Telecommunications Engineering Lab

Telecommunications Engineering Lab
Lab No : 08
Title : Satellite Link Design

Submitted By:
Name : Tamim Ahmed
ID : 18-38731-3
Section : D
Course Teacher: Dr. Mir Mohammad
Nazmul Arefin
Date : 01-12-2021
Title: Satellite Link Design.
Introduction:
Communications through Satellite Technology is one of the major radio systems which are used
as a long-distance transmission network. Artificial Earth’s Satellites act as repeater stations in
the deep space (normally about 36,000 km above the surface of the earth). A long-distance
network through satellite link is designed and established through GEO satellites.
Objective:
The objective of this experiment was to
• estimate the earth station-satellite-earth station link budget,
• consider both single carrier and multi-carrier per transponder,
• analyze based on specific parameters for carrier modulation, satellite and earth station.
Theory and Methodology:

Long-Distance Network through Satellite Technology
The used frequencies for long-distance network through satellite link are in C-band (6-4 GHz),
and Ku band (14-12 GHz). The geostationary orbit is now employed for most commercial
satellites because of the following advantages:
• The satellite remains stationary with respect to one point on earth. Therefore, the earth
station antenna is not required to track the satellite periodically. Instead, the earth station
antenna beam can be accurately aimed toward the satellite by using the elevation angle
and the azimuth angle. This reduces the station's cost considerably.
• With a 5° minimum elevation angle of the earth station antenna, the geostationary
satellite can cover almost 38% of the surface of the earth.
• Three geostationary satellites (120° apart) can cover the entire surface of the earth with
some overlapping, except for the polar regions above latitudes 76°N and 76°S, assuming
a 50 minimum elevation angle.
• The Doppler shift caused by a satellite drifting in orbit (because of the gravitational
attraction of the moon and the sun) is small for all the earth stations within the
geostationary satellite coverage. This is desirable for many synchronous digital systems.
The following figures show respectively a basic satellite in system level and link level.
The transmitting earth station transmits the carrier s(t) whose power is simply the EIRP of
the carrier given by
𝐸𝐼𝑅𝑃 = 𝑃𝑡 𝐺𝑡 (7.1)
where Pt is the carrier power at antenna feed, and Gt is the transmit antenna gain.
Figure 7.1: Basic satellite system.
Figure 7.2: Basic satellite link.
We assume that the transmission occurs under clear-sky conditions, and that the only attenuation
the carrier s(t) suffers is the uplink free space loss, the atmospheric attenuation and the antenna
tracking loss. The uplink free space loss is given by
(7.2)
where du = uplink slant range (m)

λu = uplink wavelength (m) fu =
uplink carrier frequency (Hz) c =
speed of light = 3 x 108 m/s
If su(t) is the carrier received at the satellite, and nu(t) is the AWGN with zero mean that
contaminates the uplink carrier su(t), then the received carrier plus noise at the satellite is su(t) +
nu(t). Taking satellite antenna gain as Gu, the uplink carrier power is
where E[·] denotes the expected value, and L is the sum of the antenna tracking loss and
atmospheric attenuation. Note that the uplink signal received by the satellite and the downlink
signal received by the earth station are very weak and affected by the ever-present AWGN.
The uplink noise power is given as
where
Tu = satellite system noise temperature (K) and can be calculated from the noise
temperature of the satellite antenna (which is about 290 K since the antenna always sees a
hot earth) B = noise bandwidth of satellite channel (Hz) k = Boltzmann's constant = 1.38 x
10-23 J/K .
Hence, the uplink carrier-to-noise ratio is
The parameter Gu/Tu is the satellite antenna gain-to-noise temperature ratio. Note that the carrier
power flux density,
So that the uplink carrier-to-noise ratio can be calculated if either the carrier EIRP is given, or
the power flux density at the satellite is given. Recall that the received carrier plus noise at the
satellite is su(t) + nu(t). This carrier-plus noise is amplified and down converted by the satellite
communications receiver down converter and then amplified again by the satellite TWTA and
retransmitted back to earth by the satellite antenna.
Denote the retransmitted carrier-plus-noise by sû (t ) + nû (t ) which possesses the same carrier-to-
noise ratio (C/N)u given before as the received carrier plus noise su(t) + nu(t). Let EIRPs be the
satellite EIRP (or power) of the retransmitted carrier sû (t ) , that is, = E [𝑠̂𝑢2(𝑡)] =
𝐸𝐼𝑅𝑃𝑠 . Then the power of the accompanied uplink noise nû (t ) is
The received carrier plus noise at the receive earth station is sû (t ) + nû (t )+ nd (t ) where sû (t )
and nû (t ) are the attenuated versions of sû (t ) and nû (t ) respectively, and nd(t) is the additional
independent downlink AWGN with zero mean that further contaminates sû (t ) After taking into
account the free space loss Ld, the antenna tracking loss and the atmospheric attenuation on the
downlink L', and the receive antenna gain G of the earth station, the power of the carrier sû (t ) at
the receive earth station is
where dd = downlink slant range (m)

