Introduction to Satellite FM Communications

EEL 4518 Satellite Communications

Rev-J

Frequency Modulation Review

CW Carrier

AcCos(2 fc t)

V(t)FM=Accos
[(t)]

FM
Modulator

Modulation voltage

m(t)

The signal (m(t) is contained in

the frequency of the carrier

Frequency Modulation Review - 2

FM Signal

e(t)= AC cos(2 i t)
where, i = 2 fi

= the instanteous carrier frequency

Frequency Modulation Review - 2

Instantaneous Freq:

f
f

i
i

= the instanteous carrier frequency

=

where

f
c

+ (k f m(t))

= the "unmodulated" carrier freq

m(t) = the analog (voltage) message

k f = FM modulator index, Hz/Volt

(f

i max

= f f
c

= the peak (max) instanteous carrier frequency

excursion
f = the peak deviation of the carrier freq
=k f m(t) peak

Frequency Modulation Review - 3

FM Signal
f i = d(t) dt
V (t) FM = A c cos[( t )]
where,
t

(t) =

[2f
0

V(t)FM

+ 2 k f m(t)] dt + o , radians

Frequency Modulation Review - 4

FM Signal -Tone Modulation: m(t) = Am cos(mt)
t

e(t) = Ac cos( c t +2 k f

cos m t 'dt ' )

= Ac cos( c t +2 f

sin t )
)

2 f
f
=
=
m
fm
where fm =the maximum freq in the message spectrum
so that:
e(t) = Ac cos( c t + sin m t )
which can be expanded in a Bessel function Fourier series

Frequency Modulation Review - 5

FM Signal -Tone Modulation
V (t)FM = Ac cos( c t + sin m t )
which can be expanded in a Bessel function Fourier series
V (t)FM = Re{A e j(t ) } = Re{A e j (ct ) e j sin(mt ) }
but

e j sin(mt ) =

j (n mt )
J
(

)
e
n
n=

= Re{A e j (ct )

j (n mt )
J
(

)
e
}
n
n=

= A J n ( ) cos( c + n m ) t
n=

FM spectrum is a series of spectral lines that are harmonics of the fm

Amplitude of FM Spectral Lines are J-type

Bessel Functions
Bessel functions are damped sinusoids

FM Spectrum - Tone Modulation = f/fm

Fixed fm

=1

= 1.0
=2

= 2.0
=5

= 5.0

Spacing between spectral lines = fm

Fixed f

FM Spectrum - Tone Modulation = f/fm

Fixed fm

=1

Fixed f

=2

=5

Spacing between spectral lines = fm , which varies with

FM Spectrum - Tone Modulation = f/fm

Fixed fm

=1

Fixed f

=2

=5

The carrier BW varies with the type of

For SatCom, we are primarily interested in the

Bandwidth of the FM Signal
FM Spectral Bandwidth (BW)
Carsons Rule
Bandwidth = 2 (f pk +

) , Hz

Commercial FM Broadcast

f = 75 KHz and fm = 15 KHz

BW = 180 KHz
Spacing between stations on the FM radio = 200 KHz

FM Modulation/De-modulation Process
Freq Modulation
(voltage-to-freq)

m(t)

Freq De-modulation
(freq-to-voltage)

Vdemod(t)

f = Kf*m(t)
*Kf

*1/Kf

Recovered FM baseband signal

Vdemod(t) = f*1/Kf = Kf*m(t)*(1/Kf) = m(t)

Freq Modulation in Sat Comm

FM was the original modulation scheme for the
transmission of analog (telephone voice & TV) signals
Today most telephone signals are transmitted by digital
techniques using phase-shift keying carrier modulation
Video signal distribution for the cable TV industry in
now the only remaining analog FM satellite service
FM is used because it provides an improvement in the
baseband S/N ratio relative to the downlink (C/N)overall
Typical satellite links have 5 db < (C/N)o < 25 dB; however
analog systems require S/N 50 dB
In general, S/N = (C/N)o + FM improvement, dB

