15. A C-band earth station has an antenna with a transmit gain of 54 dB.

The
transmitter output power is set to 100 W at a frequency of 6.100 GHz. The signal
is received by a satellite at a distance of 37,500 km by an antenna with a gain of 26
dB. The signal is then routed to a transponder with a noise temperature of 500 K,
a bandwidth of 36 MHz, and a gain of 110 dB.

a. Calculate the path loss at 6.1 GHz. Wavelength is 0.04918 m.

Answer: Path loss = 20 log ( 4  R / ) = 20 log ( 4   37,500  103 /
0.04918) dB Lp = 199.6 dB

b. Calculate the power at the output port (sometimes called the output waveguide
flange) of the satellite antenna, in dBW.
Answer: Uplink power budget gives Pr = Pt + Gt + Gr - Lp dBW
= 20 + 54 + 26 – 199.6 = -99.6 dBW

c. Calculate the noise power at the transponder input, in dBW, in a bandwidth of 36

MHz.
Answer: N = k Ts BN = -228.6 + 27 + 75.6 = -126.0 dBW

d. Calculate the C/N ratio, in dB, in the transponder.

Answer: C/N = Pr – N = -99.6 + 126.0 = 26.4 dB

e. Calculate the carrier power, in dBW and in watts, at the transponder output.
Answer: The gain of the transponder is 110 dB. Output power is
Pt = Pr + G = -99.6 + 110 = 10.4 dBW or 101.04 = 11.0 W.

16. The satellite serves the 48 contiguous states of the US. The antenna on the satellite
transmits at a frequency of 3875 MHz to an earth station at a distance of 39,000 km.
The antenna has a 6o E-W beamwidth and a 3o N-S beamwidth. The receiving earth
station has an antenna with a gain of 53 dB and a system noise temperature of 100 K
and is located at the edge of the coverage zone of the satellite antenna. (Assume
 antenna gain is 3 dB lower than in the center of the beam)
Assume the transponder carrier power is 10 W at the input port of the
transmit antenna on the satellite.

a. Calculate the gain of the satellite antenna in the direction of the receiving
earth station. [Use the approximate formula G = 33,000/(product of
beamwidths).]
Answer: G = 33,000 / ( 6 x 3) = 1833 or 32.6 dB on axis.
Hence satellite antenna gain towards earth station is 32.6 – 3 = 29.6 dB.

b. Calculate the carrier power received by the earth station, in

dBW. Answer: Calculate the path loss at 3.875GHz. Wavelength is
0.07742 m. Path loss = 20 log ( 4  R / ) = 20 log ( 4   39,000 
103 / 0.07742) dB
Lp = 196.0 dB
Downlink power budget gives
Pr = Pt + Gt + Gr - Lp dBW
= 10 + 29.6 + 53 – 196.0 = -103.4 dBW

c. Calculate the noise power of the earth station in 36 MHz bandwidth.

Answer: N = k Ts BN = -228.6 + 20 + 75.6 = -133.0 dBW

d. Hence find the C/N in dB for the earth station.

Answer: C/N = Pr – N = -103.4 + 133.0 = 29.6 dB

17. A 14/11 GHz satellite communication link has a transponder with a bandwidth of 52
MHz which is operated at an output power level of 20W. The satellite transmit
antenna gain at11 GHz is 30 dB towards a particular earth station. Path loss to this
station is 206 dB , including clear air atmospheric loss. Nov/Dec 21
The transponder is used in FDMA mode to send 500 BPSK voice channels with
 half rate FEC coding. Each coded BPSK signal has a symbol rate of 50 kbps and
requires a receiver with a noise bandwidth of 50 kHz per channel. The earth stations
used to receive the voice signals have antennas with a gain of 40 dB (1m diameter) and a
receiver with Tsystem = 150K in clear air, and IF noise bandwidth 50 kHz.

a. Calculate the power transmitted by the satellite in one voice channel.

Answer: In FDMA, the output power of the transmitter is divided equally between the
channels. For Pt = 20 W and 500 channels, power per channels is 20 / 500 = 40
mW/ch.

b. Calculate the C/N in clear air for an earth station receiving one BPSK voice signal.
Answer: Each channel receiver has a noise bandwidth of 50 kHz or 47
dBHz. Path loss at 11GHz is 206.0 dB, including atmospheric loss..
Downlink power budget for one FDMA channel
gives Pr = Pt + Gt + Gr - Lp dBW
= -14.0 + 30.0 + 40.0 – 206.0 = -150.0 dBW
The noise power at the input to the receiver is
N = k Ts BN = -228.6 + 21.8 + 47.0 = -159.8 dBW
Hence C/N = Pr – N = -150.0 + 159.8 = 9.8 dB.

c. What is the margin over a coded BPSK threshold of 6 dB?

Answer: Margin is receiver C/N – minimum permitted C/N, in
dB Margin = 9.8 – 6.0 = 3.8 dB.

