Electronics and Communications Engineering Program

ECE422: Advanced Electronic Systems

Lecture 8

▪ Satellite Multiple Access

▪ FDMA

Dr. Sawsan Abdellatif 1

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 Multiplexing Techniques Multiple Access Techniques

Are used to combine several message Are use to enable multiple users access to
signals into a composite signal so that a given facility or a resource (e.g.,
they can be transmitted over a common bandwidth or time).
channel.

Commonly used Multiplexing Commonly used Multiple Access

techniques: techniques:

FDM: Frequency Division Multiplexing FDMA: Frequency Division Multiple Access

TDM: Time Division Multiplexing TDMA: Time Division Multiple Access
CDM: Code Division Multiplexing CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access
SDMA: Space Domain Multiple Access

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FDM:
➢ Different baseband signals are separated from each other in the frequency domain
(by modulating different sub-carriers), then combined together in a single
composite signal.
TDM:
➢ TDM is used for simultaneous transmission of more than one pulsed signal over a
common communication channel (common frequency , different time slots).
CDM:
➢ CDM allows message signals from multiple sources to be transmitted
simultaneously over a common frequency using different orthogonal codes
(spreading codes).
The new composite signal may be used to modulate another high frequency carrier
before it is transmitted over the common link.

FDM TDM 4
Single access: a single modulated carrier occupies the whole of the available
bandwidth of a transponder. Single-access operation is used on heavy-traffic routes
and requires large earth station antennas.
Multiple access: means access to a given facility or a resource by multiple users.
➢ In the context of satellite communication, the facility is the transponder and the
multiple users are various terrestrial terminals under the footprint of the satellite.

Single Access Multiple Access

Single channel per carrier

Fig: Access options in a satellite communications network 5

FDMA
➢ Different Earth stations are able to access the total available bandwidth in the
satellite transponder(s) by virtue of their different carrier frequencies, thus
avoiding interference amongst multiple signals.
TDMA
➢ Different Earth stations in the satellite’s footprint make use of the transponder by
using a single carrier on a time division basis.
CDMA
➢ The entire bandwidth of the transponder is used simultaneously by multiple Earth
stations. Each transmitter spreads its signal over the entire bandwidth (using
pseudorandom bit sequence). Interference is avoided as each transmitter uses a
unique code sequence.
SDMA
➢ Uses spatial separation where different antenna beam polarizations can be used
to avoid interference between multiple transmissions (allows for frequency re-use)
In the overall satellite link, SDMA is usually achieved in conjunction with other types

of multiple access techniques such as FDMA, TDMA and CDMA.

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FDMA TDMA

(d) SDMA
CDMA
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▪ Pre-assigned multiple access (PAMA)
▪ Demand assigned multiple access (DAMA)
▪ Random multiple access (RMA)

Pre-assigned multiple access (PAMA)

➢ The transponder is assigned to the individual user either permanently for the
satellite’s full lifetime or at least for long durations. The pre-assignment may be
that of a certain frequency band, time slot or a code.
Disadvantages:
When it is used infrequently:
▪ costly to the user
▪ not optimum link utilization.

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Demand assigned multiple access (DAMA)
➢ Allows multiple users to share a common link wherein each user is only required
to put up a request to the control station when it requires the link to be used. The
channel frequency is assigned from the available frequencies within the
transponder bandwidth.
Advantages:
▪ cost effective for small users (pay only for the time it actually use).
▪ optimum link utilization.

Random multiple access (RMA)

➢ A user transmits the messages without knowing the status of messages from
other users (access by contention).
Disadvantages:
▪ data from multiple users may collide (when collision is detected, the data are
retransmitted, may be several times).
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➢ Different Earth stations are able to access the total available bandwidth of satellite

transponder by virtue of their different carrier frequencies, thus avoiding

interference among multiple signals.

