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At least 505 records · Page 28

Comparative study of FDMA, TDMA and hybrid 30/20 GHz satellite communications systems for small users

This study compares several satellite uplink and downlink accessing schemes for a Customer Premises Service. Four conceptual system designs are presented: Satellite-Routed FDMA, Frequency-Routed TDMA, Satellite-Switched TDMA, and Processor-Routed TDMA, operating in the 30/20 GHz band. The designs are compared on the basis of estimated satellite weight, power consumption, and cost. The system capacities are analyzed for a fixed multibeam coverage of CONUS. Analysis shows that the system capacity is limited by the available satellite resources and by the terminal size and cost.

Berk, G.↗

Public Service Communications Satellite User Requirements Workshop

Information on user requirements for public service communications was acquired to provide the basis of a study to determine the optimum satellite system to satisfy user requirements. The concept for such a system is described: Topics discussed included requirements for data and message services, elementary and secondary education, extension and continuing education, environmental communications, library services, medical education, medical services, public broadcasting, public safety, religious applications, state and local communications, and voluntary services. Information was also obtained on procedures to follow to make the transfer to commercial services.

Wolff, E. A.↗

Determination of the Required Number of Randomly Spaced Communication Satellites

An investigation has been made f o r determining the minimum number of passive satellites i n near-earth orbits required t o provide given percentages of communication time between two selected ground stations. The study is limited to the geometrical and probability aspects of the problem. An application of the analysis i s made f o r an assumed transatlantic communication system. The satellites are considered t o be i n circular, randomly spaced orbits with fixed inclination and altitude considered range from 1,000 t o 3,000 statute miles.

Bennett, Floyd V.↗

K-Band Phased Array Developed for Low- Earth-Orbit Satellite Communications

Future rapid deployment of low- and medium-Earth-orbit satellite constellations that will offer various narrow- to wide-band wireless communications services will require phased-array antennas that feature wide-angle and superagile electronic steering of one or more antenna beams. Antennas, which employ monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC), are perfectly suited for this application. Under a cooperative agreement, an MMIC-based, K-band phased-array antenna is being developed with 50/50 cost sharing by the NASA Lewis Research Center and Raytheon Systems Company. The transmitting array, which will operate at 19 gigahertz (GHz), is a state-of-the-art design that features dual, independent, electronically steerable beam operation ( 42 ), a stand-alone thermal management, and a high-density tile architecture. This array can transmit 622 megabits per second (Mbps) in each beam from Earth orbit to small Earth terminals. The weight of the total array package is expected to be less than 8 lb. The tile integration technology (flip chip MMIC tile) chosen for this project represents a major advancement in phased-array engineering and holds much promise for reducing manufacturing costs.

Anzic, Godfrey↗

System analysis for millimeter-wave communication satellites

Research and development needs for millimeter-wave space communication systems are presented. Assumed propagation fade statistics are investigated along with high data rate diversity link and storage. The development of reliable ferrite switches, and high performance receivers and transmitters is discussed, in addition to improved tolerance of dish and lens fabrication for the antennas. The typical cost for using a simplex voice channel via a high capacity 40/50 GHz satellite is presented.

Holland, L. D.↗

The use of geostationary platforms for future U.S. domestic satellite communications

Quantitative analyses of the relative costs and utilization of the available geostationary orbital arc and radio spectrum allocations between large spacecraft platforms and future individual satellites used for communications in the U.S. and the Atlantic Basin are presented. Attention is given to the high capacity and the switching capabilities of the platforms, and the frequency ranges (6/4, 14/12, and 30/20 GHz) at which they can operate. In addition, characteristics of conventional satellites, earth station design, and the connectivity of satellite systems are discussed.

Fordyce, S.↗

Study on networking issues of medium earth orbit satellite communications systems

Two networking issues of communications systems with medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites, namely network architectures and location determination and registration methods for hand-held terminals, are investigated in this paper. For network architecture, five candidate architectures are considered and evaluated in terms of signaling traffic. For location determination and registration, two methods are discussed and evaluated.

Araki, Noriyuki↗

Performance and operational considerations in the design of vehicle antennas for mobile satellite communications

This paper examines the vehicle antenna requirements for mobile satellite systems. The antenna parameters are discussed in the light of the requirements and the limitations in performance imposed by the physical constraints of antenna and by vehicle geometries. Measurements of diffraction and antenna noise temperature in an operational environment are examined, as well as their effects on system margins. Mechanical versus electronic designs are compared with regards to performance, cost, reliability, and design complexity. Comparisons between open-loop and close-loop tracking systems are made and the effects of bandwidth, sidelobe levels, operational constraints, vehicle angular velocity, and acceleration are discussed. Some consideration is given to the use of hybrid systems employing both open and closed-loop tracking. Changes to antenna/terminal specifications are recommended which will provide greater design flexibility and increase the likelihood of meeting the performance and operational requirements.

