The Satellite Communication Ground Segment And Earth Station Handbook

by Bruce R. Elbert, Albert

Overview

From international telephone network gateways to direct broadcast home receivers, today's broad range of ground systems and devices require satellite communication engineers and business managers to have a broad and sound understanding of the design and operating principles of earth stations and ground control facilities. The book is the first to explore the delivery end of the satellite link and its relationship to delivery of services.

Authored by a leading authority in the field, the book provides you with the knowledge you need to devise your own approach to implementing and managing earth stations and the overall ground segment.
You find practical guidance in an array of critical areas, including: preparing requirements, performing preliminary analyses, reviewing hardware designs, managing the introduction of the overall ground segment, and more. In over 400 pages with nearly 200 illustrations, this valuable book covers dozens of essential topics, including...

> Earth station and ground segment design philosophy and principles

> GEO and non-GEO satellite orbit configurations

> Video, data, and digital audio, and multimedia transmission

> Uplink power control, RF Filtering, decoding, and Internet interfaces

> Major earth station configurations and antennas

> Building design, environmental concerns, and O&M principles

> Supplier negotiations, cost evaluation, and support services

Plus, you find informative case studies, insightful ideas for "future-proofing" earth stations, and much more!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781580530460
Publisher:	Artech House, Incorporated
Publication date:	10/31/2000
Series:	Space Technology and Applications Library
Pages:	388
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.88(d)

About the Author

Bruce Elbert is Managing Director of Applications Strategy Consulting. He received his M.S. from University of Maryland and his M.B.A. from Pepperdine University. He is the author several books, including The Satellite Applications Handbook and Introduction to Satellite Communications, Second Edition, both published by Artech House.

