EARTH STATION TECHNOLOGY Revision 5, June 1999
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EARTH STATION TECHNOLOGY Revision 5, June 1999 FOREWORD This handbook has been prepared under INTELSAT's Assistance and Development Program (IADP). It is also used as a reference handbook for courses on Earth station communications technology organized under the INTELSAT Signatory Training Program (ISTP). The handbook is updated from time to time. Address any questions or suggestions to: Manager Application Support and Training (IADP/ISTP) Mail Stop 20B INTELSAT 3400 International Drive, NW Washington, DC 20008-3098 Telephone: +1 202 944 7070 Facsimile: +1 202 944 8214 Telex: (WUT) 89-2707 International Telex: (WUI) 64290 First printed: April 1983 Revision 1: January 1984 Revision 2: September 1985 Revision 3: November 1987 Revision 4: March 1995 Revision 5: June 1999 INTELSAT Earth Station Technology Table of Contents CONTENTS Chapter 1 - SATELLITE ORBITS..................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Orbits ..................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Stabilization............................................................................................................ 5 1.4 Position ..................................................................................................................5 1.5 Frequency Bands................................................................................................... 5 1.6 Time Delay............................................................................................................. 8 1.7 Geographical Advantage........................................................................................ 9 1.8 Path Loss ............................................................................................................... 9 1.9 Sun Interference................................................................................................... 11 1.10 Tropospheric Scintillation ..................................................................................... 12 Chapter 2 - INTELSAT SATELLITES............................................. 13 2.1 INTELSAT SYSTEM ............................................................................................ 13 2.2 SATELLITE DESIGN ........................................................................................... 16 2.3 INTELSAT SATELLITE SERIES.......................................................................... 25 2.4 Summary.............................................................................................................. 44 Chapter 3 - EARTH STATION ANTENNAS .................................. 45 3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 45 3.2 Antenna Configurations........................................................................................ 45 3.3 Antenna Mounts................................................................................................... 50 3.4 Dish Antennas Geometry ..................................................................................... 52 3.5 Antenna Parameters ............................................................................................ 52 3.6 Antenna Standards .............................................................................................. 57 3.7 Entry of Earth Stations into the INTELSAT System.............................................. 60 3.8 INTELSAT Documentation................................................................................... 61 3.9 Earth Station Site Selection.................................................................................. 64 Chapter 4 - ANTENNA TRACKING............................................... 73 4.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 73 4.2 Satellite Stationkeeping........................................................................................ 73 4.3 Look Angles to Geostationary Satellites............................................................... 76 4.4 IESS 412.............................................................................................................. 79 4.5 Antenna Gain Rolloff ............................................................................................ 80 4.6 Tracking Systems................................................................................................. 82 4.7 Student Question Paper....................................................................................... 91 Chapter 5 - POWER AMPLIFIERS................................................ 93 5.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 93 5.2 Power Rating........................................................................................................ 93 5.3 Types of Power Amplifiers.................................................................................... 93 5.4 Power Combining (Multiplexing)......................................................................... 118 5.5 Common Terminology Used with Power Amplifiers ........................................... 123 5.6 Student Question Paper..................................................................................... 124 Last Updated: 04 June 1999 Page i of 244 Doc. No.: ESTECH-1999-HNDBK-103 Verify document currency before use. Pub. Rel. No.: 5 INTELSAT Earth Station Technology Table of Contents CONTENTS (cont.) Chapter 6 - LOW-NOISE AMPLIFIERS....................................... 125 6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 125 6.2 Noise.................................................................................................................. 125 6.3 FET Amplifiers.................................................................................................... 128 Chapter 7 -FREQUENCY CONVERTERS................................... 131 7.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 131 7.2 Frequency Conversion Principle ........................................................................ 131 7.3 Frequency Converters........................................................................................ 133 7.4 Student Question Paper..................................................................................... 142 Chapter 8 - EARTH STATION TEST EQUIPMENT and MEASUREMENT UNITS ...................................................... 145 8.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 145 8.2 Power Meter....................................................................................................... 145 8.3 Frequency Counter ............................................................................................ 147 8.4 Microwave Link Analyzer.................................................................................... 148 8.5 BER Test Set ..................................................................................................... 154 8.6 Spectrum Analyzer............................................................................................. 156 8.7 Measurement Units............................................................................................ 160 8.8 Student Question Paper..................................................................................... 163 Chapter 9 - EARTH STATION DESIGN ...................................... 165 9.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 165 9.2 Performance Objectives..................................................................................... 165 9.3 Link Budget ........................................................................................................ 165 9.4 Examples ........................................................................................................... 183 9.5 Student Question Paper..................................................................................... 190 Chapter 10 - ENGINEERING SERVICE CIRCUIT (ESC) and POWER PLANT................................................................... 191 10.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 191 10.1 Student Question Paper................................................................................... 213 APPENDIX A -WAVEGUIDES AND FEEDS................................ 215 Last Updated: 04 June 1999 Page ii of 244 Doc. No.: ESTECH-1999-HNDBK-103 Verify document currency before use. Pub. Rel. No.: 5 INTELSAT Earth Station Technology Chapter 1 –Satellite Orbits CHAPTER 1 SATELLITE ORBITS 1.1 Introduction The concept of a global telecommunications system using satellites was put forward first in an article for the British Magazine "Wireless World" in May 1945 by the science fiction author, Arthur C. Clarke. A brief extract from this article addressing the issue of orbital location for geostationary communications satellites is quoted below. "All these problems can be solved by the use of a chain of space-stations with an