Fig 6.1 shows case of satellite system with 12

transponders. Each transponder having BW=36
The BW of each transponder can be
MHz and 4 MHz guard bands between transponders. 11
divided between multiple users by FDMA
Basic concepts of FDMA (Fig.6.2) in satellite communications:

▪ Each of the Earth stations within the satellite’s footprint transmits one or more

message signals at different carrier frequencies. Each carrier is assigned a small

guard band to avoid overlapping of adjacent carriers.

▪ The satellite transponder receives all carrier frequencies within its bandwidth,

does the necessary frequency translation and amplification and then retransmits

them back towards Earth.

▪ Different received Earth stations are capable of selecting the carrier frequency

containing messages of their interest

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FDMA Techniques
Single channel per carrier (SCPC)
Each baseband signal channel modulates a separate RF carrier, which is then
transmitted to the FDMA transponder.
Common forms of SCPC:
▪ SCPC/FM/FDMA System (analog modulation)
▪ SCPC/PSK/FDMA System (digital modulation)

Multichannel per carrier (MCPC)

The Earth station multiplexes several baseband signal channels into one carrier
baseband assembly, which then frequency modulates an RF carrier and transmits it
to an FDMA satellite transponder.
Based on the used multiplexing and modulation techniques, there are two forms:
▪ MCPC/FDM/FM/FDMA system
▪ MCPC/PCM-TDM/PSK/FDMA system

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FDMA Techniques (Cont.)

➢ SCPC system is particularly used on thin route satellite communication networks.

In a thin-route circuit, a transponder bandwidth may be occupied by a number of
single carriers, each associated with its own voice circuit.
➢ It enables Earth stations (e.g, remote ESs in sparsely populated areas) to access
and share the capacity of the transponder using smaller and more economic units
as compared to multiple channels per carrier systems.

➢ Though it suffers from the problem of power limitation resulting from the use of
multiple carriers and the associated intermodulation problems.

➢ Since Larger number of carriers causes more intermodulation products, MCPC is

suitable for limited access use.

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FDMA Advantages
▪ Simplicity of Earth station equipment
▪ No complex timing and synchronizing techniques are required.

FDMA Disadvantages
▪ intermodulation problems with its adverse effect on the signal-to-noise ratio

➢ Intermodulation products result mainly from the non-linear characteristics of the

travelling wave tube amplifier (TWTA) of the transponder (Power amplifier), which
is required to amplify a large number of carrier frequencies.

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➢ Considering number of carriers that can access the satellite transponder, the
FDMA system can either be power-limited or bandwidth limited.

The maximum number of carriers that can access the transponder is given by:
𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐵𝑇𝑅 /𝐵𝐶

where 𝐵𝑇𝑅 is the total transponder bandwidth and 𝐵𝐶 is the carrier bandwidth.

Bandwidth Limited FDMA

If the EIRP is sufficient to meet the (𝐶∕𝑁) requirements, then the system can support
(𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥 ) carriers. Any increase in the transponder EIRP will not improve on this, and
the system is said to be bandwidth-limited.
Power Limited FDMA
If the EIRP is insufficient to meet the (𝐶∕𝑁) requirements, the number of carriers that
can access the satellite is less than (𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥 ).
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 The overall carrier-to-noise ratio for a satellite link should be larger than or equal the
required value: 𝐶 𝐶
≥
𝑁 𝑂𝑉 𝑁 𝑅𝐸𝑄
Usually carrier-to-noise ratio for uplink is much greater than that for downlink, So:
𝐶 𝐶
≅
𝑁 𝑂𝑉 𝑁 𝐷
𝐶 𝐶
≥
𝑁 𝐷 𝑁 𝑅𝐸𝑄

B:signal bandwidth

In the case of single carrier per transponder, the satellite will have saturation value of EIRP
(𝐸𝐼𝑅𝑃sat ) and transponder bandwidth of 𝐵𝑇𝑅 . There is no back-off.