Table of Contents

	Preface	xiii
1	Introduction to the Satellite Communication Ground Segment	1
1.1	First Space Application of Radio	3
1.2	Microwave and Radar Development	5
1.3	First Satellite Earth Stations	8
1.4	Commercialization of the Ground Segment	9
1.5	Rapid Developments	13
1.6	Introduction of Consumer Terminals and Applications	16
1.7	Ground Segments in the Twenty-First Century	18
	References	20
2	Earth Station Design Philosophy	21
2.1	The Major Earth Station	21
2.2	User Terminals	25
2.3	Design Principles	26
2.3.1	Microwave Systems Engineering	27
2.3.2	Modem Design	32
2.3.3	Multiple-Access Control	36
2.3.4	End-to-End Satellite Networks	40
2.3.5	Satellite Systems Engineering and Operation	41
	References	43
3	Space-Ground Interface Requirements	45
3.1	GEO Satellites and Orbit Slots	48
3.1.1	Link Characteristics with Link Budgets	48
3.1.2	Orbit Spacing	57
3.2	Non-GEO Constellations	60
3.2.1	Constellation Characteristics	61
3.2.2	Continuity-of-Service Issues	62
3.2.3	Link Characteristics for Non-GEO Systems	63
	References	65
4	Two-Way Communications Service Requirements	67
4.1	Fixed Telephony Voice Networks	70
4.1.1	Bandwidth and Quality	73
4.1.2	Delay and Latency	81
4.1.3	Traffic Engineering and Capacity	84
4.1.4	Service Management	87
4.1.5	Synchronization with Terrestrial Networks	90
4.1.6	Signaling in Telephone Networks	92
4.2	VSAT Data Networks	95
4.2.1	VSAT Network Topologies	95
4.2.2	Computer Network Requirements	97
4.2.3	Hub-Based VSAT Networks	104
4.2.4	Mesh VSAT Networks	107
	References	108
5	One-Way (Broadcast) Service Requirements	111
5.1	Video Broadcasting	112
5.1.1	MPEG-2 Compression	115
5.1.2	Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) Standard	121
5.2	Data Broadcasting	125
5.2.1	Data Broadcasting with the DVB Standard	127
5.2.2	Proprietary IP Satellite Multicasting	128
5.3	Digital Audio Broadcasting	129
5.3.1	DAB Requirements	130
5.3.2	Link Margin in DAB	131
5.3.3	Vehicular Terminal Concepts	131
	References	133
6	Ground Segment Baseband Architecture	135
6.1	Architecture Definition and Design	137
6.1.1	Meeting the Service Objectives	138
6.1.2	Quality of Service (QoS) in Broadband Networks	141
6.1.3	Capacity and Distribution of Services	143
6.2	Baseband Architecture	146
6.2.1	User Interface or Access to Content	147
6.2.2	Backhaul Circuits	148
6.2.3	Terrestrial Interface	149
6.2.4	Information Preprocessing for the Baseband Equipment	150
6.2.5	Multiplexing or Packet Routing	150
6.2.6	Multiple Access Processing and Control	151
6.2.7	Modulation and Demodulation	152
6.2.8	Bandwidth Management	153
6.2.9	Service Management	154
6.3	Baseband and Modem Equipment	154
6.3.1	Baseband Equipment Design	156
6.3.2	Modulation Systems and Modem Design	157
	References	165
7	Earth Station RF Design and Equipment	167
7.1	Uplink Design and the EIRP Budget	167
7.2	Uplink Power Control	169
7.3	Transmit Gain Budget	172
7.4	Downlink G/T and RF Level Analysis	176
7.4.1	Downlink Noise Temperature Allocation	176
7.4.2	G/T Budget	181
7.4.3	Gain Budget	182
7.5	Antenna and Microwave Design	183
7.5.1	Waveguides and Transmission Lines	184
7.5.2	Horns and Other Single-Element Antennas	191
7.5.3	Reflector Antennas	196
7.5.4	Main Beam, Sidelobe, and Cross-Polarization Performance	208
7.5.5	RF Filtering and Multiplexing	212
7.6	High-Power Amplification	215
7.6.1	Amplifier Technology	215
7.6.2	Application Guidelines	220
7.7	Up- and Down-Conversion	222
	References	225
8	Signal Impairments and Analysis Tools	227
8.1	Allocation of Digital Signal Impairments Between Space and Ground	228
8.1.1	Intermodulation Noise	230
8.1.2	Amplitude Versus Frequency Distortion	233
8.1.3	Group Delay Distortion	234
8.1.4	Amplitude and Phase Nonlinearity	236
8.1.5	Frequency Stability and Phase Noise	237
8.2	Software Design Tools	241
8.2.1	Orbit Visualization (STK)	242
8.2.2	Detailed Link Budget (SatMaster)	244
8.2.3	Signal Simulation and Communication Analysis Software Tools	247
	References	251
9	Fixed and Mobile User Terminals	253
9.1	General Configurations	255
9.1.1	RF Terminal	257
9.1.2	Baseband	257
9.1.3	User Interface	258
9.2	Antennas for User Terminals	259
9.2.1	Directional Antennas	260
9.2.2	Omnidirectional antennas	263
9.3	Power Amplifiers	265
9.4	Baseband Functions	276
9.4.1	Software Design Process	278
9.4.2	Software-Defined Radio Applications	279
9.5	Fixed Terminals	283
9.5.1	Receive-Only (TVRO)	283
9.5.2	Fixed Transmit-Receive Terminal (VSAT)	286
9.5.3	VSAT Installation Considerations	287
9.6	Design Requirements for Portable and Handheld Terminals	289
	References	294
10	Earth Station Facility Design and Site Selection	295
10.1	Prime Power and Uninterruptible Power Systems	298
10.2	Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning	302
10.3	Building Design and Construction	303
10.4	Grounding and Lightning Control	307
10.4.1	Principles of Grounding and Noise Control	308
10.4.2	Lightning Protection	309
10.5	Radio Frequency Clearance and Interference Analysis	311
10.5.1	Role of the ITU in Frequency Coordination	312
10.5.2	Terrestrial Interference and Coordination	314
10.5.3	Interference Entries	316
10.5.4	Analysis Methods	318
10.6	Site Selection	323
	References	325
11	Principles of Effective Operations and Maintenance	327
11.1	Structure of Earth Station O&M	332
11.1.1	Operations Organization	332
11.1.2	Preventive Maintenance	333
11.1.3	Corrective Maintenance	335
11.2	Earth Station Alignment With the Satellite	340
11.2.1	Prequalification of a Transmitting Earth Station	342
11.2.2	Uplink Access Test Prior to Service	345
11.2.3	Network Monitoring and Control During Service	348
11.3	Service Support for User Terminals	349
11.4	Management of O&M	350
11.5	A Final Word	352
	References	352
	About the Author	355
	Index	357

Editorial Reviews

A satellite and information technology consultant presents a handbook addressing the history, requirements, systems engineering, hardware design, operations, and maintenance of earth stations and user terminals. Focusing on solid coverage of the technology and implementation issues for the ground segment rather than detailing each element, the author reviews the system and suggests references for subsequent analysis and selection of the appropriate design approach. Coverage includes an introduction to the ground segment; earth station design philosophy; space-ground interface requirements; two-way communications service requirements; one-way (broadcast) service requirements; ground segment baseband architecture; earth station RF design and equipment; signal impairment and analysis tools; fixed and mobile user terminals; earth station facility design and site selection; and principles of effective operations and maintenance. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews