NON GEOSTATIONARY ORBIT

SATELLITE SYSTEM

UNIT 6

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION REASONS DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS EXAMPLE OF SYSTEMS DTH VSAT GPS

VSAT
Very Small Aperture Terminal The first earth station antennas used in commercial satellite communications systems were very large and expensive with typical aperture diameters of 30 m. These large antennas operated in C band (6/4GHz).

 Most VSAT systems operate in Ku band with earth station antenna diameters of 1 to 2 m and transmitter powers of 1 or 2 W.

The earth stations are usually organized in a STAR network, in which the earth stations connect to a central hub station via a GEO satellite.
Data rates on the links are from a few thousand bits per second up to 256 kbps, depending on the traffic requirements.

 VSAT systems are used to link businesses and stores to a central computer system so that sales transactions can be completed more rapidly than by using a telephone line and modem , and so that a central office can rapidly distribute and collect information from a large no. of locations in a region or country. VSAT systems are used for Voice Traffic, although the data rates are well matched to digital voice bit rates. For this reason , voice over IP (VOIP) has become a growth segment in VSAT operations.

 The feed for the antenna can be Cassegrain or Gregorian Designs. These antennas require a sub reflector with a minimum diameter of ~10 wavelengths.

Earth stations with antenna aperture diameter less than 100 wavelength were called Small Aperture Terminals and as the size reduced the term VSAT was coined and then USAT (Ultra satellite aperture terminal).

These are typical sizes of VSAT antennas used in International and domestic services.

 The standard VSAT antennas are not as small as the Kuband direct to home (DTH) antennas used for direct broadcast satellite TV reception, which are typically 0.5 to 0.8 m in diameter. DBS TV satellites use very powerful transponders, typically 160-240 W compared to 20 to 50 W of Ku- band satellites used for VSAT service. VSAT antennas are also much larger than USAT a handheld satellite telephone as used in Iridium, Global Star, New ICO, and other mobile satellite service (MSS) systems, which have an Omni-directional antenna.

 Geostationary satellites allied to microwave cellular technologies have been used to bypass completely the traditional expansion of analog telephony. One such solution is wireless local loop (WLL) coupled with VSAT distribution architectures. The VSAT/WLL concept usually has an optimum range of user densities where the economics are most favorable.

 The geo stationary satellite is used to link a large no. of VSATs with the main switching center in a large city. Each VSAT acts as the link to the local switching center in the village or rural community with the final mile of the telephony link being carried over a wireless local loop(WLL).

 VSAT networks allow multimedia traffic to be brought directly to the end user, but generally handle only small traffic streams. The traffic stream is also usually intermittent in nature; the user accesses the satellite in a demand assigned multiple access (DAMA) mode whenever a message is to be sent and receives a short reply in due course. This is typical in a point of sale (POS) VSAT system that is used to transmit credit card information at a gas pump or a store register. Information about the sale and the customers credit is sent to a central computer facility and an authorization or denial is received in response.

 The interaction between the VSAT and the main hub earth station in the POS (point of Sale) transaction is completely automatic and transparent to the user, the customer in this case. Most VSAT networks do not generate enough traffic to justify a dedicated satellite.

 There are three basic implementations of any telecommunications service; One way Two way And split two way (Split IP, when referring to Internet Traffic, since the outbound and inbound channels are routed over different systems)

NETWORK ARCHITECTURES

Two way Implementation

Classified into two basic network architectures : Star Mesh

One Way Implementation

This is the mode of a satellite used in the broadcast satellite service (BSS). The introduction of digital technology allows the provider and user much greater flexibility in the operation of a broadcast network. By means of proprietary software in the user terminals, different parts of the downlink can be accessed by different subscribers according to the programs ordered from the supplier.

One Way (broadcast) Implementation

This form of channel selection is called Narrowcasting.
There can be many narrowcasting groups within a larger broadcasting area.

Split two way (Split IP) Implementation

This implementation is used when there is no normal return channel for eg. With Ku- Band broadcast satellite service (BSS) systems that carry Internet Traffic. The relatively high capacity downlink stream is not complemented by an uplink capability from the user terminal.

If the BSS downlink is used as the download channel from an Internet service provider, the only option the user has for a return link is via another telecommunications channel, such as a Standard telephone line.

Split two way (Split IP) Implementation

The Internet Protocol (IP) is therefore split between a satellite downlink (outbound) channel and a terrestrial telephone (inbound or return) channel; hence the term Split IP for this implementation.

Advantages
VSAT terminal does not require a transmit capability, which significantly reduces its cost and complexity. Disadvantage Telephone line connection must usually be through a modem, with a bit rate generally restricted to 56 kbps or less.

