix equation relating the three primary colours (R, G, B) to the Y, Cr and Cb
components in matrix

38
 Video compression

 The digitizer samples the Y, Cr and Cb signals. It has been found that the human eye
is less sensitive to resolution in the colour components (Cr and Cb) than the
luminance (Y) component.

 It means a lower sampling rate can be used for the colour components.

 This sampling is called chroma subsampling, and it is one step in the compression
process.

 The difference signals are now created and fed to the discrete cosine transform
(DCT) block which converts these to a “spatial frequency” domain.

39
 Video compression

40 Fig.1 MPEG-1 Encoder

 Video compression

 Here, a time signal g(t) gets transformed into a frequency domain representation G
(f), allowing the signal to be filtered in the frequency domain.

 For the DCT, the input signals are functions of x (horizontal) and y (vertical) space
coordinates, g(x, y), and it transforms these into a domain of new variables u and v,
G(u, v).

 The variables are called spatial frequencies. g(x,y) and G (u,v) are discrete
functions.

Compression through quantization:

 The discrete values of G (u, v) are quantized to predetermined levels.

41
 Compression through quantization
 This reduces the number of levels to be transmitted and therefore provides
compression

 The components of G (u, v) at the higher spatial frequencies represent finer spatial
resolution.

 The human eye is less sensitive to resolution at these high spatial frequencies and as
a result , these can be quantized in much coarser steps, leading to further
compression.

Compression through motion estimation:

 Frames in MPEG-2 are designated as I, P, and B frames, and motion prediction is

achieved by comparing certain frames with other frames.

42
 Compression through motion estimation
 An independent frame called I frame is used, which is reconstructed without
reference to any other frames.

 Predictive frame is made from an earlier picture frame so that less coding data is
used.

 Comparison:

 A P (predictive) frame is now compared with the previous I frame, and only those
parts which differ as a result of movement need to be encoded.

 The comparison is carried out in sections called macroblocks for the frames.

43
 Amity School of Engg &
Technology
M.Tech ECE, Semester II
Satellite Communication
Module 3 Lecture 5

Dr Sanmukh Kaur

44
 Learning Objectives & Outcomes

 To understand the process of Audio MPEG compression

 Ability to identify the operation of digital DBS TV receiver

45
 MPEG Audio Compression
Audio compression

 In DBS system, MPEG-1 is used for audio compression.

 MPEG-1 audio supports mono and two – channel stereo only, which is considered
adequate for DBS system currently in use.

Why audio compression?

 The bit rate is equal to the number of samples per second (the sampling frequency fs)
multiplied by the number of bits per sample n, that is
Rbits = fs x n

46
 MPEG Audio Compression

 Since for a stereo CD recording, the sampling frequency is 44.1 kHz, and the
number of bits per sample is 16, the bit rate will be
Rbits = 2 x 44.1 x 16
= 1411.2 Kb/sec

 The factor 2 is due to the two channels in stereo.

 This bit rate is too high part of the total bit rate allowance per channel, therefore
audio compression is needed.

47
 Audio Compression

 The audio signal is a complex signal covering a wide spectrum of frequencies

 Audio compression in MPEG uses perceptual phenomenon in the human ears.

 As we know a loud sound at one particular frequency masks a less intense sound at a
nearby frequency.

 This frequency becomes inaudible when it is below the level of the masking tone by
what is referred to as masking threshold.

 Any noise below the masking threshold will also be masked.

 1-bit decrease in n increases the quantization noise by 6 dB .

48
 Audio Compression

49 Fig.1 MPEG-1 Encoder.

 Audio Compression

 It means that level of quantization can be reduced without much effect on overall
quality of reproduced sound

 In MPEG-1, audio compression is carried out by two processes taking place in

parallel [Fig.1].

 The filter bank divides the spectrum of the incoming signal into subbands.

 At the same time , the spectrum is analyzed for identification of masking levels.

 The masking information is passed to the quantizer, which then quantizes the
subbands.

50
 Features and Specifications of a typical DBS-TV
Satellite system
1. The 12.2 to 12.7 GHz band has been set aside for exclusive use by DBS-TV
satellites in geostationary orbit so that high power transponders could be used on
specially designed DBS-TV satellites.

2. Typical transponder output levels are 100 to 240 W with flux density at Earth’s
surface up to -105 dBW/m2 .

3. The satellites can carry up to 32 transponders, giving a total transmitted RF power

upto 3.2 KW, higher than for any other commercial satellite.

4. DBS –TV satellites are typically large and heavy , generally use a three axis
stabilized design , and have large solar sails to generate the dc power required by
the transponders.