18. Geostationary satellites use L, C, Ku and Ka bands. The path length from an earth
station to the GEO satellite is 38,500 km. For this range, calculate the path loss in
decibels for the following frequencies:

Note: Round all results to nearest 0.1 dB.

a. 1.6 GHz, 1.5 GHz
Wavelengths are: 1.6 GHz,  = 0.1875 m; 1.5 GHz,  = 0.200 m.
 Answer: Path loss = 20 log ( 4  R / )
For 1.6 GHz, Lp = 20 log ( 4   38,500  103 / 0.1875) = 188.2 dB
For 1.5 GHz, Lp = 20 log ( 4   38,500  103 / 0.200) = 187.7 dB

Path loss at frequency f2 can be found from path loss at frequency f1 by scaling:
Lp (f2) = Lp (f1) + 20 log (f2 / f1). Using the result for 1.6 GHz, Lp = 188.2 dB:

b. 6.2 GHz, 4.0 GHz

Answer: At 6.2 GHz, Lp = 188.2 dB + 20 log (6.2 / 1.6) = 200.0 dB
At 4.0 GHz, Lp = 188.2 dB + 20 log (4.0 / 1.6) = 196.2 dB

c. 14.2 GHz, 12.0 GHz

Answer: At 146.2 GHz, Lp = 188.2 dB + 20 log (14.2 / 1.6) =
207.2 dB
At 12.0 GHz, Lp = 188.2 dB + 20 log (12.0 / 1.6) = 205.7 dB

d. 30.0 GHz 20.0 GHz

Answer: At 30.0 GHz, Lp = 188.2 dB + 20 log (30 / 1.6) = 213.7 dB
At 20.0 GHz, Lp = 188.2 dB + 20 log (20 / 1.6) = 210.1 dB

Note: All commercial satellite systems have path losses that fall within the above
range, excepting any in the vhf and uhf bands, and above 40 GHz.

19. Low earth orbit satellites use mainly L band, with ranges varying from 1000 km to
2,500 km. Calculate the maximum and minimum path loss from earth to a satellite, in
dB, for the uplink frequency of 1.6 GHz, and the downlink frequency of 1.5 GHz.

Answer: Wavelengths are: 1.6 GHz,  = 0.1875 m; 1.5 GHz,  = 0.200 m.

Path loss = 20 log ( 4  R / )
For 1.6 GHz, Maximum Lp = 20 log ( 4   2,500  103 / 0.1875) = 64.5 dB
For 1.5 GHz, Lp = 20 log ( 4   38,500  103 / 0.200) = 187.7 dB
20. A geostationary satellite carries a transponder with a 20 watt transmitter at 4 GHz.
The transmitter is operated at an output power of 10 watts and drives an antenna
with a gain of 30 dB. An earth station is at the center of the coverage zone of the
satellite, at a range of 38,500 km. Using decibels for all calculations, find

a. The flux density at the earth station in dBW/m2

Answer: Flux density is given by F = 20 log [ Pt Gt / (4  R2 ) ] dBW/m2
Hence for R = 38,500 km, f = 4 GHz,  = 0.075 m
F = 10 log Pt + Gt - 10 log (4 ) - 20 log (38,500  103 ) dBW / m2
= 10.0 +30.0 - 11.0 - 151.7 = -122.7 dBW / m2

b. The power received by an antenna with a gain of 39 dB, in dBW.

Answer: Received power can be calculated from the effective area of the antenna
aperture and the incident flux density, but since the antenna gain is given in dB, it is
better to use path loss and the link budget.
Path loss Lp = 20 log (4  R / ) = 10 log (4   38,500  103 / 0.075) = 196.2
dB Downlink power budget gives
Pr = Pt + Gt + Gr - Lp dBW
= 10.0 + 30.0 + 39.0 – 196.2 = -117.2 dBW
Alternatively, the received power can be found from
Pr = F  Aeff where Aeff is the effective aperture area of the antenna.
Given G = 4  Aeff / 2 = 39 dB, we can find Aeff from
Aeff = G + 20 log  - 11.0 dB = 39.0 – 22.5 –11.0 = 5.5
dB m2 Pr = -122.7 + 5.5 = - 117.2 dBW / m2

c. The EIRP of the transponder in dBW.

Answer: Transponder EIRP = Pt + Gt = 10 + 30 = 40 dBW

21. A LEO satellite has a multi-beam antenna with a gain of 18 dB in each beam. A
transponder with transmitter output power of 0.5 watts at 2.5 GHz is connected to
one antenna beam. An earth station is located at the edge of the coverage zone of this
 beam, where the received power is 3 dB below that at the center of the beam, and at a
range of 2,000 km from the satellite. Using decibels for all calculations, find:

a. The power received by an antenna with a gain of +1 dB, in dBW.

Answer: Find the path loss, Lp , first, for a wavelength of  = 0.120 m:
Path loss Lp = 20 log (4  R / ) = 10 log (4   2000  103 / 0.120) = 166.4
dB Downlink power budget gives
Pr = Pt + Gt + Gr - Lp - losses dBW
= -3.0 + 18.0 + 1.0 – 166.4 – 3.0 = -153.4 dBW
b. The noise power of the earth station receiver for a noise temperature of 260K
and an RF channel bandwidth of 20 kHz.
Answer: The noise power at the input to the receiver is
N = k Ts BN = -228.6 + 24.1 + 43.0 = -161.5 dBW

c. The C/N ratio in dB for the LEO signal at the receiver output.
Answer: C/N = Pr – N = -153.4 + 161.5 = 8.1 dB.

