RE: Satellite Bandwidth Questions
"Christopher M. Hudson" <chris.hudson@intelsat.int> Tue, 29 December 1998 20:13 UTC
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From: "Christopher M. Hudson" <chris.hudson@intelsat.int>
To: Chris Metz <chmetz@cisco.com>, tcpsat@lerc.nasa.gov
Subject: RE: Satellite Bandwidth Questions
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1998 15:13:33 -0500
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Chris, There probably is a good book but, I don't know one that would give you the answer quickly. For the real quick answer, you can use the response from David Fritz (Though I think you would be using QPSK not BPSK modulation): ------- Fritz, David A. [David.Fritz@jhuapl.edu] -------- If you simply want to get in the ballpark, using Binary Phase Shift Keying, a common type of modulation for satellite communications, you get roughly one bps per Hz of bandwidth allocation. So, if a user is allocated 1 MHz of bandwidth and they use BPSK, then they can send roughly 1 Mbps. ----------------------------- P.S. While composing this the excellent response from Chris Schram arrived. Hopefully my response will add some more insight. Here is a more in depth but still *quick* answer in the form of an example using a typical, geosynchronous, bent-pipe, US domestic satellite. (Contrary to my footer, the bulk of my satellite experience is with US commercial satellites). This example is valid for both C- and Ku-band. One last caveat, this is a just an example. I am purposely avoiding the myriad of permutations that already exist and are increasing with time. To define the terms used above: Geosynchronous: the satellite is stationed above the equator and orbits the earth once every 24 hours. So, from earth, the satellite appears to remain in the same spot all the time. Bent-pipe: the satellite does nothing more than receive at the uplink frequency, translate to the downlink frequency, amplify, then retransmit the signal back to earth. US domestic satellite (often called a US domsat) - a satellite that receives and transmits signals from (usually) the contiguous 48 states and often a bit more (i.e. Hawaii or Alaska). The quick answer is: Bandwidth = (Data rate) * ( 1 / Modulation factor ) * ( 1 / FEC ) * Any additional coding factors) Where Modulation factor = = 1 for BPSK (binary phase shift keying) = 2 for QPSK (quadrature phase shift keying) FEC (Forward error correction) is typically 1/2, or 3/4 and sometimes 7/8. Additional coding could be Reed-Solomon where numbers like 218:201 are common (i.e. 218 bytes are transmitted for 201 bytes of *real* data). An example: 64 kbps, QPSK, 3/4 rate Viterbi, with Reed-Solomon outer coding. BW = 46.3 kHz = 64 kbit/s * ( 1 / 2 ) * ( 1 / [3/4] ) * ( 218 / 201 ) HOWEVER, modems are not perfect (filter rolloffs, etc.) and the carrier coming out of the modem is not exacting 46.3 kHz wide. On top of this, satellite providers put guard band between carriers to help insure they don't interfere with each other. Combining both of these, a spreading/spacing factor of 1.3 to 1.4 is usually used. So, the bandwidth allocated on the satellite for this 64 kbps example is more like 62.5 kHz (1.35 spacing). Various modulation and coding schemes are used to squeeze more data bits into a fixed bandwidth and power. David Fritz's example of computer modems is good. They are limited to less than 4 kHz bandwidth and cannot exceed fixed power levels. Contrary to the telephone system, with satellites one can tradeoff available bandwidth versus available power. A slight digression. A typical US domsat has 500 MHz of bandwidth. The 500 MHz is divided up into transponders, often each of 36 MHz. Each transponder has its own (power limited) amplifier. For our example, the 64 kbps signal uses 62.5 kHz of bandwidth which is 0.17% of 36 MHz. Consequently, the signal will be allocated 0.17% of the available power. Depending upon the size and sensitivity of the receiving earth station, this may or may not be strong enough for the satellite link to work properly. The 64 kbps signal may need to use the power equivalence of, say, 100 kHz. The power can be used, if available, but the 64 kbps signal will now be treated as if it is occupying 100 kHz. I hope this helped. Chris ------------------------------- Christopher M. Hudson INTELSAT chris.hudson@intelsat.int Tel: +1.202.944.7393 -----Original Message----- From: owner-tcpsat@lerc.nasa.gov [mailto:owner-tcpsat@lerc.nasa.gov] On Behalf Of Chris Metz Sent: Tuesday, December 29, 1998 11:49 AM To: tcpsat@lerc.nasa.gov Subject: Satellite Bandwidth Questions Hi- I am studying TCP over Satellite considerations and have reviewed draft-ietf-tcpsat-stand-mech-06.txt. I live in a "bits per second" world in terms of bandwidth I would like to understand how bps relates to the terms used to describe satellite bandwidth. So is there a reference somewhere or good book on satellite basics that can fill in the following terms: Band Uplink (GHZ) Downlink (GHz) Uplink (bps) Downlink (bps) C 6 4 ?? ?? Ku 14 12 ?? ?? Ka 30 20 ?? ?? I suppose I am asking how does one convert MHz and GHz into conventional bandwidth (bps) terminology. This for clearing this up for me and my apologies for the "simpleton" question. Chris Metz Consulting Systems Engineer Cisco Systems email: chmetz@cisco.com phone: 212-714-4207 pager: 800-365-4578 Original Recipient: HUDSOC.BMAIL @ INTELSAT
- Satellite Bandwidth Questions Chris Metz
- Re: Satellite Bandwidth Questions Craig Partridge
- Re: Satellite Bandwidth Questions Andreas Voigt
- RE: Satellite Bandwidth Questions Fritz, David A.
- RE: Satellite Bandwidth Questions Schram, Chris
- RE: Satellite Bandwidth Questions Heidi E Anderson
- RE: satellite bandwidth questions William A. Kissick
- RE: Satellite Bandwidth Questions Brooker, Ralph
- RE: Satellite Bandwidth Questions Christopher M. Hudson
- Re: Satellite Bandwidth Questions Lloyd Wood
- RE: Satellite Bandwidth Questions Lloyd Wood
- RE: Satellite Bandwidth Questions Zwart, R.
- Re: Satellite Bandwidth Questions William D Ivancic
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