51
 Features and Specifications of a typical DBS-TV
Satellite system
5. The flux density at the earth surface produced by medium and high power
transponders used on DBS satellites is in the range – 105 to -115 dBW/m2. ,which
allows small receiving antennas (dishes) to be used for DBS-TV reception , with
diameters in the range 0.45- 0.9 m.

6. The small receiving antenna has a wide beam typically 40 0 for a 0.45- m dish,
which forces wide spacing of DBS-TV satellites. A 90 0 spacing in the GEO has
been adopted which restricts the number of DBS-TV satellites that can be placed in
geostationary orbit.

7. Each DBS –TV satellite carries upto 32 high –power transponders converting part
of 12.2 to 12.7 GHz broadcast satellite band (BSS).

52
 DBS-TV Receiver
The DTH Home Receiver

 Fig.2 is a block schematic of the DTH receiver.

 It consists of two units, an outdoor unit and an indoor unit together called complete
receiver as an integrated receiver decoder (IRD)

1. The antenna works with an offset feed. The antenna must have an unobstructed
view of the satellite cluster to which it is aligned.

2. The receiver horn focusses the downlink signal (in the frequency range 12.2 to 12.7
GHz) into the antenna.

3. The horn feeds the signal into a polarizer which is switched to pass either left-hand
circular or right hand circular polarized signals.
53
 DTH Home Receiver
The DTH Home Receiver

54 Fig.2 Block schematic of the DTH home receiver

 DTH Home Receiver

55
 The DTH Home Receiver

4. The low noise block consists of a low noise amplifier (LNA) and a downconverter.

 The amplifier amplifies the signal and the downconverter converts the 12.2 to 12.7
GHz band to 950 to 1450 MHz , a frequency range used to transmit the signal
through the connecting cable to the indoor unit.

 The size of antenna is typically around 18 in (46 cm) in diameter.

 The advantages of small antenna are : They are less intrusive visually and are less
effected by wind loading.

5. The entire front end of the receiver is located at the antenna feed in the form of an
LNB to minimize loss of signal and hence to maintain the lowest possible system
noise temperature.
56
 The DTH Home Receiver

6. The electronic polarizer is switched by changing the voltage supplied to the LNB
via the cable that interconnects the antenna and set-top receiver.

7. The entire 12.2-12.7 GHz band is down – converted by the LNB to the 900-1400
MHz band . Signal strength is boosted.

8. The set-top box accepts the entire 500 MHz band and separates out the individual
transponder frequencies.

57
 The DTH Home Receiver

9. Any one of these frequencies (and the corresponding polarization) can be selected
on demand by the user.

10. The user enters a desired channel number into the set-top box using an IR remote
control, for example, channel 362, which is converted via look-up table in the
receiver to an RF channel frequency and polarization.

11. The signal from the required transponder is then selected by the receiver by setting
the correct polarization at the antenna and tuning the set-top local oscillator to the
appropriate IF channel frequency.

58
 The DTH Home Receiver

12. The QPSK signal is then demodulated. The result is a multiplexed bit stream,
typically at a bit rate up to 40 Mbps, which contains the bits for channel 362 and
several other video signal.

 The bit stream is encrypted and contains error control coding bits and data bits.

 The bit stream is processed to correct and detect errors, de-interleaved, and
decrypted.

13. A digital demultiplexer extracts the bits for the wanted channel, 362 in this
example , send them to a MPEG 2 decoder , and finally generates analog video and
audio signals to drive the TV set

59
 The DTH Home Receiver

14. The look up table in the receiver that relates channel numbers to frequencies,
polarizations, and instructions for the TDM demultiplexer is downloaded from the
satellite on a regular schedule.

15. This allows the service provider to change the transponder which carries a
particular signal, and to alter the mix of signals on a given transponder as required,
without the customer being aware of the changes.

60
 Amity School of Engg &
Technology
M.Tech ECE, Semester II
Satellite Communication
Module 3 Lecture 6

Dr Sanmukh Kaur

61
 Learning Objectives & Outcomes

 To study digital DBS TV

 Ability to identify the features of digital DBS TV

62
 Digital DBS TV
 In the 1990s, digital video transmission became feasible, and several systems were
developed in the United States in the 12.2–12.7 GHz band allocated to DBS-TV
services.

 The development of low cost Ku-band antennas and receivers, and high speed
digital integrated circuits specifically for DBS television that incorporate quadrature
phase shift keying (QPSK) demodulation, error control, decryption, and Moving
Picture Experts Group (MPEG) compression made DBS-TV practical.

 The 12.2 – to 12.7 GHz band was set aside for exclusive use by DBS-TV satellites
in geostationary orbit so that high power transponders could be used on specially
designed DBS-TV satellites.

 Typical transponder output levels are 100 to 240 W with flux density at the earth’s
surface upto – 105 dBW / m2.