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Consider the case of multiple carriers systems having n carriers with each carrier sharing
the output power equally and having a bandwidth of B. The output back-off is given by [𝐵𝑂]𝑜 .
The output power for each of the FDMA carriers is given by:

𝐸𝐼𝑅𝑃 𝐷 = 𝐸𝐼𝑅𝑃 𝑆𝐴𝑇 − 𝐵𝑂 𝑜 − 𝑛

Due to power limitation imposed by the need of back-off, the whole bandwidth is not utilized.
Let us assume that the fraction of the bandwidth utilized is alpha (𝛼). Therefore,
𝑛𝐵 = 𝛼𝐵𝑇𝑅

𝑛 = 𝛼 + 𝐵𝑇𝑅 − 𝐵

Total

➢ The best that can be achieved in a multiple carrier per transponder system is
to make [𝛼]= −[𝐵𝑂]𝑜 . 18
Example: A satellite transponder has a bandwidth of 36 MHz and a EIRPsat of 27
dBW. The ES receiver has a G/T ratio of 30 dB/K, and the total link losses are 196 dB.
The transponder is accessed by FDMA carriers each of 3-MHz bandwidth, and 6-dB
output back-off is employed.
a) Calculate the downlink C/N ratio for single-carrier operation
b) Calculate the number of carriers which can be accommodated.
c) Compare this with the number which could be accommodated if no back-off were
needed.
d) Test the value C/N ratio for cases in (b) and (c)
e) Test the value of C/N ratio if the number of carriers obtained in (c) are used along
with [𝐵𝑂]𝑜 of 6 dB employed.

Solution (a)

D
[𝐶/𝑁]𝐷 = 27 + 30 − 196 − −228.6 − 10 log 36 × 106 = 14 dB

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Solution

(b) If back-off employed: [𝛼]= −[𝐵𝑂]𝑜

𝑛 = 𝛼 + 𝐵𝑇𝑅 − 𝐵

𝑛 = −6 + 75.56 − 10 log 3 × 106 = 4.79 dB

4.79
𝑛= 10 10 =3

(c) If no back-off was required:

𝐵𝑇𝑅 36
𝑛𝑚𝑎𝑥 = = = 12
𝐵 3

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Solution (cont.)
d) Test the value of C/N ratio for cases in (b) and (c)
For n=3, 𝑩𝑶 𝒐 =6 dB
Used B=3x3MHz= 9 MHz
𝐺
[𝐶/𝑁]𝐷 = [𝐸𝐼𝑅𝑃]𝑆𝐴𝑇 − 𝑩𝑶 𝑜+ − 𝐿𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝐷 − k − 𝑩
𝑇 𝐷
= 27 − 6 + 30 − 196 − −228.6 − 10 log 9 × 106 = 𝟏𝟒 𝐝𝐁
(achieve the required)
For n=12, and no back off
𝐺
[𝐶/𝑁]𝐷 = [𝐸𝐼𝑅𝑃]𝑆𝐴𝑇 + − 𝐿𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝐷 − k − 𝑩𝑻𝑹
𝑇 𝐷
= 27 + 30 − 196 − −228.6 − 10 log 36 × 106 = 𝟏𝟒 𝐝𝐁
(achieve the required)

e) Test the value of C/N ratio if the number of carriers obtained in (c) are used along
with [𝐵𝑂]𝑜 of 6 dB employed.
For n=12, Used BW is 𝐵𝑇𝑅 ,and 𝐵𝑂 𝑜 =6 dB employed:
𝐺
[𝐶/𝑁]𝐷 = [𝐸𝐼𝑅𝑃]𝑆𝐴𝑇 − 𝐵𝑂 𝑜+ − 𝐿𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝐷 − k − 𝐵𝑇𝑅
𝑇 𝐷
= 27 − 6 + 30 − 196 − −228.6 − 10 log 36 × 106 = 8.04 dB 21
Thanks for attention

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