22. A satellite in GEO orbit is a distance of 39,000 km from an earth station. The
required flux density at the satellite to saturate one transponder at a frequency of
14.3 GHz is -90.0 dBW/m2. The earth station has a transmitting antenna with a gain
of 52 dB at 14.3 GHz. Find:

a. The EIRP of the earth station

Answer: EIRP = Pt + Gt = Pt + 52 dBW
Flux density is given by F = 20 log [ EIRP / (4  R2 ) ]
dBW/m2 Hence for R = 39,000 km, f = 14.3 GHz,  =
0.02010 m
F = -90.0 = EIRP - 10 log (4 ) - 20 log (39,000  103 ) dBW / m2
-90.0 = EIRP - 11.0 - 151.8 dBW /
m2 EIRP = -90.0 + 162.8 = 72.8 dBW
 b. The output power of the earth station transmitter.
Answer: EIRP = Pt + Gt = 72.8 dBW. Hence Pt = 72.8 – 52.0 = 20.8 dBW.

23. A 12 GHz earth station receiving system has an antenna with a noise temperature of
50K, a LNA with a noise temperature of 100 K and a gain of 40 dB, and a mixer with
a noise temperature of 1000 K. Find the system noise temperature.

Answer: System noise temperature is calculated from

Ts = Tantenna + TLNA + Tmixer / GLNA + ….

Hence for GLNA = 40 dB = 10,000 as a ratio
Ts = 50 + 100 + 1000 / 10,000 = 150.1 K

24. A geostationary satellite carries a C-band transponder which transmits 20 watts into
an antenna with an on-axis gain of 30 dB. An earth station is in the center of the
antenna beam from the satellite, at a distance of 38,000 km. For a frequency of 4.0
GHz: Nov/Dec 21

a. Calculate the incident flux density at the earth station in watts per square
meter and in dBW/m2.
Answer: Flux density is given by F = 20 log [ EIRP / (4  R2 ) ] dBW/m2
Hence for R = 38,000 km, f = 4.0 GHz,  = 0.0750 m, EIRP = 13.0 + 30.0 =
43.0 dBW F = 43.0 - 10 log (4 ) - 20 log (38,000  103 ) dBW / m2
= 43.0 - 11.0 - 151.6 = -119.6 dBW / m2

b. The earth station has an antenna with a circular aperture 2 m in diameter

and an aperture efficiency of 65%. Calculate the received power level in watts
and in dBW at the antenna output port.
Answer: The effective area of the antenna is
Aeff = A  r2 = 0.65    1 = 2.042 m or 3.1 dBm2
For an incident flux density of -119.6 dBW / m2 or 1.10  10-12
 W/m2 Pr = 2.042  1.10  10-12 = 2.24  10-12 W or –
116.5 dBW
or Pr = -119.6 + 3.1 = -116.5 dBW

c. Calculate the on-axis gain of the antenna in dB.

Answer: Antenna gain for a circular aperture is given by G = A ( D / )2
G = 10 log ( 0.65  (  2 / 0.0750)2) = 36.6 dB

d. Calculate the free space path loss between the satellite and the earth station.
Calculate the power received, Pr, at the earth station using the link equation:
Pr = Pt Gt Gr / Lp
where Pt Gt is the EIRP of the satellite transponder and Lp is the path loss. Make your
calculation in dB units and give your answer in dBW.
Answer: At a frequency of 4.0 GHz,  = 0.075 m.
Path loss = 20 log ( 4  R / ) = 20 log ( 4   38,000  103 / 0.075)
dB Lp = 196.1 dB
Downlink power budget gives
Pr = Pt + Gt + Gr - Lp dBW
= 13 + 30.0 + 36.6 – 196.1 = -116.5 dBW

25. Repeat parts of previous problems for a Ka band transponder transmitting at a

frequency of 20.0 GHz.
a. Calculate the incident flux density at the earth station in watts per square
meter and in dBW/m2.
Answer: Flux density is independent of frequency, so the result is the same as in Problem
10 above.
F = -119.6 dBW / m2

b. The earth station has an antenna with a circular aperture 2 m in diameter

and an aperture efficiency of 65%. Calculate the received power level in watts
and in dBW at the antenna output port.
Answer: Given a flux density at the earth’s surface, an antenna of area Aeff m2 collects
 the same power at any frequency. Hence the result is the same as in question 10
above.
Pr = 2.042  1.10  10-12 = 2.24  10-12 W or –116.5 dBW

c. Calculate the on-axis gain of the antenna in dB.

Answer: At f = 20 GHz,  = 0.0150 m:
Antenna gain for a circular aperture is given by G = A ( D / )2
G = 10 log ( 0.65  (  2 / 0.0150)2) = 50.6 dB

d. Calculate the free space path loss between the satellite and the earth station. and
the power received, Pr, at the earth station using the link equation:

Answer: At a frequency of 20.0 GHz,  = 0.015 m.

