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VSAT

VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) terminals allow for satellite-based telecommunications and internet access through small satellite dishes. A VSAT terminal consists of an outdoor unit with a reflector dish and indoor unit with a satellite modem. VSAT networks typically use a star topology with terminals communicating through a central hub but can also use a mesh topology. VSAT terminals are used by businesses for private networks and in applications like military/naval communications, disaster relief, and industrial uses where reliable connectivity is needed.

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Jalal Hammash
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34 views4 pages

VSAT

VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) terminals allow for satellite-based telecommunications and internet access through small satellite dishes. A VSAT terminal consists of an outdoor unit with a reflector dish and indoor unit with a satellite modem. VSAT networks typically use a star topology with terminals communicating through a central hub but can also use a mesh topology. VSAT terminals are used by businesses for private networks and in applications like military/naval communications, disaster relief, and industrial uses where reliable connectivity is needed.

Uploaded by

Jalal Hammash
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Wireless Networks

VSAT

Dr/Ammar Alzahari
Satellite communication touches our lives in ways most people don’t fully
appreciate. From GPS to satellite TV to the communication networks that
make modern economic, military and political affairs possible, there are few
areas of life that the rise of SATCOM technology has not shaped in some
way, directly or indirectly. While visions of massive arrays and
constellations might be the first thing that comes to mind when some people
think of satellites, today we’re going to focus on something a little less
visually impressive but just as important; the Very Small Aperture Terminal,
or “VSAT.”

What are VSAT Terminals?

VSAT Terminals, also known as “private earth stations,” are used primarily
for business, but also are also used for military and government applications.
That satellite dish on a neighbor’s home or the roof a corporate building is a
VSAT Terminal.
The “very small” part of the acronym refers to the size of the antenna
reflector, typically less than 3.8 meters in diameter. A VSAT terminal is
relatively simple, consisting of two primary components: The Outdoor and
Indoor units.
The Outdoor Unit (ODU) encompasses everything you see outside the
building where the terminal is located. This is the equipment that enables the
terminal to transmit and receive signals to and from the satellite. The ODU
includes:

the reflector
the feed, which both transmits signals toward and receives signals back
from the reflector
the Block Upconverter (BUC) which is used for transmission, and consists
of a local oscillator and a power amplifier
the Low Noise Block Downconverter (LNB) which is used for receiving
signals.

The Outdoor Unit is connected to the indoor VSAT component with an


Intra-Facility Link (IFL) cable. A coax cable is often used for this purpose.
The Indoor Unit (IDU) consists of the satellite modem and an IP router
which connects to an Ethernet interface, and it is here that the data being
received by end users, and data and commands, are entered in to be
transmitted back to the satellite.
VSAT networks typically follow a network architecture form called a VSAT
“Star Network”, which consists of multiple VSAT terminals spread
throughout a designated service area and controlled by a central hub
computer. VSAT networks can also make use of a mesh topology, a method
where one terminal will transmit information to other terminals via the
satellite, minimizing the need for an uplink site.
However, Star and Mesh topologies are not mutually exclusive, and it can be
more cost-effective to use them together via multiple uplink sites connected
through multi-star network architecture.

What Are VSAT Terminals Used For?

A VSAT terminal is used to provide satellite-based telecommunications and


internet access to companies and individuals. For businesses, the primary
advantage to setting up a VSAT network is that it allows the users to have
their own private communications infrastructure that they have complete
control over, as opposed to relying on existing infrastructure controlled by
other parties.
Perhaps the most widely understood use of VSAT networks would be the
service offered by satellite TV providers like DirecTV. Customers pay to
have a terminal installed at their home and subscribe to the service to gain
access to the network. But that’s just scratching the surface of what VSAT
networks can do.
VSAT terminals are used in military and naval applications to ensure
communication even in remote locations. They are also used in narrowband
financial applications like point-of-sale transactions, and broadband data like
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and satellite internet. VSAT networks
can be used to facilitate communication in emergency and disaster relief
efforts, as well as industrial applications, scientific research and more.
Anywhere reliable, stable, narrowband and broadband communication is
required, VSAT networks can be a great solution for users who either don’t
have access to existing telecom infrastructure or prefer not to use it. If
satellite communications are an integral feature of the modern world, VSAT
terminals are one of the most important technologies that make it all
possible.

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