FM Signal to Noise Ratio

Antenna

FM
Descriminator

FM
Receiver

(S/N)out

(S/N)in

C/N

"S%
C
is constant in the receiver = $ '
#N &
N
A
2
=
( KT B)

in

( )
2

sys

"S%
$ '
#N &

"S%
= G $ '
#N&
FM

out

in

Gfm = FM signal processing gain

Noise Output of FM Discriminator

Noise voltage density is
proportional to freq

Noise Voltage

Noise Power

Noise power density is

proportional to freq2

Frequency

Frequency

Noise Output of FM Discriminator

Noise voltage density is
proportional to freq

Noise Voltage

Noise Power

Noise power density is

proportional to freq2

Frequency

Frequency

Noise power spectral density at the output of an

FM demodulator, Figure 5.1 (p. 160)
2

"K %
"K %
N = 2N $ ' f df = 2N $ ' ( f )/ 3
#A&
#A&
where N = KT
f max

out

sys

Nout

f =

max

FM Descriminator (S/N)out for Test Tone

2

(FM Signal)out = (K f f peak ) / 2 , Watts

for baseband signal, f1 ~ zero Hz and the
2

"Kf %
3
total noise output power = 2N o $ ' (fmax
)/3
#A&
2

)
,
f
pk
S
C
=
3 B
+
N out
N
2
fmax *
fmax .where B = the RF bandwidth (Carson's rule)

( ) ( )

fpk = the peak deviation of the RF carrier

fmax = the max frequency in the baseband output

FM Descriminator (S/N)out for Test Tone

( N)
S

out

"B
%
3
'
+ 10 * log( ) + 10 * log$
N
2
f
# max &

( )

= C

" f pk
%
+ 10 * log$
' , dB
f
#
max &
2

" f pk
%
"B
%
C
= N + 10 * log$ f ' + 10 * log$
' + 1.8 , dB
f
# max &
#
max &

( )

FM Processing Gain
The FM processing gain (Gfm) is the improvement in
the output S/N over the C/N
Gfm is proportional to fm deviation ratio
= D = fpk/fmax

however, the RF bandwidth

B = 2(fpk + fmax) = 2fmax( D + 1)
This is spectrally inefficient but is used in all analog
FM satellite links

Pre-emphasis and De-emphasis

for S/N improvement

Noise Output of FM Discriminator

Noise voltage density is
proportional to freq

Noise Voltage

Noise Power

Noise power density is

proportional to freq2

Frequency

Frequency



For de-emphasis, the noise voltage at FM detector

output is passed through a de-emphasis filter with
characteristic. Figure 5.2 (p. 163 ) 
Input

Output
FM
Demodulator

De-emphasis
Filter

Transfer Function
dB

De-emphasis filter roll-off

= b/f (linear)
= - 6 dB/octave (dB)

fd

Frequency



Resulting noise voltage at output of de-emphasis

filter is a constant for freq > fd Figure 5.2 cont. 

De-emphasis
limits the noise
Voltage to a constant

The de-emphasis filter also reduces the output signal voltage;

so distortion will occur. To prevent this, a pre-emphasis filter
is used to boost the input signal voltage to compensate for
the de-emphasis filter reduction. Figure 5.2 (cont.)
Transfer Function
dB

Pre-emphasis filter boost

= f /b (linear)
= + 6 dB/octave (dB)

Transfer Function
dB

De-emphasis filter roll-off

= b/f (linear)
= - 6 dB/octave (dB)

fd

Frequency

Pre-emphasis Filter

fd

Frequency

De-emphasis Filter

Pre- & Post Emphasis Gain

G(f)pe = (1/b)*fb
G(f) = G(f)pe * G(f)de = (fb / b) * (b / fb) = 1
With pre/post-emphasis, the S/N becomes:
2

" f pk
%
"B
%
C
$
'
N = N + 10 * log# f max & + 10 * log$#
f max '& + 1.8 + P , dB

( )

Where typical values of pre- & post-emphasis gain is

P=:
9 db for NTSC video
5 - 10 db for analog FM voice transmission

5.2 Analog FM Transmission of TV

Spectra of NTSC baseband TV signals transmitted by

U.S. domestic satellites: (a) Baseband video TV signal
(b) The composite (video plus audio) signal. Figure 5.3
Max Modulation freq = 4.2 MHz

Satellite TV Broadcast
f = 10.75 MHz
fm = 4.2 MHz
BW = 29.9 MHz (Carsons rule)

Typical FM threshold extension demodulator for TV reception.