Path loss = 20 log ( 4  R / ) = 20 log ( 4   38,000  103 / 0.015) dB Lp = 210.1 dB
Downlink power budget gives
Pr = Pt + Gt + Gr - Lp dBW
= 13 + 30.0 + 50.6 – 210.1 = -116.5 dBW
The answer is the same as in Question 10 for the 4 GHz satellite because the incident
flux density on the earth’s surface is the same, and the antenna effective area is the
same.

26. This sequence of questions requires you to design a communication link through a
geostationary satellite to meet a C/N and link margin specification.
Use these constants:
Boltzmann's constant k = -228.6
dBW/K/Hz Path length to satellite =
38,500 km
Satellite : Geostationary at 73o W longitude.
24 C band transponders, 28 Ku band transponders
3.2 kW RF power output
Antenna gain, on axis, C-band and Ku-band (transmit and receive)
 =31 dB
Receive system noise temperature (C-band and Ku-band) = 500 K
Transponder saturated output power: C-band = 40 W
Transponder bandwidth: C-band = 36 MHz
Transponder saturated output power: Ku-band = 80 W
Transponder bandwidth: Ku-band = 54 MHz

Signals: FM-TV analog signal to be received in a bandwidth of 27 MHz

Multiplexed digital TV signals transmitted as QPSK with symbol rate 27 Msps
using half rate FEC with coding gain 5.5 dB
Minimum permitted C/N overall = 9.5 dB

27. Design a transmitting earth station to provide a clear air C/N of 26 dB in a C-band
transponder at a frequency of 6.285 GHz. Use an uplink antenna with a diameter of 9
m and an aperture efficiency of 68%, and find the uplink transmitter power required
to achieve the required C/N. The uplink station is located on the 2 dB contour of the
satellite footprint. Allow 0.5 dB for clear air atmospheric attenuation and other
losses. Nov/Dec 21

Answer: An uplink power budget and noise budget are required to find C/N at the satellite
transponder input. Calculate the transmitting earth station antenna gain and path loss at
6.285 GHz first.
Gt = A ( D / )2 = 10 log ( 0.68  (  9 / 0.04773)2) = 53.8 dB
Lp = 20 log ( 4  R / ) = 20 log ( 4   38,500  103 / 0.04773) = 200.1 dB
Uplink power budget

Pt TBD
Gt 53.9 dB
Gr 31 dB – 2 dB off axis loss 29.0 dB
Lp -200.1 dB
Atmospheric loss and other losses -0.5 dB

Receiver power Pr Pt – 117.7 dBW

 Transponder input noise power budget
k Boltzmann’s constant -228.6 dBW/K/Hz

Ts 500 K 27.0 dBK

BN 27 MHz (FM-TV) 74.3 dBHz
N -127.3 dBW

The C/N ratio at the transponder input is

C/N = C – N = Pt – 117.7 + 127.3 dB
For C/N = 26 dB we require Pt = C/N – 9.6 = 16.4 dBW or 43.7 W

28. Design a C-band receiving earth station to provide an overall clear air C/N of 13 dB
in a 27 MHz IF noise bandwidth at a carrier frequency of 4.06 GHz. The antenna
noise temperature is 20 K and the LNA noise temperature is 55 K. You may assume a
high gain LNA and ignore the noise generated in other parts of the receiver. The C-
band satellite transponder is operated with 1 dB output backoff. Clear air
atmospheric attenuation on the downlink and other losses total 0.5 dB. Determine the
diameter of the receiving antenna, assuming an aperture efficiency of 65%. The
receiving terminal is located on the 3 dB contour of the satellite footprint.

Reminder: Overall C/N includes the effect of noise radiated by the satellite transponder.
Answer: Set the receiving earth station antenna gain as Gr
dB. Path loss at the downlink frequency of 4.06 GHz is
Lp = 200.1 + 20 log (4.06/6.285) = 196.3 dB
Transponder output power is Pt saturated – 1 dB = 16 – 1 = 15.0 dBW
Downlink power budget
Pt 15.0 dBW
Gt 31 dB – 3 dB off axis loss 28.0 dB
Gr TBD
Lp -196.3 dB
Atmospheric loss and other losses -0.5 dB
 Receiver power Pr Gr – 153.8 dBW
Earth station receiver input noise power budget
k Boltzmann’s constant -228.6 dBW/K/Hz

Ts 20 K + 55 K = 75 K 18.8 dBK
BN 27 MHz (FM-TV) 74.3
dBHz
N -135.5 dBW
The downlink C/N ratio at the receiver input is
(C/N)dn = C – N = Gr – 153.8 + 135.5 = Gr - 18.3 dB
We require overall (C/N)o = 13 dB.
From the reciprocal formula for combining C/N ratios

