EEEM031

Introduction to Satellite Systems (Lecturer: BGE)

Radio Regulations, ITU-R/T, IFRB. Frequencies, interference management, space and ground segment components, earth stations, bus and payloads, antennas and coverage, transparent and non-transparent transponders. FSS, MSS, BSS applications areas and examples with state-of-the-art systems. GEO, HEO, LEO and hybrid orbits dynamics, echoes control and effect on services: speech, vision, data, and multimedia. Satellite Networking: SCPC, MCPC, and multiple access review. FDMA, TDMA, CDMA, RA and where used. Traffic routing in single and multi beam satellites. Satellites versus other medium and where applicable. Control and operation of satellite systems, earth station planning, siting and maintenance.

Satellite Systems Planning (Lecturer: BGE)

Basic transmission theory, FSL, antenna theory, gain, radiation patter, eirp, satellite look angles and ranges. Noise sources, noise temp, noise figure, sky noise G/T ratio and calculation C/N for up-path and down-path. Intermodulation, back-off, interference and C/I calculation. Effects of rain for FSS and multipath shadowing for MSS systems - calculation of margins. Link budget with overall C/N and availability. Meaning of QoS. Differences between GEO and non-GEO link budgets. Digital modulation PSK types and choice. Eb/No, BER coherent differential etc. modems, filtering and bandwidth calculation. FEC coding, code rates, code types. Error coding in trading off power and bandwidth - power and bandwidth limits. Relationship Eb/No with C/No and system QoS requirements. Examples of link budget planning for desired QoS/availability.

Satellite Organisations and state-of-the-art Review (Lecturer: BGE + Seminar)

IGOS - INTELSAT, INMARSAT, EUTELSAT etc. ESA, NASA, NASDA role, regional and domestic systems, private organisation and consortia - the move to privatisation. Launcher organisations, manufacturers, operators and service providers - enterprise models. Review of FSS, BSS, MSS systems, state-of-the-art and current developments.

Regulation of the Spectrum (Lecturer: PT)

Frequency assignments and limitations – work of ITU in fixed mobile and broadcast areas. Co-ordination procedures for GEO and for non-GEO systems and the management of interference. Latest WRC developments.

Satellite Systems Business (Lecturer: BGE)

Who’s Who in the business and who makes money. Financial planning - NPV and IRR techniques, project planning and scheduling. Building a business case and raising money for projects - the role of equity, debt and the banks. Risk analysis and management.

Satellite System futures (Lecturer: BGE)

A state-of-the art update on current innovations and new systems proposals, standards issues and technology developments that shape satellite communications for the next 10 years.