fd = downlink carrier frequency
(Hz)
L' = antenna tracking loss and atmospheric attenuation
G = receive antenna gain of the earth station
The power of the accompanied uplink noise nû (t ) appearing on the downlink is
The downlink noise power is given as
where T = earth station system noise temperature (K) and can be evaluated as follows where T =
Ts.
Denote Ts is the noise temperature of a noise source, located at the input of a noiseless receiver,
which gives the same noise power as the original receiver, measured at the receiver output. The
equivalent noise source Ts is usually located at the input to the receiver, replacing the antenna.
The noise power at the demodulator input is
𝑃𝑛 = 𝑘𝑇𝑠𝐵𝐺 (7.8)
where G is the gain of the receiver from RF input to demodulator input. The antenna delivers a
signal power Pr to the receiver at the input to the RF section. The signal power at the demodulator
input is PrGr.
The carrier-to-noise ratio at the demodulator is given by
To calculate the System Noise Temperature, the noisy devices in the receiver are replaced by a
single noise source with temperature Ts. Thus amplifiers and frequency converter are noiseless.
The total noise power at the output of the IF amplifier is given by
Figure 7.3: Earth station receiver.
Figure 7.4: Equivalent circuit of receiver. The noisy amplifiers and down-converter have
been replaced by noiseless units, with equivalent noise generators at their inputs.
Noiseless amplifier
Figure 7.5: Equivalent circuit of receiver. All noisy units have been replaced by one
noiseless amplifier, with a single noise source Ts as its input.
GIF, Gm, and GRF are the gains of the IF amplifier, mixer, and RF amplifier, and TIF, Tm, and TRF
are their equivalent noise temperatures. Tin is the noise temperature of the antenna, measured at
the receiver input. Rewriting the equation as
A single source of noise, with noise temperature Ts, would generate the same noise power Pn at
the output of the IF amplifier.
Note that succeeding stages of the receiver contribute less and less noise as the gain from
each stage is added in. Frequently, the noise contributed by the IF amplifier and later
stages can be ignored. Thus the composite noise power at the receive earth station is
The carrier-to-noise ratio of the overall satellite link (uplink and downlink) is therefore
given as follows.
Let
The above equation provides the fundamental analysis of a satellite link where the satellite
transponder is a classical frequency translating repeater. In this type of satellite transponder the
uplink noise adds directly to the downlink noise, and the uplink is said to be coupled to the
downlink.
Note that, if (C/N)u >>(C/N)d, then C/N ≈ (C/N)d. In this case the satellite link is said to be
downlink-limited. This is the common case in satellite communications. When the reverse
situation occurs, that is, (C/N)u <<(C/N)d, then C/N ≈ (C/N)u, and the satellite link is said to be
uplink-limited.
In link analysis, the carrier EIRP, or its power flux density Ω at the satellite and the satellite EIRP
for the retransmitted carrier are normally given with respect to the operating point of the
transponder TWTA. The operating point where the TWTA output power is maximum is called
the saturation point. In many cases the TWTA is operated below the saturation point to avoid
nonlinear distortions, especially when there are many carriers per transponder (more than one), to
reduce the power of the generated inter-modulation products that act as interference signal. BOi
implies the difference between the input power level of a single carrier, which makes a satellite
transponder saturated, and that of an actual operating point.
Figure 7.5: TWTA Characteristics on Link Analysis.

