Broadband
July 14-16
The growing
demand for broadband/wideband satellite communications (satcom)
for mobile and temporary locations has motivated the introduction of technology
solutions and network architectures that provide bi-directional connectivity at
hundreds of kbps to many Mbps data rates. Current commercial and military
applications under highly-dynamic conditions utilize a variety of fixed and
transportable satcom terminals as well as newly
developed mobile satcom terminals being deployed on
aircraft, including jets, helicopters, Unmanned Aeronautical Vehicles (UAVs), and light aircraft; vessels, such as ships and
yachts; and many types of land vehicles, including trucks, armored transports,
and SUVs. More than a basic introduction, this course presents details on specific
approaches for designing broadband mobile satcom
networks at L, C, X, Ku, and Ka bands, and should allow participants to specify
and configure major space and ground network elements; evaluate sources of
antenna technology, RF electronics, and modem equipment; and select the most
appropriate satellite architecture, coverage, and bandwidth. The course describes
how satellite systems and user terminal equipment can be used to deliver
broadband services for a wide range of commercial, civil and defense
applications including rapid replacement of lost infrastructure after disasters.. The course provides detailed case studies of broadband
communications systems at L and C bands for vehicular, aeronautical and
maritime platforms and examines Ku/Ka-band satcom
systems for manned aircraft as well as UAVs. The
course also addresses the delivery of broadband communications on-the-move
(COTM) and the integration of COTM satellite terminals with wireless access
points and cellular base stations to provide connectivity to portable hand-held
devices for disaster recovery and other short-term needs. The course also
describes how satellite systems can inter-operate and share spectrum with
ground-based cellular infrastructure via the Ancillary Terrestrial Component
(ATC).
Detailed
topics include:
·
Design
of broadband satellite links at 1.5 GHz and above, including radio wave
propagation (based on free-space propagation at L, C and X, bands, and influenced
heavily by rain attenuation above 10 GHz); link budget principles; and
system-level approaches, such as advanced forward error correction (turbo codes
and LDPC), automatic uplink power control, and Adaptive Modulation and Coding
(ACM).
·
Architecture
of the space segment, star/mesh networking, multi-beam antenna systems, frequency
reuse, narrowband and wideband transponders, regenerative payloads, satellite
and ground-based digital signal processing, modems and software defined radios
(SDRs), and solid-state microwave electronics
·
Commercial
standards for compression, protocol enhancement (for high latency and impaired
links) and multiple access methods (TDMA and CDMA)
·
Selection
of suitable satellite coverage and RF properties, including transponders in the
case of bent-pipe designs, considering coverage, performance, reliability, and
cost.
·
Configuration
of the ground segment using L, C, X, Ku, and Ka frequencies, taking into
account the unique aspects of high-transportability, rapid installation, and
mobility
·
Special
characteristics of mobile platforms on aircraft, ships, and vehicles, including
methods of antenna tracking; Doppler compensation and network mobility
solutions
·
Typical
examples of mobile and temporary broadband networks at L, Ku, and Ka bands
The course
is intended for technical professionals, satellite network operators, and
emergency managers in the public and private sectors who are exploring the
capabilities of satellite networks for mobile and temporary applications.
Communications engineers involved with the development and use of all broadband
telecommunications media (wired and wireless) should understand the
capabilities that modern satellite systems may offer. (Most of these
applications involve broadband services, such as multichannel
voice and data, digital content distribution, interactive and multimedia
networks, and highly secure and controlled communications to a mobile or
temporary user community.) Some previous familiarity with microwave and/or
satellite communications is desirable.
The
lectures are based on many years' experience in the satellite communications
field augmented with current research in the design of space and ground mobile
systems that make these bands and locations accessible.
UCLA Extension has
presented this highly successful short course since 2001. It has been
thoroughly revised and updated for the technology and requirements in 2008 and
beyond.
Course Materials
Lecture notes are
distributed on the first day of the course. These notes are for participants
only and are not for sale.
Coordinator and Lecturer
Bruce R. Elbert, MSEE, MBA, President, Application Technology Strategy,
Inc., Thousand Oaks, California; and Adjunct Professor, College of Engineering,
University of Wisconsin, Madison. Mr. Elbert is a recognized satellite
communications expert and has been involved in the satellite and
telecommunications industries for 40 years. He founded ATSI to assist major
private and public sector organizations that develop and operate cutting-edge
networks using satellite and other wireless technologies and services. During
25 years with Hughes Space and Communications (now Boeing Satellite Systems),
he directed communications engineering of several major satellite projects,
including Palapa A, Indonesia's original satellite
system; the Galaxy follow-on system (one of the most successful satellite TV
systems in the world); and the development of the first GEO mobile satellite
system capable of serving handheld user terminals. Mr. Elbert also worked as a
communications engineer for the INTELSAT system and developed link analysis
tools while a radio officer in the U.S. Army. He has written seven books on
telecommunications and IT, including The
Satellite Communication Applications Handbook, Second Edition (Artech House, 2004); The
Satellite Communication Ground Segment and Earth Station Handbook (Artech House, 2001); and Introduction to Satellite Communication, Third Edition (Artech House, 2008).
