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Content:
This course presents an overview of the technology of satellite communications, focusing on Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) networks and how they compete with terrestrial alternatives. The fundamentals of spacecraft operation, orbits, and coverage are explained, followed by an overview of ground equipment hardware and alternative methods for sharing space segment cost. The course concludes with a discussion of the main technical, economic, and regulatory factors of VSAT networks.
Review quizzes are given during each lesson and a final test is given at the end of the course.
Audience:Installers, managers, sales staff, technicians and engineers who need an initial introduction to satcom.
Prerequisites: An interest in satellite communications.
Duration:Approx 100 pages, requiring 5-10 hours study.
Medium: Animated & interactive HTML/Flash, self-paced, on-line format.
1. About the Global VSAT Forum
Activities, regulatory, industry advocacy, training programs and certifications.
2. Communications technologies
Demographics and technologies; microwave, fiber, wireless, satellite; economics of fiber vs. satellite; global demographics and satellite applications.
3. Satellite communications and spacecraft
How satellites work; myths and truths; strengths and weaknesses; payloads; bent-pipe and on-board processing transponders; launch methods; launch and spacecraft costs; lifetimes.
4. Orbits
Gravity and momentum; orbit period and altitude; GEO, MEO, and LEO; properties of geostationary orbits; global coverage; orbit slots; co-location; stationkeeping.
5. Dish pointing concepts
Latitude, longitude; azimuth and elevation; the GEO arc; az-el beam movement across the arc.
6. Footprints
Downlink signal strength; downlink EIRP; uplink and downlink footprints; contours; examples.
7. Electromagnetic waves and frequencies
Fundamentals of waves; amplitude and frequency; the spectrum; bands; C, Ku, and Ka band allocations for satcom; latency (delay) effects.
8. Access methods
SCPC and fixed point-to-point links; bandwidth sharing; TDM and TDMA, FDMA, SCPC, DVB-RCS, DAMA; comparisons and applications; interoperability and standards.
9. Earth stations and VSAT terminals
Components in VSAT and SCPC terminals; BUCs, LNBs, antenna and feed systems; modems; large earth station equipment; typical block diagrams; examples.
10. VSAT networks
Satellite vs. terrestrial tradeoffs; deployment options; capital and recuring cost tradeoff issues; operator specifications and type approvals; international, national, and local regulatory factors; the importance of high quality installations.