FM threshold is C/N = 9 dB, where the S/N at the demodulator
output has fallen 1 dB below the straight line. Figure 4.9 (p. 119)

1 dB

Satellite television distribution system. 

Figure 4.11 (p. 133)

FM Satellite TV Transmission
2
"
%
f pk
%
S = C + 10 * log"$ B
' + 10 * log$
+
1.8
'
N
N
f max &
# f max &
#
+ P + Q , dB

( )

Where typical values of:

P = 9 dB pre/de-emphasis improvement for NTSC video
Q = 8 dB subjective improvement or weighting factor

Example 5.2.1 NTSC Sat TV Transmission

Baseband video bandwidth: 4.2 MHz

Transponder bandwidth:
30 MHz

C/N = 15 dB

De-emphasis improvement: 9 dB

Subjective nimprovement factor: 8 dB

Calc S/N for video signal
1) Use Carsons rule to find the peak freq deviation
Brf = 30 MHz = 2(fpk + fmax)
fpk = Brf / 2 - fmax = 15 - 4.2 = 10.8 MHz
2) Use equat 5.22 to calc S/N
2

" f pk
%
"B
%
' + 10 * log$
+ 10 * log$
' + 1.8
N
f
f
# max &
#
max &

( )

= C

+ P + Q , dB

Example 5.2.1 NTSC Sat TV Trans cont.

2
"
%
f
"
%
S = C + 10 * log$ B
' + 10 * log$ pk
' + 1.8
N
N
f
# f max &
#
max &

( )

+ P + Q , dB
S/n

= 15 + 10log(30/4.2) + 10 log(10.8/4.2)2 + 1.8 + 9 + 8

= 15 + 8.5 + 8.2 + 18.8 = 50.5 dB

FM processing gain (S/N improvement) = 50.5 - 15 = 35.5 dB

Without the subjective weighting (8 dB), the unweighted improvement
= 35.5 - 8 = 27.5 dB
For TV transmission a S/N
= 55 dB, no perceptible noise, studio quality signal
= 50 dB, very good quality, noise just preceptible in background
= 45 dB, good quality, some noise visible but not annoying
= 40 dB, poor quality, lots of noise visible
= 35 dB, bottom limit for picture quality, high noise, very annoying

5.2 Single Carrier per Channel (SCPC)

FM Links
SCPC links have been widely used for voice and
also for data xmissions by amateur sat community
Earth stations transmit at an assigned freq
Threshold for narrow band threshold extension FM
demodulators ~ 5 dB

SCPC FM Transmission
2
"
%
f pk
%
S = C + 10 * log"$ B
' + 10 * log$
+
1.8
'
N
N
f max &
# f max &
#
+ P , dB

( )

Where typical values of:

P = 7 dB pre/de-emphasis improvement for baseband voice

SCPC Example
A SCPC-FM sat link has an RF chan bandwidth of 45 KHz and a
baseband max freq of 3.4 KHz. De-emphasis provides a
subjective S/N improvement = 7 dB. For receiver C/N = 13 dB
Calc the baseband S/N
The peak FM deviation is BRF = 2(f pk + fmax ) = 45 KHz

f = 45 /2 3.4 = 19.1 KHz

pk

Baseband S/N

(S / N )

= C / N +10 log( B

RF

FM voice

= 13+10 log( 45

) +10 log(
max

) +10 log(19.2

3.4
= 1311.2 +15.0 + 8.8 = 48 dB

This is an acceptable S/N

pk

) +1.8 + P
2

max

) +1.8 + 7
2

3.4

SCPC Example cont

Assuming the FM demod threshold = 6 dB, what is the
link margin?
If the link suffers rain atten, the link will be operational
until the C/N = 6 dB, so the Link margin = 13 - 6 = 7 dB
Since the demod is operating at threshold, there is an
additional 1 dB loss in S/N; so the
S/N = 48 - 7 - 1 = 40 dB
which is at the lower limit of acceptable voice quality.