Systems Engineering - ATI

Earth Station Design, Implementation, Operation and Maintenance
for Satellite Communications
November 9-12, 2010
Beltsville, Maryland
$1895 (8:30am - 4:00pm)
"Register 3 or More & Receive $100 00 each
Off The Course Tuition."
Summary
This intensive four-day course is intended for
satellite communications engineers, earth station
design professionals, and operations and maintenance
managers and technical staff. The course provides a
proven approach to the design of modern earth
stations, from the system level down to the critical
elements that determine the performance and reliability
of the facility. We address the essential technical
properties in the baseband and RF, and delve deeply
into the block diagram, budgets and specification of
earth stations and hubs. Also addressed are practical
approaches for the procurement and implementation of
the facility, as well as proper practices for O&M and
testing throughout the useful life. The overall
methodology assures that the earth station meets its
requirements in a cost effective and manageable
manner. Each student will receive a copy of Bruce R.
Elbert’s text The Satellite Communication Ground
Segment and Earth Station Engineering Handbook,
Artech House, 2001.
Instructor
Bruce R. Elbert, MSc (EE), 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 over 30 years. He
founded ATSI to assist major private and public sector
organizations that develop and operate cutting-edge
networks using satellite technologies and services.
During 25 years with Hughes Electronics, he directed
the design of several major satellite projects, including
Palapa A, Indonesia’s original satellite system; the
Galaxy follow-on system (the largest and most
successful satellite TV system in the world); and the
development of the first GEO mobile satellite system
capable of serving handheld user terminals. Mr. Elbert
was also ground segment manager for the Hughes
system, which included eight teleports and 3 VSAT
hubs. He served in the US Army Signal Corps as a
radio communications officer and instructor.
By considering the technical, business, and
operational aspects of satellite systems, Mr. Elbert has
contributed to the operational and economic success
of leading organizations in the field. He has written
seven books on telecommunications and IT, including
Introduction to Satellite Communication, Third Edition
(Artech House, 2008). The Satellite Communication
Applications Handbook, Second Edition (Artech
House, 2004); The Satellite Communication Ground
Segment and Earth Station Handbook (Artech House,
2001), the course text.
NEW!
Course Outline
1. Ground Segment and Earth Station Technical
Aspects.
Evolution of satellite communication earth stations—
teleports and hubs • Earth station design philosophy for
performance and operational effectiveness • Engineering
principles • Propagation considerations • The isotropic source,
line of sight, antenna principles • Atmospheric effects:
troposphere (clear air and rain) and ionosphere (Faraday and
scintillation) • Rain effects and rainfall regions • Use of the
DAH and Crane rain models • Modulation systems (QPSK,
OQPSK, MSK, GMSK, 8PSK, 16 QAM, and 32 APSK) •
Forward error correction techniques (Viterbi, Reed-Solomon,
Turbo, and LDPC codes) • Transmission equation and its
relationship to the link budget • Radio frequency clearance
and interference consideration • RFI prediction techniques •
Antenna sidelobes (ITU-R Rec 732) • Interference criteria and
coordination • Site selection • RFI problem identification and
resolution.
2. Major Earth Station Engineering.
RF terminal design and optimization. Antennas for major
earth stations (fixed and tracking, LP and CP) • Upconverter
and HPA chain (SSPA, TWTA, and KPA) • LNA/LNB and
downconverter chain. Optimization of RF terminal
configuration and performance (redundancy, power
combining, and safety) • Baseband equipment configuration
and integration • Designing and verifying the terrestrial
interface • Station monitor and control • Facility design and
implementation • Prime power and UPS systems. Developing
environmental requirements (HVAC) • Building design and
construction • Grounding and lightening control.
3. Hub Requirements and Supply.
Earth station uplink and downlink gain budgets • EIRP
budget • Uplink gain budget and equipment requirements •
G/T budget • Downlink gain budget • Ground segment supply
process • Equipment and system specifications • Format of a
Request for Information • Format of a Request for Proposal •
Proposal evaluations • Technical comparison criteria •
Operational requirements • Cost-benefit and total cost of
ownership.
4. Link Budget Analysis using SatMaster Tool .
Standard ground rules for satellite link budgets • Frequency
band selection: L, S, C, X, Ku, and Ka. Satellite footprints
(EIRP, G/T, and SFD) and transponder plans • Introduction to
the user interface of SatMaster • File formats: antenna
pointing, database, digital link budget, and regenerative
repeater link budget • Built-in reference data and calculators •
Example of a digital one-way link budget (DVB-S) using
equations and SatMaster • Transponder loading and optimum
multi-carrier backoff • Review of link budget optimization
techniques using the program’s built-in features • Minimize
required transponder resources • Maximize throughput •
Minimize receive dish size • Minimize transmit power •
Example: digital VSAT network with multi-carrier operation •
Hub optimization using SatMaster.
5. Earth Terminal Maintenance Requirements and
Procedures.
• Outdoor systems • Antennas, mounts and waveguide •
Field of view • Shelter, power and safety • Indoor RF and IF
systems • Vendor requirements by subsystem • Failure modes
and routine testing.
6. VSAT Basseband Hub Maintenance Requirements
and Procedures.
IF and modem equipment • Performance evaluation • Test
procedures • TDMA control equipment and software •
Hardware and computers • Network management system •
System software
7. Hub Procurement and Operation Case Study.
General requirements and life-cycle • Block diagram •
Functional division into elements for design and procurement
• System level specifications • Vendor options • Supply
specifications and other requirements • RFP definition •
Proposal evaluation • O&M planning
Register online at www.ATIcourses.com or call ATI at 888.501.2100 or 410.956.8805 Vol. 104 – 43