 A return link is designed into the service so that two-way communications can be set up over the same satellite, from the hub to the user and from the user back to the hub. The VSAT/WLL implementation in fig. 9.2 is a two way service between the hub in this case the satellite gateway and any VSAT terminal. The architecture selected is the key to the economics of two way connections; it can be either Mesh or Star. These two architectures are illustrated in fig. 9.5a,b with the topology as viewed by the satellite shown in fig. 9.6 a,b.

Two Way Implementation

 Initially VSAT architectures were STAR networks since the very low receive G/T (gain to noise temperature ratio) of the VSATs coupled with their limited transmit EIRP(Effective Isotropic Radiated Power), was compensated for by using a large hub with high G/T and EIRP.

The cost of the hub was therefore quite high and at least for the smaller VSAT networks, somewhat prohibitive. This led to the concept of a shared hub, where several networks operate through one main hub.
A high speed terrestrial data link is required between the host computers of the networks and the hub, which increases the cost of the network.

 Rather than have one large hub for all of the VSAT networks sharing the same satellite, the over all network evolved to allow each sub network to have its own hub as soon as the economics made it attractive. In this way, the host computer of each VSAT network can be co-located with its own hub, thus eliminating the cost of the interconnection between the hub earth station and the computer controlling the service offered through the VSAT network.

 Whether the hub is shared or dedicated on the one hand or the VSAT is connected to a single user or a local area network (LAN) with multiple users sharing access through an Ethernet connection on the other, in every case there will need to be an access control protocol.

 The Direct to home Satellite Broadcast system (DBS/DTH) enables viewers to receive many channels of high quality TV programmes via high powered KU-BAND satellites. There are no distribution cables but the receiver connects through MODEM to the customers telephone line for communication with the subscription service computer for billing purposes.

DTH Satellite Television

Thus the DTH system does not need a cable network that at present distributes TV signals to customers.
The data is compressed till significant digital artifacts appear.

 Programmes containing frames with many fast moving objects, like a game of basket ball , can be compressed 3 or 4 to a transponder of 36 MHz channel width.

Programmes containing mostly large still images can be accommodated to about 5 to 6 to a transponder.
Movies can be compressed perhaps up to 7 or 8 to one transponder by reducing frame rate and in some cases even by not including interlacing lines which otherwise is a standard practice to reduce flicker and improve resolution.

 For DTH service, Ku-band frequencies are preferred because these are not prone to interference from ground point to point communication and also need much smaller diameter dish antenna.

Low powered Ku- band satellite transmit in the 11.7 to 12.5 GHz range while the new high powered versions are assigned 12.2 to 12.7 GHz band for efficient operation of DTH transmissions.
Such satellites need receiving dish antennas of diameter between 50 to 90 cm depending on the location of receiving site in the satellites foot print, area.

 Receiver Front Panel: The different operating controls and buttons provided on it are:

A. The ON/Off switch : when set on OFF enables a flashing light close to the message to indicate that necessary information has been sent to the customer service centre.
B. TV/DTH or TV/DSB button switches between the satellite signal IN and the terrestrial antenna or cable network IN as desired on turning ON the receiving. C. Four cornered arrows to point to different items in the menu system and program guide and also for channel surfing while viewing video.

A. On pressing the MENU button, a list of available programmes appears on the TV screen. B. The Select/Display provision is for selecting items out of the program guide and menu charts. C. Access (SMART) card slot accepts the smart card. It is a credit card sized device which on plugging is the slot allows the decoder to receive authorized programming.

Receiver Back Panel

It has both input and output connecting points. The input connection include : Jack for connecting phone line to DTH receiver. Satellite IN and N from antenna or cable The receiver outputs are Out to TV with modulation on CH 3 or 4 ;

S video which connects Super Video to the compatible TV set or VCR; Video signal to a monitor type TV or VCR; audio output L/R for stereo sound and wide Bank Data designed for use in conjunction with future technology such as High Definition TV(HDTV) and Interactive TV etc.

 The 12.2 to 12.7 GHz band was set aside for exclusive use by DBS-TV satellites in geostationary orbit so that high power transponders could be used on specially designed DBS TV satellites. Typical transponder output levels are 100 to 240 W with flux density at the earths surface up to -105 dB/W/m2. The satellites can carry up to 32 transponders, giving a total transmitted RF power up to 3.2 kW, higher than for any other commercial. DBS satellites are typically large and heavy, generally use a three axis stabilized design, and have large solar sails to generate the DC power required by the transponders.

 The flux density at the earth surface produced by medium and high power transponder used on DBS satellites is in the range -105 to -115 dB W/m2, which allows small receiving antennas dishes to be used for DBS TV reception, with diameters in the range 0.45 0.9 m. The small receiving antenna has a wide beam, typically 4 to a 0.45 m dish, which forces wide spacing of DBS TV satellites to avoid interference at the receiving antenna by the signals from adjacent DBS-TV satellites. Each DBS TV satellites carries up to 32 high power transponders covering part of the 12.2 to 12.7 GHz broadcast satellite band (BSS) and the satellites at each orbit location transmit in opposite hands of circular polarization (CP).