Lecturer
Michael de La Chapelle, MSEE, Senior Technical Fellow, The
Boeing Company, Seattle, Washington. Mr. de La Chapelle
has 28 years of experience, including six years as lead system architect for
the Connexion by Boeing broadband mobile satcom network. He is currently engaged in designing and
architecting broadband mobile satcom networks for
government and civil users. He has developed wideband satcom
solutions for a wide range of mobile platforms including commercial jets,
business jets, helicopters, UAVs, HMMVWs,
Stryker vehicles, yachts and ships. Mr. de La Chapelle
has also designed communication satellite payloads and entire satellite
networks with user terminals and ground infrastructure. He is an expert on
mobile satellite communication and has published numerous papers, received many
patents, and taught classes on the subject. He holds MS and BS degrees from
UCLA Faculty Representative
Kung Yao, PhD, Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science
Daily Schedule
Monday
Systems Engineering for Broadband Satellite Communications –
Bruce Elbert
·
Current
experience with broadband satellite systems
—
Development of Ku and Ka band bent-pipe satellites and applications: DBS
(DIRECTV) and VSAT networks; services
to remote disaster sites, aircraft, and ships
—
Recent Ka-band systems: Anik F2, Astrolink,
and Spaceway
—
Government and military systems at X and Ka band: GBS, WGS
·
Frequency
allocations and uses
—
X band: specific application for military and government, now addressed by
commercial operators (X-star)
—
Ku band: concentrated in developed regions with high demand for broadband
services, small antenna terminals (VSATs)
—
Ka band: bandwidth availability, multiple beams to service small antennas and
high bandwidths, bent-pipe and on-board processing systems
·
Propagation
at higher frequencies: basic link characteristics and link budgets, rain fade,
ITU DAH and Crane rain modeling, assessing rain margin and link availability on
a global basis
·
Advancements
in multiple access, modulation, and forward error correction coding
—
Tradeoffs among TDMA, CDMA, and FDMA; dynamic bandwidth assignment
—
Advanced coding principles (turbo codes, low-density parity check codes)
—
Bandwidth-efficient modulation (8PSK, 16QAM, 32APSK)
—
DVB-S2 specification and applicability
·
Application
of currently-operating satellites
—
Satellites available from various operators: SES, Intelsat, Telesat,
NewSkies, JSAT, Eutelsat,
etc.
—
Criteria for evaluating satellite coverage and performance
—
Issues related to costs, reliability, and transponder loading
·
Overcoming
link rain outage: uplink and onboard power control, space and angle diversity,
adaptive coding and modulation
Tuesday
Earth stations and Land-based User
Terminals – Bruce Elbert
—
System design methodology
o
Ground
antenna systems for major hub and teleport earth stations
o
Power
amplification at X, Ku, and Ka bands: TWT, Klystron, and solid state
o
Baseband
systems: video, voice, and data
o
Cost
and functionality issues when integrating satellite with terrestrial services
—
State of the art in broadband user terminals: standardized architecture and
capabilities
o
RF
terminals: low noise and power amplifiers
o
Indoor
electronics: application requirements, use of the Internet protocol and ATM
o
Star
topology using Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs):
major suppliers (iDirect, Gilat,
Hughes, and ViaSat)
o
Mesh
networks: access and bandwidth control; proper transponder utilization; and
application integration (video, voice, data)
o
Design
of two-way terminals at temporary sites: experience at Ku and Ka bands
— Vehicular mobile
o
Highly
transportable terminals used for temporary and emergency communications
o
Satellite
news gathering vehicles
o
"Point-and-shoot"
antennas
o
Communication
"on-the-move”: systems for military and civilian vehicles
o
Mobile
base stations
Aeronautical and Maritime
o
Mobile satcom platforms
& network architectures
o
Mobile satellite services & applications
o
Spectrum allocations for mobile satcom
services
o
Satellite infrastructure availability (C, Ku and Ka)
o
Satellite spot beams & freq reuse
o
Comparison of existing broadband mobile satellite services
(data rates, coverage, capacity)
o
Important standards for broadband mobile satcom including DVB
o
Challenges of low elevation angle operation
o
High-latitude GSO geometry, flight routes & operational
methods
o
Traffic distribution vs latitude
and flight density data
Wednesday
Aeronautical and Maritime
o
Link budgets for small mobile terminals
o
Adjacent satellite interference models &
calculation methods
o
Modeling platform movement
o
Satellite spatial & polarization acquisition/tracking
from mobile platforms
o
Doppler compensation
o
Receiver signal acquisition (freq/timing synchronization)
o
Transmit power control
o
Regulatory requirements for broadband mobile satcom
o
Ku-band forward link PSD limits
o
PSD reduction methods and spread-spectrum modulation
o
Sharing spectrum with other services
o
Management of ASI from small mobile terminals
o
Satellite resource management & on-demand bandwidth
sharing
o
Satcom antennas for
aeronautical, terrestrial and maritime mobile platforms
o
Antenna radomes, feeds and gimbals
o
Antenna
diversity and satellite handoff to mitigate superstructure blockage
o
Seamless satellite/gateway handoffs for wide-area
mobility
o
Network mobility solutions - packet addressing and routing
o
Protocol Enhancement Proxies (PEPs)
and TCP acceleration
o
Radiation safety regulations and compliance methods
for mobile platforms
o
Integration of mobile satcom
terminals with wireless LANs and cellular base stations for connectivity to
users inside and outside mobile platforms
o
Waveforms, modems and Software Defined Radios (SDRs)
o
Case Study – Connexion by Boeing broadband mobile satellite
network