1 / (C/N)o = 1 / (C/N)up + 1 / (C/N)dn

(C/N)o = 13 dB = ratio 20.0. (C/N)up = 26.0 = ratio 400. Hence
(C/N)dn = 1 / ( 1/20 – 1/400) = 21.05 or 13.2 dB
Then (C/N)dn = 13.2 dB = Gr - 18.3 dB
Gr = 31.5 dB or 1413 as a ratio
The diameter of the receiving antenna is Dr meters where
Gr = 1413 = A ( D / )2 = 0.65  (  Dr / 0.07389)2

Dr = (1413 / 0.65)0.5  0.07389 /  = 1.096 m

29. Design a transmitting earth station to provide a clear air C/N of 30 dB in a Ku- band
transponder at a frequency of 14.15 GHz. Use an uplink antenna with a diameter of
5m and an aperture efficiency of 68%, and find the uplink transmitter power
required to achieve the required C/N. The uplink station is located on the 2 dB
contour of the satellite footprint. Allow 1.0 dB on the uplink for miscellaneous and clear
air losses.

Answer: An uplink power budget and noise budget are required to find C/N at the
satellite transponder input. Calculate the transmitting earth station antenna gain and
path loss at 14.15 GHz first.

Gt = A ( D / )2 = 10 log ( 0.68  (  5 / 0.0212)2) = 53.8 dB

 Lp = 20 log ( 4  R / ) = 20 log ( 4   38,500  103 / 0.02120) = 207.2 dB
Uplink power budget

Pt TBD
Gt 55.7 dB
Gr 31 dB – 2 dB off axis loss 29.0 dB
Lp -207.2dB
Atmospheric loss and other losses -1.0 dB

Receiver power Pr Pt – 123.5 dBW

The noise bandwidth of a 27 Msps digital signal is 27 MHz.

Uplink noise power budget:

k Boltzmann’s constant -228.6 dBW/K/Hz
Ts 500 K 27.0 dBK
BN 27 MHz (27 Msps QPSK) 74.3
dBHz
N -127.3 dBW
The C/N ratio at the transponder input is
C/N = C – N = Pt – 123.5 + 127.3 dB
For C/N = 30 dB we require Pt = C/N – 3.8 = 26.2 dBW or 417 W

30. Design a Ku-band receiving earth station to provide an overall clear air C/N of 17 dB
in a 27 MHz IF noise bandwidth at a carrier frequency of 11.45 GHz. The antenna
noise temperature is 30 K and the LNA noise temperature is 110 K. You may assume
a high gain LNA and ignore the noise generated in other parts of the receiver.
Determine the diameter of the receiving antenna. The receiving terminal is located
on the 3 dB contour of the satellite footprint, and clear air attenuation on the path
and other losses total 0.8 dB.
Answer: Set the receiving earth station antenna gain as Gr dB.
Path loss at the downlink frequency of 11.45 GHz is
Lp = 207.2 + 20 log (11.45/14.15) = 205.4 dB
Transponder output power is Pt saturated = 80 W or 19.0 dBW
 No back off is quoted.
Downlink power budget
Pt 19.0 dBW
Gt 31 dB – 3 dB off axis loss 28.0 dB
Gr TBD
Lp -205.4 dB
Atmospheric loss and other losses -0.8 dB

Receiver power Pr Gr – 159.2 dBW

Earth station receiver input noise power budget
k Boltzmann’s constant -228.6 dBW/K/Hz

Ts 30 K + 110 K = 140 K 21.5 dBK

BN 27 MHz (27 Msps QPSK) 74.3dBHz
N -132.8 dBW
The downlink C/N ratio at the receiver input is
(C/N)dn = C – N = Gr – 159.2 + 132.8 = Gr - 26.4 dB
We require overall (C/N)o = 17 dB.
From the reciprocal formula for combining C/N ratios

1 / (C/N)o = 1 / (C/N)up + 1 / (C/N)dn

(C/N)o = 17 dB = ratio 50.0. (C/N)up = 30.0 = ratio 1000.
Hence (C/N)dn = 1 / ( 1/50 – 1/1000) = 47.6 or 16.8 dB
Then (C/N)dn = 16.8 dB = Gr - 26.4 dB
Gr = 43.2 dB or a ratio of 20,892
The diameter of the receiving antenna is Dr meters
where, for an aperture efficiency of 65%
Gr = 20,892 = A ( D / )2 = 0.65  (  Dr / 0.02620)2
Dr = (20,892 / 0.65)0.5  0.02620 /  = 1.495 m

31. Under conditions of heavy rain, the Ku-band path to the satellite station suffers an
attenuation of 6 dB. Calculate the overall C/N at the earth station in a bandwidth of
 27 MHz under these conditions, and find the uplink link margin.
Answer: Overall C/N is 17 .0 dB in clear air. Using the same analysis as in Problem 12.3,
the overall C/N ratio with 6 dB uplink rain attenuation is
(C/N)o uplink rain = 17.0 – 6.9 = 11.0 dB.

b. Under conditions of heavy rain, the Ku-band path to the receive station suffers
an attenuation of 5 dB. Assuming 100% coupling of sky noise into antenna noise,
and 0.3 dB clear air attenuation, calculate the overall C/N under these conditions,
and find the downlink margin.