Signals with opposite hands of circular polarization are orthogonal, and a suitably designed earth station antenna can separate two signals with opposite hands of circular polarization. In simplest DBS TV terminal , an electronically controlled polarizer is used immediately behind the antenna feed. The polarizer can be set to receive LHCP (left hand circular polarization) or RHCP( right hand circular polarization) by changing the voltage supplied to the low noise block converter (LNB) unit at the antenna.

Typically, a supply voltage of 7 V will cause the antenna to receive one polarization and reject the other. Increasing the voltage above 14 V causes the antenna to switch polarizations.
The polarizer converts the circularly received polarization signal to a linearly polarized signal in a section of waveguide, and a linear probe in the waveguide converts the signals to currents that drive the LNA input.

 More complex receivers use an orthogonal mode transducer(OMT) with two LNBs so that both hands of circular polarization can be received at the same time by using two LNBs and two receivers. A dual channel DBS TV receiver with a dual- polarized antenna allows two TV channels to be viewed by different people in the same household at the same time. Reception from two satellites spaced 9 apart in GEO can be achieved with a larger antenna, 0.45 X 0.6 m that produces two beams separated by the appropriate angle.

DBS- TV receiver
The entire front end of the receiver is located at the antenna feed in the form of an LNB :

to minimize loss of signal and hence to maintain the lowest possible system noise temperature. the electronic polarizer is switched by changing the voltage supplied to the LNB via the cable that interconnects the antenna and set-top receiver.
The entire 12.2 12.7 GHz band is down converted by the LNB to the 900-1400 MHz, where cable losses are much lower than at Ku band.

 The down converter consists of a dielectric resonator local oscillator and mixer, followed by an IF amplifier and band pass filter. The high gain LNB can drive 100m of coaxial cable without any reduction in signal quality. Where longer cable runs are needed, amplifiers for the 900-1400 MHz band can be used to boost the signal strength. The set top box accepts the entire 500-MHz band and separates out the individual transponder frequencies. Any one of these frequencies can be selected on demand by the user.

 The user enters the desired channel no. into the set top box using as IR remote control, for eg. 363, which is converted via a stored look up table in the receiver to an RF channel frequency and polarization.

The signal from the required transponder is then selected by the receiver by setting the correct polarization at the antenna and tuning the set top local oscillator to the appropriate IF channel frequency.
The QPSK signal is then demodulated. The result is a multiplexed bit stream, typically at a bit rate up 40 Mbps, which contains the bits for channel 363 and several other video signals.

 The bit stream is encrypted and contains error control coding bits and data bits. The bit stream is processed to correct and detect errors, de interleaved , and decrypted. A digital de-multiplexer then extracts the bits for the wanted channel, 362 in this eg, sends them to a MPEG 2 decoder, and finally generates analog video and audio signals with D/A converters to drive the TV set.

 The look up table in the receiver that relates channel numbers to frequencies, polarizations, and instructions for the TDM demultiplexer is downloaded from the satellite on a regular schedule. This allows the service provider to change the transponder which carries a particular signal, and to alter the mix of signals on a given transponder as required, without the customer being aware of the changes. The satellite is used to address individual receivers and to load another look up table that specifies which channels the user is authorized to receive. If the user fails to pay his or her bills to the service provider, the receiver will eventually be instructed to show only a message that it has been disconnected for failure to make timely payment for the service.

 This process involves a smart card, which identifies each receiving system and enables decryption of the satellite signals. The high level of protection applied to the DBS-TV signals is intended to prevent unauthorized reception by users who have not paid monthly fees. Hackers have reportedly broken the encryption system of Direct TV from time to time by reprogramming smart cards, but Direct TV retaliated in early 2001, disabling the pirated cards and shutting down nonpaying viewers. Pay per view channels are handles differently from broadcast channels. A customer wishing to buy a movie or a sporting event selects the desired channel and authorizes the system to make a charge.

 The Direct TV receive terminals have no uplink capability, and must therefore use terrestrial telephone circuits to send charging information to the central office of the TV service provider. The cost of the pay per view event is then added to the customers monthly bill. This requires a connection between the DBS-TV receiver and the PSTN at the customers premises. The receiver dials a toll free no. , and down loads a record of the charges for that customer, and any other information that the receiver is programmed to deliver to the service provider. Such information might include the pattern of channels that the customer selects and watches , which is valuable data for advertisers. Using the satellite to convey instructions to the receivers brings some notable advantages to the DBS-TV customer.

 A customer who wishes to change the level of service he or she receives need make only a single phone call to obtain a service upgrade.

The customer owns the DBS-TV receiving equipment and is responsible for its maintenance, so there are no service calls by satellite TV providers.