Satellite communications training course description

This course starts by recaping some of the essential satellite knowledge required and proceeds to explore the deeper aspects of satellite communications, including hardware, communications and error control coding.

What will you learn

• Explain how satellite communications work.
• Explain how RF works
• Explain the architecture of satellite systems.
• Use spectrum analysers.

Satellite communications training course details

Satellite communications training course contents

• Basic Principles of Satellite Communications

GEO, MEO and LEO satellites. Launching and orbits. Frequency bands and polarisation. Satellite footprints. Multibeam coverage. Power spectra. Link budgets. Modulation and coding. Access technologies. Earth station components. Space segment components. Satellite system services. Satellite operators.

• Radio frequency propagation

Electromagnetic waves principles and generation. Reception of the EM wave. Space wave, sky wave and surface wave theory. The isotropic radiator. Types of antennae and their basic properties. Polar diagrams. International frequency allocation. Spectrum management and utilisation. Radio wave propagation. Line of sight propagation. Propagation for satellite comms. Free space path loss. Path attenuation. Noise and Interference. Power and its measurement.

• Satellite antennae and other hardware

Power flux density. Effective aperture. Horn antennae. Parabolic reflector. Offset feed. Cassegrain and Gregorian antennae. Antenna feed systems – Horn, TMC, OMJ and polarizer. Antenna steering and mount systems. Array antennae. LNA, LNB, LNC. Microwave tubes – TWT and Klystron. Polarizers.

• Earth and Space Segments and the link

Earth station antennae. Transponders. Antennae sub systems. Power supplies. Link budgets. System noise. System losses. Interference. Satellite switching.

• Ground Communications Equipment

Baseband signals. Analogue and Digital systems. Overview of modulation – AM, FM, PM. Digital Modulation. Frequency conversion –up and down conversion. Filters, mixers, local oscillators, IF amplifiers and group delay equalisers. Access methods – single and multiple access systems. Data networks. Television transmission – analogue and digital. Digital signal compression. MPEG processing.

• Satellite Navigation

Longitude, latitude, altitude, GPS, How GPS works, timing, alternatives to GPS.

• Mobile satellite services

Voice and Phones, BGAN, TV, GPS to program aerial, VSAT.

• Error Control Coding

The need for coding. Linear block codes. Cyclic codes. Convolution codes. Interleaving and concatenated codes. Coding gain. Turbo codes.

• Test and measurement

Theory and practice of Spectrum Analysers.

Learning path

Reviews