Answer: The analysis must follow the method used in Problem 12.3, first finding the
increase in system noise temperature and receiver noise power, then finding overall
C/N in the downlink rain event.
Total path attenuation in the downlink in rain is 5.3 dB.
The sky noise temperature is then 290 ( 1 – 0.295) = 204 K.
System noise temperature is 204 + 110 = 304 K.
The increase in receiver noise power is
N = 10 log (304 / 140) = 3.4 dB
Hence the change in downlink C/N ratio is
 (C/N)dn = 5.0 + 3.4 = 8.4 dB.
In clear air, the downlink C/N ratio was 17.0 dB, so with 5.0 dB rain attenuation it is
(C/N)dn = 17.0 - 8.4 = 8.6 dB or a ratio of 7.24
Overall C/N with uplink C/N = 30.0 dB is
(C/N)o rain = 1 / ( 1 / 1000 + 1 / 7.24) = 7.19 or 8.57 dB
The overall C/N ratio is dominated by the low downlink C/N.
The downlink margin is again negative, at - 0.9 dB. However, with a FEC coding gain of
5.5 dB, the effective overall C/N ratio for the QPSK signal is 8.6 + 5.5 = 14.1 dB, which
will provide a BER around 10-6 assuming a 0.5 dB receiver implementation margin.

32. A Direct Broadcast Television (DBS-TV) satellite is in geostationary orbit at 100

degrees west longitude. It carries 16 transponders, each with a saturated output
power of 200 W and a bandwidth of 25 MHz. The antenna on the satellite has a gain
(on axis) of 34 dB. The receiving terminals all use antennas with a circular aperture
with a diameter of 18 inches and an aperture efficiency of 65%. The noise bandwidth
of the digital TV receiver is 20 MHz. (Use a distance to the GEO satellite of 38,500
km in your calculations.)

a. Calculate the free space path loss and the receiving terminal antenna gain at 12.2
GHz.
Answer: Lp = 20 log ( 4  R / ) = 20 log ( 4   38,500  103 / 0.02459) =
205.9 dB Gt = A ( D / )2 = 10 log ( 0.65  (  0.5 / 0.02459)2) = 34.2
dB

b. Draw up a link budget for the downlink from the satellite to an earth station on the
3 dB contour of the satellite antenna beam. Assume that the satellite transmits at a
power level of 180 W. Include a clear air atmospheric loss of 0.5 dB and
miscellaneous losses of 0.2 dB in your downlink power budget. Nov/Dec 21
Answer: Downlink power budget
Pt 180 W 22.6 dBW
Gt 34 dB – 3 dB off axis loss 31.0 dB
Gr 34.2 dB
Lp -205.9 dB
Atmospheric loss and other losses -0.7 dB

Receiver power Pr -118.8 dBW

c. The receiving terminal has a system noise temperature of 110 K in clear air.
Draw up a noise power budget for the receiver using the receiver’s noise
bandwidth.
Answer: Earth station receiver input noise power budget
k Boltzmann’s constant -228.6 dBW/K/Hz
 Ts 110 K 20.4 dBK
BN 20 MHz 73.0 dBHz
N -135.2 dBW

d. Calc ulate the clear air C/N ratio for the receiver with a noise bandwidth of 20
MHz. The minimum permissible C/N ratio is 10.0 dB. What is the clear air link
margin?
Answer: Pr = -118.8 dBW, N = -135.2 dBW.
Hence C/N for the downlink is –118.8 + 135.2 = 16.4 dB

e. For 0.3% of the time at the receiving location, heavy rain causes 2 dB excess
path attenuation and the system noise temperature of the receiver increases to
210 K. Calculate the C/N under these rain conditions, and the link margin above
the C/N threshold of 10.0 dB.
Answer: The increase in system noise temperature is from 110 K to
210 K. The corresponding increase in receiver noise power is
N = 10 log (210 / 110) = 2.8 dB.
The carrier power falls by 2 dB, so the loss in C/N on the downlink is 2 + 2.8 = 4.8 dB.
The C/N ratio in the satellite transponder is assumed to be much greater than 16 dB, and
can be ignored. Hence (C/N)rain = 16.4 – 4.8 = 11.6 dB.
f. Many of the DBS TV system customers live inside the 2 dB contour of the
satellite beam. Calculate the clear air link margin and 0.3% time link margin
for a receiver located on the 2 dB contour of the satellite footprint.
Answer: The previous results were for a receiving earth station located on the – 3 dB
contour of the satellite antenna footprint. Customers on the 2 dB contour have a signal
that is 1 dB greater. Hence C/N in clear air = 16.4 + 1 = 17.4 dB
C/N in rain = 11.6 + 1 = 12.6 dB.

g. An uplink station for the DBS-TV satellite described in Question #1 is located in

Utah, and transmits digital TV signals to 16 transponders on the satellite using
QPSK with ¾ rate forward error correction. The transmit earth station has a
circular aperture antenna with diameter of 6 m and an aperture efficiency of 65%.
 Each transponder operates at a different carrier frequency in the 17 GHz band,
and the RF channel noise bandwidth is 20 MHz. The noise temperature of the
satellite receiver is 500 K (the satellite always looks toward the "hot" earth).Use
these values in the remaining parts of this question.