Milne, R.↗

Design and Implementation of a Lunar Communications Satellite and Server for the 2012 SISO Smackdown

Last year, the Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization (SISO) inaugurated the now annual High Level Architecture (HLA) Smackdown at the Spring Simulation Interoperability Workshop (SIW). A primary objective of the Smackdown event is to provide college students with hands-on experience in the High Level Architecture (HLA). The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAHuntsville) fielded teams in 2011 and 2012. Both the 2011 and 2012 smackdown scenarios were a lunar resupply mission. The 2012 UAHuntsville fielded four federates: a communications network Federate called Lunar Communications and Navigation Satellite Service (LCANServ) for sending and receiving messages, a Lunar Satellite Constellation (LCANSat) to put in place radios needed by the communications network for Line-Of-Sight communication calculations, and 3D graphical displays of the orbiting satellites and a 3D visualization of the lunar surface activities. This paper concentrates on the first two federates by describing the functions, algorithms, the modular FOM, experiences, lessons learned and recommendations for future Smackdown events.

Bulgatz, Dennis↗

Masers for the telstar satellite communications experiment

This paper discusses the design and characteristics of ruby traveling-wave masers operating at 4 gc. These masers, characterized by an average gain of ≈35 db over a bandwidth of 25 mc, are equipped with waveguide input transmission lines, rather than the previously employed coaxial cables. This change results in an over-all noise temperature of 3.5°K for these devices, rather than the 10°K exhibited by earlier masers. The maser noise temperature now closely approximates sky temperatures, which set the ultimate limit on earthbound receiver sensitivity. The improvements to be had by further reduction in amplifier noise are therefore almost negligible. A less well known maser property, i.e., its freedom from distortion, even when driven well into gain saturation, is discussed.

TELSTAR SATELLITE↗

Results of thin-route satellite communication system analyses including estimated service costs

Ways for determining optimum satellite and terrestrial system architectures and parameters for providing the most economical telephone service to remote areas of the U.S. are explored. Several configurations for an isolated rural telephone system, covering all the states plus Alaska, employing satellites is considered. Both direct-to-the-user and community-type of systems are evaluated using UHF and Ku-band RF equipment for the rural/satellite links. The effect of multiple spot beams, outage, signal quality, modulation method, satellite accessing, forward error correction, and the number of users are also evaluated. The total cost for a 5-minute call from an isolated rural user to a TELCO user was shown to be as low as $1.30 for a system with 1.8 X 10 to the sixth rural users.

Wright, D. L.↗

A microprocessor based high speed packet switch for satellite communications, executive summary

The feasibility of using microprocessors to control satellite-borne packet switching was investigated by designing a packet switch architecture suitable for microprocessor control, using 2900 series components to design the processor(s), and evaluating the packet switch in terms of system throughput, delay, and queue sizes without the packet switch. System architecture for one, three, and multiple processors was designed and evaluated. The production cost of the single processor packet switch is estimated at $500,000, excluding cost of development. The three processor version which can support a maximum throughput of 500,000 packets/sec is estimated to have a production cost of under $100,000. For the multiple processor system, cost is believed to be proportional to throughput, with $1,000,000 for 500,000 packets/sec being the proportionality factor.

Arozullah, M.↗

On board processing for future satellite communications systems: Comparison of FDM, TDM and hybrid accessing schemes

Several satellite uplink and downlink accessing schemes for customer premises service are compared. Four conceptual system designs are presented: satellite-routed frequency division multiple access (FDMA), satellite-switched time division multiple access (TDMA), processor-routed TDMA, and frequency-routed TDMA, operating in the 30/20 GHz band. The designs are compared on the basis of estimated satellite weight, system capacity, power consumption, and cost. The systems are analyzed for fixed multibeam coverage of the continental United States. Analysis shows that the system capacity is limited by the available satellite resources and by the terminal size and cost.

Berk, G.↗

Trellis phase codes for power-bandwith efficient satellite communications

Support work on improved power and spectrum utilization on digital satellite channels was performed. Specific attention is given to the class of signalling schemes known as continuous phase modulation (CPM). The specific work described in this report addresses: analytical bounds on error probability for multi-h phase codes, power and bandwidth characterization of 4-ary multi-h codes, and initial results of channel simulation to assess the impact of band limiting filters and nonlinear amplifiers on CPM performance.

Wilson, S. G.↗