Affiliated to Tribhuvan University

Nayabazar, Khusibun Development Area Tel: 4360180, 360182 E-add: - pcmit@wlink.com.np URL: - www.prime.edu.np

Report on Visit to Sagarmatha Earth Station.

Submitted By: -Geshan Manandhar - 03-00097-2 G Sabin Man Malla 03-00103-2 Sabi lla 03Sachin Rai 03-00104-2 Sachi Rai 03Smriti Singh 03-00113-2 iti 03BIM 7th Semester Sem Prime College ime College Pr

Submitted To: Manoj Singh Lecturer, HSMN ect Prime College Prime College

Date of Submission: ubm ssion: 11th March 2007 200

SES, Balamboo Report- HSMN

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Satellite Communication: A communications satellite (sometimes abbreviated to comsat) is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purposes of telecommunications. Modern communications satellites use geosynchronous orbits, Molniya orbits or low polar Earth orbits. Most of the satellites deployed are used to facilitate better communication some are put for research as well. For fixed services, communications satellites provide a technology complementary to that of fiber optic submarine communication cables. They are also used for mobile applications such as communications to ships and planes, for which application of other technologies, such as cable, are impractical or impossible. Satellite Communication Applications: Some of the sectors where satellite communication services have been used are listed below: 1. Telephony 2. Satellite Television and Radio 3. Mobile satellite technologies 4. Satellite broadband 1. Telephony: The first and still, most important application for communication satellites is in international telephony. Fixed-point telephones relay calls to an earth station, where they are then transmitted to a geostationary satellite. An analogous path is then followed on the downlink. In contrast, mobile telephones (to and from ships and airplanes) must be directly connected to equipment to uplink the signal to the satellite, as well as being able to ensure satellite pointing in the presence of disturbances, such as waves onboard a ship. Hand held telephony (cellular phones) used in urban areas do not make use of satellite communications. Instead they have access to a ground based constellation of receiving and retransmitting stations.

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2. Satellite Television and radio: Satellite television and radio makes it possible that we see the numerous television channels in our homes everyday. Satellite radio in our country hasnt caught any hype but it can be the next big thing as in India the advent of World space radio has lifted some eye brows. In the US, there are two satellite types used for North American television and radio: a. Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), and b. Fixed Service Satellite (FSS). A direct broadcast satellite is a communications satellite that transmits to small DBS satellite dishes (usually 18 to 24 inches in diameter). Direct broadcast satellites generally operate in the upper portion of the Ku band. DBS technology is used for DTH-oriented (Direct-To-Home) satellite TV services, such as DirecTV, DISH Network, and Sky Angel in the United States, ExpressVu in Canada, and Sky Digital in the UK, Republic of Ireland and New Zealand. Fixed Service Satellites use the C band, and the lower portions of the Ku bands. They are normally used for broadcast feeds to and from television networks and local affiliate stations (such as program feeds for network and syndicated programming, live shots, and backhauls), as well as being used for distance learning by schools and universities, business television (BTV), videoconferencing, and general commercial telecommunications. FSS satellites are also used to distribute national cable channels to cable TV head ends. FSS satellites differ from DBS satellites in that they have a lower RF power output than the latter, requiring a much larger dish for reception (3 to 8 feet in diameter for Ku band, and 12 feet on up for C band), as well as using linear polarization for each of the transponders' RF input and output (as opposed to circular polarization used by DBS satellites). FSS satellite technology was also originally used for DTH satellite TV from the late 1970s to the early 1990s in the United States in the form of TVRO (TeleVision Receive Only) receivers and dishes (also known as big-dish, or more pejoratively known as "BUD" or "Big ugly dish" systems). It was also used in its Ku band form for the now-defunct Primestar satellite TV service.

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3. Mobile satellite technologies: Initially available for broadcast to stationary TV receivers, by 2004 popular mobile direct broadcast applications made their appearance with that arrival of two satellite radio systems in the United States: Sirius and XM Satellite Radio Holdings. Some manufacturers have also introduced special antennas for mobile reception of DBS television. Using GPS technology as a reference, these antennas automatically re-aim to the satellite no matter where or how the vehicle (that the antenna is mounted on) is situated. These mobile satellite antennas are popular with some recreational vehicle owners. Such mobile DBS antennas are also used by JetBlue Airways for DirecTV (supplied by LiveTV, a subsidiary of JetBlue), which passengers can view on-board on LCD screens mounted in the seats. 4. Satellite broadband: In recent years, satellite communication technology has been used as a means to connect to the Internet via broadband data connections. This can be very useful for users who are located in very remote areas, and cannot access a wireline broadband or dialup connection. It can be a viable solution for a country like our but the cost can be sky high.

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Sagarmatha Satellite Earth Station Address: Established: Visit Date: Briefed By: Balabmoo, Kathmandu, Nepal 1982 (Working from 1985) 7th February 2007 Er. Niraj Barjracharya, NTC to facilitate communication between

Earth stations are mainly placed

geographically far terminals via communications satellites. The earth stations comprises of relevant dish antennas, control over the antennas and in modern context proper software and computers for full control and even to provide communication via backup resources in case of failure of primary link. Sagarmatha Earth Station Balamboo has three Satellite dishes with no specific names so lets term them as A,B and C. All the three satellites are of the worlds largest commercial satellite communications services provider IntelSat. and their specifications are tabulated below: # A B C Standard A B B Disk Size 16 m 11 m 9m Band, Transfer rate C Band, 35 db/K C Band, 31 db/K C Band, 31 db/K Satellite is facing Indian Ocean Region at 60 East 64 East 66 East

A typical C-band works at 6 Ghz uplink and 4 Ghz downlink but a Ku band works at 11 Ghz uplink and 14 Ghz downlink. Satellite communication mainly depends on the line of sight so antennas/dishes should be placed in the precise position so that the communication is efficient. Satellites face the Indian Ocean Region as it is hard to point to the Pacific or Atlantic region as informed by Mr. Bajracharya. He adds that Satellites run on solar power chiefly but also has battery backup for power. Batterys power is limited but life span is of 10-15 years. Satellites also have frequency and bandwidth limitation as other forms and mediums of communications. Use of 60 angle makes it possible to see 1/3 of the earth so it is very effective. He subsequently informs that the bandwidth of satellites is very costly and use of sophisticated devices further escalates the cost. The bandwidth is given as per demand but costs are very high. SES, Balamboo Report- HSMN 6 GSSS 2007

As per him, antennas are passive devices but play a vital role in communication. They have a transmission gain of 56 db. He clarifies that the primary uses of the earth station are as follows: 1. NTC web browising 2. All international voice calls via NTCs terminals 3. Data circuit 4. Occasional TV (Live Broadcasting or video clips broadcast) 5. Domestic satellite trunk service 6. VSAT network support He bluntly tells that the satellites provide no support for satellite phones. The antenna control is digital, except of one dish which has to be moved physically. Use of branded PCs from Sun Microsystems Ex: Sun Ultra 2, Sun Black 1000 and some Dell machine ensure hardware reliability and stability. On the contrary, use of Windows in most of the system seems insecure and only some of the systems had full proof OS like UNIX. The software used seemed very complicated. The switches and connections were very informative as it we came to know it was the backbone of our STD and ISD.

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