Figure 7.6: TWTA Characteristics on Link Analysis.
Let BOi and BOo be the input and output back-offs of the TWTA, respectively, which
are defined as
Here,
EIRPsaturated = carrier EIRP required to saturate satellite TWTA
Ωsaturated = saturation power flux density
EIRPs,saturated = satellite saturation EIRP
BOo = f (BOi) and is a nonlinear function of BOi.
Hence, employing these factors,

The uplink and downlink carrier-to-noise ratios in dBs are
Apparatus:
• MATLAB software.
Simulation Procedure:
As aforementioned, using those formula and equations, estimate the earth station-satellite- earth
station link budget. Consider both single carrier and multi-carrier per transponder for the link
budget estimation and carryout an analysis how multi-carrier scenario affects the link
performance. Following are parameters that considered as an example scenario to design and
estimate the satellite link performance.
Case 1: Single carrier per transponder operation
Number of carriers per transponder is 1.
Carrier modulation parameters

• Single-carrier-per-transponder operation at 14/12-GHz
• Band and Noise bandwidth is 46 MHz
Satellite parameters
• Antenna gain-to-noise ratio is -1.6 dB/K
• Satellite saturation EIRPs is 44 dB W
• Satellite TWTA BOi is 11 dB
• Satellite TWTA BOo is 6 dB
Earth station parameters

• Transmit antenna gain is 57.6 dB
• Receive antenna gain is 56.3 dB
• Carrier power fed to antenna is 174 W
• Maximum uplink and downlink slant range is 37,506 km
• System noise temperature Ts is 160 K
• Uplink tracking loss is 1.2 dB
• Downlink tracking loss is 0.9 dB
Note that we neglect other interferences such as interference into or from adjacent satellite,
terrestrial interference, etc., and any influence by the atmosphere.
Case 2: Multi-carrier per transponder operation
Number of carriers per transponder is 100. Find the followings using MATLAB simulator.
1. For uplink
a. Carrier EIRP
b. Free space loss c. Satellite Gu/Tu
d. Uplink carrier-to-noise ratio, (C/N)u
2. For downlink
a. Free space loss
b. Earth station G/T
c. Downlink carrier-to-noise ratio, (C/N)d
3. For total link