Calculate the uplink path loss and the uplink antenna gain at 17.5 GHz.
Answer: Lp = 20 log ( 4  R / ) = 20 log ( 4   38,500  103 / 0.01765 ) = 209.1 dB Gt
= A ( D / )2 = 10 log ( 0.65  (  0.5 / 0.01765)2 ) = 58.7 dB

h. The gain of the receiving antenna on the satellite in the direction of Utah is 31 dB.
Draw up a clear air uplink budget for the link from the earth station to a single
transponder on the satellite using a transmit power of Pt watts, and atmospheric
and other losses of 1.0 dB.

Answer: Uplink power budget:

Pt TBD
Gt 58.7 dB
Gr 31.0 dB
Lp -209.1 dB
Atmospheric loss and othe r losses -1.0 dB
Receiver power Pr Pt – 120.4 dBW

i. Calculate the noise power at the input to the satellite receiver in a noise bandwidth
of 20 MHz. Hence find the uplink transmitter power required to achieve a C/N of
28 dB in the satellite transponder.
Answer: Transponder input noise power budget
k Boltzmann’s constant -228.6 dBW/K/Hz

Ts 500 K 27.0 dBK

BN 20 MHz 73.0 dBHz
N -128.6 dBW
The uplink C/N ratio is required to be 28.0 dB. Hence the earth station transmitter
power is given by Pt where
Pt – 120.4 dBW = -128.6 + 28 dB
 Pt = 120.4 -128.6 + 28 dBW = 19.8 dBW or 95.5 W.

j. The gain of the satellite transponder must be set to amplify the received signal at
the transponder input to an output level of 180 watts. Calculate the gain of the
transponder in decibels. (Ignore the change in frequency in the transponder.)
When designing RF equipment, a common rule to avoid oscillation is to make the
amplification at any given frequency no higher than 60 dB. How would you design
a bent-pipe DBS-TV transponder to provide the end to end gain that you
calculated?
Answer:
The power at the input to the transponder is Pt – 120.4 dBW = 19.8 – 120.4 dBW
Pr = -100.6 dBW, Pt = 22.6 dBW
Gxp = Pt – Pr = 22.6 + 100.6 = 123.2 dB.
[Gain is Pout/ Pin for any device, giving G = Pout dBW – Pin dBW]
RF and IF amplifiers should not be specified with G > 60 dB because of the risk of
oscillation. In this transponder we need a gain of 123.2 dB. This should be distributed
through the amplifer,. Typically, transponders are built with excess gain and include an RF
or IF attenuater. So a typical arrangement would set these gains:

RF input (17 GHz) 30 dB

IF amplifier (~ 1 GHz) 60 dB
RF amplifier (12 GHz) (LPA + HPA) 60 dB
Attenuator (controlled from earth) -6.8 dB
k. The minimum permissible C/N in the transponder is 16.0 dB. Calculate the clear
air link margin for the uplink.
Answer: The received power at the transponder input is Pr = -100.6 dBW.
The noise power at the transponder input is N = -128.6 dBW
Hence (C/N)up = 28.0 dB. This gives a margin over 16.0 dB of 12.0 dB.

l. Ignore the result you calculated for the downlink C/N and use a value of 15 dB in
this question. Convert the clear air uplink and downlink C/N values to power
ratios, and then find the overall C/N, in dB, in the earth station receiving terminal.
 Use the following formula (where C/N values are ratios, not in dB) and give your
answer in decibels:
1/(C/N) overall = 1/(C/N)up + 1/(C/N)down
1 / (C/N)o = 1 / 631 + 1 / 31.6 = 0.03323
(C/N)o = 1 / 0.03323 = 30.09 or 14.8 dB.

33. A satellite communication system consists of 50 LEO satellites in 750 km orbits,

several hubs stations operating in Ka-band, and many handheld transceivers
operating in L-band. The handheld units transmit to transponders at 1600 MHz and
receive from transponders at 2500 MHz. The system uses digital speech compressed
into a transmission channel (RF) bandwidth of 16 kHz. Channels are spaced 20 kHz
apart to allow a guard band between channels.
The Parameters of the system are given below: (You may not need all of these.)
System Values
Uplink frequency for handheld transceiver 1600
MHz Downlink frequency for handheld transceiver
2500
MHz Uplink frequency for hub station 29
GHz
Downlink frequency for hub station 19
GHz Maximum range to edge of coverage zone 2000 km

Satellite Transponder
Maximum output power Pt 20 W
Transponder bandwidth 2 MHz
Transponder input noise temperature Ts 500 K

Handheld Transceiver Parameters

Transmitter output power 1.0 W

Antenna gain (transmit and G 0 dB
receive)
 Receiver system noise Ts 300 K
temperature
Receiver system noise bandwidth Bn 10 kHz