63
 Digital DBS TV
 The satellite can carry up to 32 transponders, giving a total transmitted RF power
upto 3.2 KW, higher than for any other commercial satellite in 1999.

 DBS-TV satellites are typically large and heavy, generally use a three - axis
stabilized design and have large solar sails to generate the DC power required by the
transponders.

 Fig,1 shows Ku-band DBS-TV system. The uplink earth station typically has a large
antenna and several powerful transmitters to provide high CNR in the satellite
transponders.

 The DBS-TV home antennas can be mounted on a pole outside the home or on the
exterior of the building.

 A clear line of sight in the direction of the satellite is required.

64
 Digital DBS TV

65
Fig.1:Ku-band DBS-TV system
 Digital DBS TV
 Fig.2 shows the signal processing required to send a television program from a
studio or a prerecorded data base to a millions of home DBS-TV receivers.

 The input to the transmitter consists of digital video and audio signals, and
associated data, from many television programs.

 The video and audio signals are compressed using MPEG-2 or MPEG-4
compression, and formed into packets and frames up to 64 000 bits in length that
can contain many multiplexed channels.

 Error correction encoding is applied to the bit stream, which is then encrypted to
prevent unauthorized access.

 Modulation is QPSK or eight phase shift keying (8-PSK) at an intermediate

frequency (IF).

66
 Digital DBS TV

 The forward error correction (FEC) rate can also be changed if needed.

 The IF signal is sent to the transmitter for up conversion and transmission to the
satellite, along with other TV programs.

 The modulated signal is sent to the transmitter at an IF frequency, often 700MHz.

 The receiving end of the link mirrors the transmitting end in reverse, with
modulation and FEC rate set by a controller in the receiver that decodes control
packets sent from the uplink transmitter.

 The output of the home satellite receiver consists of video, audio, and data that
contains the selected TV programs and related information and a data stream that is
used to send information to the controller in the receiver.
67
 Digital DBS TV

Fig.2:signal processing in a DTH-TV link

68
 Amity School of Engg &
Technology
M.Tech ECE, Semester II
Satellite Communication
Module 3 Lecture 7

Dr Sanmukh Kaur

69
 Learning Objectives & Outcomes

 To study the satellite digital audio radio service.

 Ability to identify the features of satellite digital audio radio service.

70
 Satellite Radio Broadcasting

 Two companies, Sirius Satellite Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Inc., commenced
transmission of digital radio signals from satellites to North America in 2001 and
2002, each offering 50 radio channels.

 Transmissions are in S-band, with Sirius using the band 2320–2332.5 MHz and XM
using the band 2332.5–2345MHz.

 Neither of the two companies was profitable until 2008 when they merged to form
Sirius XM Radio Inc.®.

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 The signal formats of Sirius and XM differ, so the original receivers were not
compatible.

 After the merger, programming on both services was aligned and receivers included
chipsets for both services.

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 Satellite radio broadcasting also exists in Asia using a standard devised by ETSI
(ETSI DAB 2009).

 Generically, the system is called Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) or
DAB (digital audio broadcasting).

 The target audience in the United States is in automobiles and trucks, which is
where most radio listening occurs in the United States.

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 DAB receivers can be operated indoors, but the antenna may need to be placed near
a south facing window.

 A vehicle equipped with a DAB receiver can receive the same programming
anywhere in North America, and is particularly valuable to anyone driving long
distances across different states.

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 Vehicles use a roof mounted antenna with near omnidirectional coverage in the
visible hemisphere and a typical gain of 3 dB toward the DAB satellites.

 The early SDARS satellites had transponder saturated power output of 800W, but
their replacements have a number of transponders operating in parallel with
saturated output power up to 2.7 kW.

 The unusually high power radiated by these satellites compensates for the low gain
of near omnidirectional antennas on vehicles.

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 Table. 1 provides some details of the SDARS systems.

 The XM Radio system adopted many of the characteristics of the Sirius system after
the merger of the two SDARSs.

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 Terrestrial repeaters operate in the same frequency bands, to provide a substitute

signal when the satellite line of sight is blocked.

 Because of the high probability of the satellite signals being blocked by buildings in
a city and trees in rural areas, both systems utilize time diversity to overcome short
interruptions in signal.

 The transmissions from one of the two satellites, and from the terrestrial repeaters,
are delayed by four seconds.

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 The satellite radio receiver delays the earlier arriving signals to achieve common
timing and then selects or combines the signals to achieve the best signal to noise
ratio (SNR).

 Signal transmission formats from the satellites are very similar to those used in
DBS-TV: TDM with QPSK modulation is used to send multiple signals as a high
speed digital data stream, with half rate FEC coding for error control.

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