a. Total link carrier-to-noise ratio, (C/N)total
Simulation code (Ku band):
%-------------------------------------------------------------------
%-------------------------------------------------------------------
% Satellite Link Design
%-------------------------------------------------------------------
%-------------------------------------------------------------------
% PART I: DEFINE PARAMETERS
%I.1: Carrier modulation parameters
%transponder operation at 14/12-GHz Band
%Noise bandwidth is 46 MHz
carrier_freq_uplink=14*10^9; % in Hz carrier_freq_downlink=12*10^9;
% in Hz
%I.2:Satellite parameters
%satellite system noise temperature (K)
Temp_uplink_sat=290; % in K
%Satellite Antenna gain-to-noise ratio is -1.6 dB/K
gain_to_noise_sat_dB=-1.6; % in room temperature
%Earth station antenna G/T = 34.3 dB/K
gain_to_noise_earth_dB=34.3; % in room temperature
%Boltzmann's const. = -228.6 dBW/K/Hz
k_boltz_dBW=-228.6; %Noise bandwidth = 75.6 dB-
Hz noise_BW_uplink_dB=75.6;
noise_BW_downlink_dB=75.6;
%I.3:Earth station parameters %Transmit
antenna gain is 57.6 dB
gain_tx_dB=57.6;
gain_tx_abs=10^(gain_tx_dB/10);
%Receive antenna gain is 56.3 dB
gain_rx_dB=56.3;
gain_rx_abs=10^(gain_rx_dB/10); %Carrier
power fed to antenna is 174 W
power_tx=174;
power_tx_dB=10*log10(174); % in dBW
%Maximum up and downlink slant range is 35,786 km
dis_earth_sat=37506000; % in meter %System noise
temperature Ts is 160 K %Uplink tracking loss is 1.2
dB track_loss_uplink_dB=1.2; % in dB %Downlink
tracking loss is 0.9 dB track_loss_downlink_dB=0.9;
% in dB
% I.4:Satellite TWTA Characteristics
% Consider that for multiple carrier per transponder
% Number of Carriers per transponder is 100
% TWTA BO(input) is 10 dB
% TWTA BO(output) is 5 dB
% I.5: others
%Neglect other interferences such as interference into or from adjacent %satellite,
terrestrial interference, etc. and any influence by the atmosphere.
%II.6: Find the followings using MATLAB simulator for single carrier
%II.6.1:For uplink
%Carrier EIRP
%Free space loss
%Satellite Gu/Tu
%(C/N)u
%II.6.2:For downlink
%Free space loss
%Earth station G/T
%(C/N)d
%(C/N)total
% PART II: SIMULATION INSTRUCTIONS
%>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
%Case 01: Single carrier per transponder disp('
')
disp('Case 01: single carrier per transponder') disp('
')
%>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
% ......................................................................
% Earth-Satellite Uplink Design
%.......................................................................
%01: Carrier EIRP
EIRP_carrier_tx_dBW=power_tx_dB+gain_tx_dB; % in dBW
%02: uplink free space loss
up_loss=(4*pi*carrier_freq_uplink*dis_earth_sat)/(3*10^8); uplink_FS_loss_abs=(up_loss)^2;
uplink_FS_loss_dB=10*log10(uplink_FS_loss_abs); % in dB
%03: uplink carrier-to-noise ratio loss_uplink=track_loss_uplink_dB+uplink_FS_loss_dB;
k_B_uplink=k_boltz_dBW+noise_BW_uplink_dB;
C_N_uplink_dB=EIRP_carrier_tx_dBW-loss_uplink+gain_to_noise_sat_dB-k_B_uplink;
C_N_uplink_abs=10^(C_N_uplink_dB/10); % in absolute value disp(['01:carrier
EIRP in dBW = ',num2str(EIRP_carrier_tx_dBW)]) disp(['02:uplink free space
loss in dB = ',num2str(uplink_FS_loss_dB)]) disp(['03:uplink carrier-to-noise
ratio = ',num2str(C_N_uplink_abs)]) disp(['04:uplink carrier-to-noise ratio in
dB = ',num2str(C_N_uplink_dB)])
% ......................................................................
% Satellite-Earth Downlink Design
%.......................................................................
%04: satellite EIRP (or power)
EIRPS_sat_tx_dBW=44; % in dBW %05:
downlink free space loss
down_loss=(4*pi*carrier_freq_downlink*dis_earth_sat)/(3*10^8);
downlink_FS_loss_abs=(down_loss)^2;
downlink_FS_loss_dB=10*log10(downlink_FS_loss_abs); % in dB
%06: downlink carrier-to-noise ratio
loss_downlink=track_loss_downlink_dB+downlink_FS_loss_dB;
k_B_downlink=k_boltz_dBW+noise_BW_downlink_dB;
C_N_downlink_dB=EIRPS_sat_tx_dBW-
loss_downlink+gain_to_noise_earth_dBk_B_downlink;
C_N_downlink_abs=10^(C_N_downlink_dB/10); % in absolute value
disp(['04:satellite EIRP in dBW = ',num2str(EIRPS_sat_tx_dBW)]); disp(['05:downlink
free space loss in dB =', num2str(downlink_FS_loss_dB)]) disp(['06:downlink carrier-
to-noise ratio = ',num2str(C_N_downlink_abs)]) disp(['07:downlink carrier-to-noise
ratio in dB = ',num2str(C_N_downlink_dB)])
%....................................................................
% Earth-Satellite-Earth Total link Design
%......................................................................
% 07:Total satellite link (earth-satellite-earth) carrier-to-noise ratio
C_N_link_abs=(1/((1/C_N_uplink_abs)+(1/C_N_downlink_abs)));
C_N_link_dB=10*log10(C_N_link_abs); % in dB
disp(['08:total satellite link (earth-satellite-earth) carrier-to-noise ratio =
',num2str(C_N_link_abs)])
disp(['09:total satellite link (earth-satellite-earth) carrier-to-noise ratio in dB =
',num2str(C_N_link_dB)])
%..................................end of program.........................
OUTPUT
telcomlab8
Case 01: single carrier per transponder
01:carrier EIRP in dBW = 80.0055