Hub Station Parameters

Maximum transmit power Pt 100 W
Receiver system noise temperature (clear air) Ts 250 K
Antenna gain at 29 GHz (transmit) Gt 54
dB
Antenna gain at 19 GHz (receive) Gr 52 dB
Constants: Boltzmann’s constant k = 1.38 x 10-23 J/K = -228.6 dBW/K/Hz

a. Calculate the path loss, in dB, for a 2000 km path at 1.6, 2.5, 19, and 29 GHz.
Answer: Path loss is calculated from Lp = 20 log ( 4  R / ) . For a worst case
analysis, we must take the longest path length of 2000 km.
At 1.6 GHz,  = 0.1875 m, Lp = 20 log ( 4   2000  103 / 0.1875 ) = 162.5 dB
At 2.5 GHz,  = 0.120 m, Lp = 20 log ( 4   2000  103 / 0.120 ) = 166.4 dB
At 19 GHz,  = 0.01579 m, Lp = 20 log ( 4   2000  103 / 0.01579 ) = 184.0 dB
At 29 GHz,  = 0.01344 m, Lp = 20 log ( 4   2000  103 / 0.010344 ) = 187.7 dB

b. Calculate the noise power, in dBW, for the receiver in the transponder and for the
receivers at the hub station and the handheld unit, in a single voice channel
bandwidth of 10 kHz. (Note: use the bandwidth of one speech channel, 10 kHz for all
the calculations, not 2 MHz.)
Answer: For the transponder, Ts = 500 K
Nxp = k Ts BN = -228.6 + 27.0 + 40.0 = -161.6 dBW
For the hub station, Ts = 250 K
NH = k Ts BN = -228.6 + 24.0 + 40.0 = -164.6 dBW
For the handheld satellite phone, Ts = 300 K
NH = k Ts BN = -228.6 + 24.8 + 40.0 = -163.8 dBW
 c. The satellite has broad coverage antennas at L-band and Ka-band with half-power

beamwidths of 120 degrees. Estimate the gain, in dB, of the antennas at each

frequency.

Answer: The gain of an antenna with a beamwidth of Ɵ3 dB is G = 33,000 / Ɵ3 dB 2

This result is independent of frequency, so all antennas have the same

gain: G = 33,000 / 1202 = 2.29 or 3.6 dB.

34. Use the values you obtained in Q#1 above, for path loss, antenna gain, and noise
power in this question. Calculate C/N values for stations located at the edge of the
coverage zone of the satellite, where the satellite antenna gain is 3 dB below its
maximum value, and the range to the satellite is 2000 km. Take care to use the
correct path loss and receiver noise power values for each frequency. Give your
answers in decibels.

a. Calculate the C/N in the satellite transponder for the signal transmitted by one
handheld transceiver located at the edge of the coverage zone (satellite antenna gain
3 dB below maximum) and at maximum range from the satellite (2000 km).
Answer: The EIRP of the satellite phone is 0 dBW (1 W transmitter, 0dB antenna
gain) Pr = EIRP + Gr – Lp = 0 + 3.6- 3.0 – 162.5 = -161.9 dBW
The noise power at the input to the transponder is Nxp = -161.6 dBW
Hence (C/N)up = -0.3 dB
b. Calculate the C/N in the satellite transponder for the signal transmitted by a hub
station, using its full output power.
Answer: This calculation is to establish a reference case for a single 10 kbps channel
uplink.
Hub station EIRP = 20 dBW + 54 dB = 74 dBW
At the – 3dB contour of the satellite antenna footprint Gr = 3.6 – 3.0 = +0.6
dB Uplink power budget:
EIRP 74.0 dBW
Path loss at 29 GHz -187.7 dB
Receive antenna gain 0.6 dB
Pr -113.1 dBW
Noise power at satellite transponder input -161.6 dBW
C/N at transponder input 48.5 dB

c. Calculate the C/N in the hub station receiver for the signal transmitted by a
satellite transponder using its full output power.
This calculation is to establish a reference case for a single 10 kbps channel downlink.
Satellite saturated EIRP = 13 dBW + 0.6 dB = 13.6 dBW at –3 dB contour.
Downlink power budget:

EIRP 13.6 dBW

Path loss at 19 GHz -184.0 dB
Receive antenna gain 52.0 dB
Pr -118.4 dBW
Noise power at hub receiver input -164.6 dBW
C/N at hub receiver 46.0 dB

d. Calculate the C/N in the receiver of the handheld unit for the signal transmitted
by a satellite transponder using its full output power.
The handheld phone has an antenna gain of 0 dB. With 20 W output from the satellite:
Downlink power budget:

EIRP 13.6 dBW

Path loss at 2.5 GHz -166.4 dB
Receive antenna gain 0 dB
Pr -152.8 dBW
Noise power at hub receiver input -163.8 dBW
C/N at satellite phone receiver 11.0 dB

e. Calculate the overall C/N ratios at the hub station and at the handheld receiver.
Overall C/N values are calculated from the reciprocal formula; however, if the two C/N
values differ by more than 25 dB, (C/N)o = lowest C/N ratio
For the hub station, (C/N)up = -0.3 dB, (C/N)dn = 46.0 dB
(C/N)o = -0.3 dB
For the handheld satellite telephone, (C/N)up = 48.5 dB, (C/N)dn = 18.0
dB (C/N)o = 18.0 dB