02:uplink free space loss in dB = 206.8463 03:uplink
carrier-to-noise ratio = 216.7277
04:uplink carrier-to-noise ratio in dB = 23.3591
04:satellite EIRP in dBW = 44
05:downlink free space loss in dB =205.5074
06:downlink carrier-to-noise ratio = 308.5026
07:downlink carrier-to-noise ratio in dB = 24.8926
08:total satellite link (earth-satellite-earth) carrier-to-noise ratio = 127.2986
09:total satellite link (earth-satellite-earth) carrier-to-noise ratio in dB = 21.0482 >>
Questions for report writing:
If the satellite is operated on 6/4 GHz, estimate the satellite link budget. Now compare the
Result with the result found from 14/12 GHz. From the result, explain the effect of carrier
Frequency on the satellite link performance.
Ans: For 14/12 GHz MATLAB code results,
01: carrier EIRP in dBW = 80.0055

02: uplink free space loss in dB = 206.8463
03: uplink carrier-to-noise ratio = 216.7277
04: uplink carrier-to-noise ratio in dB = 23.3591
04: satellite EIRP in dBW = 44
05: downlink free space loss in dB =205.5074
06: downlink carrier-to-noise ratio = 308.5026
07: downlink carrier-to-noise ratio in dB = 24.8926
08: total satellite link (earth-satellite-earth) carrier-tonoise ratio = 127.2986 09:
total satellite link (earth-satellite-earth) carrier-tonoise ratio in dB = 21.0482 10:
satellite characteristics:
Satellite is uplink limited
Case 02: multiple carriers per transponder

16: downlink free space loss in dB = 205.5074
For 14/12 GHz MATLAB code results,

08: total satellite link (earth-satellite-earth) carrier-to noise ratio = 127.2986 09:
total satellite link (earth-satellite-earth) carrier-to noise ratio in dB = 21.0482 10:

For 6/4 GHz MATLAB code results,

02: uplink free space loss in dB = 199.4868 03:
uplink carrier-to-noise ratio = 1179.962

From the result we can see that both single and multiple carrier transponder’s uplink and
downlink free space loss, carrier-to-noise ratio, total satellite link (earth-satellite-earth) Carrier-
to-noise ratio for 14/12GHz is higher than 6/4 GHz. We also that when the frequency Increase,
the performance is decreased.
Question: Depict a typical mobile-satellite communication link.
Answer:
Discussion
In this experiment, It is shown how a satellite link is design considering different parameter such
as free space loss, ERIP, attenuation of transmission etc. This experiment was done on
MATLAB code that generated to calculate the mention parameter of satellite link. All the
objective was successfully achieved. This experiment was done for different frequency band
such as C and Ku band. Overall the experiment was done perfectly. Reference(s):
[1] K. M. Ahmed “AT77.15: Satellite Communications” Lecture notes, August 2010,

Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand.
[2] Zaghloul I. A., et al., “Satellite-Based Assured Communications for Critical Mobile
Network Infrastructure”, IEEE, 2009.
[3] Ravishankar, C. et al., “Design and Performance of a 3G Mobile Satellite System”,
The 2011 Military Communications Conference-Track 5- Communications and Network
Systems, p. 1946- 1951, IEEE, 2011.

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Telecommunications Engineering Lab

Title : Satellite Link Design

Theory and Methodology:

Figure 7.2: Basic satellite link.

where du = uplink slant range (m)

The uplink noise power is given as

Hence, the uplink carrier-to-noise ratio is

where dd = downlink slant range (m)

The downlink noise power is given as

The carrier-to-noise ratio at the demodulator is given by

Figure 7.3: Earth station receiver.

Figure 7.5: TWTA Characteristics on Link Analysis.

Hence, employing these factors,

Case 1: Single carrier per transponder operation

Number of carriers per transponder is 1.

Carrier modulation parameters

• Satellite TWTA BOo is 6 dB

Earth station parameters

Case 2: Multi-carrier per transponder operation

3. For total link

Simulation code (Ku band):

Case 01: single carrier per transponder

01:carrier EIRP in dBW = 80.0055

01: carrier EIRP in dBW = 80.0055

Case 02: multiple carriers per transponder

11: carrier EIRP in dBW = 60.0055

01: carrier EIRP in dBW = 80.0055

Case 02: multiple carriers per transponder

11: carrier EIRP in dBW = 60.0055

01: carrier EIRP in dBW = 80.0055

Case 02: multiple carriers per transponder

11: carrier EIRP in dBW = 60.0055

[1] K. M. Ahmed “AT77.15: Satellite Communications” Lecture notes, August 2010,

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