DEPARTMENT OF

ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

SATELLITE COMMUNICATION
Lab Manual
EC-7003
 Experiment No.1
Aim:-To study Introduction of Satellite Trainer Kit ST2272

Fig 1. Model No: ST2272

Detailed Product Description Satellite Communication Trainer ST2272 provides an in-

depth study of basic Satellite Communication system. It consists of Uplink Transmitter,
Satellite Link and Downlink Receiver, which can be conveniently placed in the
laboratory. The Satellite can be placed at an elevated. position if needed. The Satellite
Transponder receives signal from Uplink Transmitter and retransmits at different
frequencies to a Downlink Receiver. The Uplink and Downlink frequencies are selectable
and carry three signals- Video, Audio/ Voice/ Tone and Data simultaneously..

The Operating manual illustrates basic theory and glossary of Satellite Communication
terms along with Experiments. Experiments that can be performed Understanding Basic
concepts of Satellite Communication. To establish a direct communication link between
Uplink Transmitter and Down link receiver using tone signal.

To setup an Active satellite link and demonstrate Link Fail operations. To establish an
AUDIO-VIDEO satellite link between Transmitter and Receiver. And Many More
Technical Specification Uplink Transmitter. Transmit 3 signals simultaneously at each up
linking frequency 2414 /2432/2450/2468 MHz up linking frequencies selectable by up-
down 2 Switch and LED indication. 4 MHz clock frequency. Wide band RF amplifier.
No manual matching required. PIC16F84 - 8 Bit RISC processor based PLL. 16 MHz
Bandwidth. FM Modulation of Audio and Video. 5/ 5.5/ 8 MHz Audio and Video
Modulation Detachable Dish Antenna. Radiated Power output 25 mW (approx.) .
Transmit Audio, Video, Digital/Analog data, Tone, Voice Function Generator waveforms
etc. Separate terminals provided for Different inputs Power Supply: 230 Volts 10% ,50
Hz. Satellite Link. Transponder with selectable frequency conversion. Choice of 4
downlink frequencies 2414 /2432/2450/2468 MHz Rotary Switch for selecting uplink
frequency. Link Fail Operation. Detachable Dish Antennas. Radiated power 25 mW
ApproX
.
FEATURES
 Simultaneous communication of three different signals
 Communicate Audio, Video, Digital data, PC data, Tone, Voice, function
generator waveforms etc
 2414 - 2468MHz PLL microwave operation
 Communication of external broad band digital signal
 Choice of different transmitting and receiving frequencies
 Built-in Speaker and Microphone for Voice and Audio link
 Remote detection of Light intensity and environment temperature
 Detachable Dish Antenna at each station
 USB port for PC communication
 2 Year Warranty

Result: Thus we have studied Introduction of Satellite Trainer Kit ST2272

 Experiment No.2

Aim: To setup an active satellite link and demonstrate link fail operations
Apparatus: Satellite Trainer kit, connecting cords.
Procedure:
1. Place uplink transmitter, transponder and downlink receiver at a
convenient distance of 3 meters, in a triangular manner.
2. Set first dish antenna of uplink Transmitter and R1 receiving dish antenna of
satellite transponder position in sight.
3. Set X2 transmitting antenna of satellite transponder and R2 dish antenna of
downlink receiver position in sight.
4. Set downlink frequency to 2414 MHz by frequency selection switch on board.
5. Now connect tone output signal to tone input socket onboard uplink
Transmitter by patch cord.
6. Keep downlink receiver speaker switch in ON position and you will be to hear
tone in speaker of receiver.
7. When the frequency combinations of transmitter and receiver are mismatched
no signal is received and no tone can be heard on the downlink receiver. This
demonstrates satellite link operations.
Fig 1. Block Diagram of Satellite Communication System

Result : Hence active satellite link and its failure operation is demonstrated.
 EXPERIMENT NO. 3

AIM: To set up a satellite communication link and study of change in uplink and
downlink frequency

BRIEF THEORY:

UPLINK TRANSMITTER: In up link station the signal has to be sent at a different

frequency usually in higher 1GHz band to avoid interference with link signal. Another
function performed by uplink station is to control highly internal function of satellite. up
links are controlled so that transmitted micro wave beam is extremely narrow in order
not to interface with adjacent satellite.

TRANSPONDER: Each satellite has a number of transponder witch access to a pair of

receive / transmit antennas and associated electronics for each channel. For example in
Europe the uplink sends a signal at a frequency of about 14 GHz. These are received
downlink converted in frequency of about 11/ 12 GHz and boosted by high power
amplifier for retransmission to earth. Separate transponder are used for each channel and
are powered by solar panels with backup batteries for eclipse protection.

DOWN LINK RECIEVER: The medium used to transmit signal from satellite to earth
is microwave electromagnetic radiation which is much higher in frequency normal
broadcast TV signal in VHF / UHF bands. Microwave still exhibit a wave like nature, but
inherit a tendency to serve attenuation by water vapors or any obstruction in line of sight
of antenna. The transmitted micro wave power is extremely weak by the time it reaches
earth and unless well designed equipment is used and certain installation precaution are
taken, the back round noise can ruin the signal.
BLOCK DIAGRAM:

TRANSMITTER

TRANSPONDER RECEIVER

PROCEDURE:-
1 Connect the satellite uplink transmitter to AC mains.
1 Switch on the transmitter by mains switch and frequency display will come on.
2 The transmitting frequency can be selected by up –down switch. The frequency
can be changed from 1200 -1250-1300 MHz.
3 The transmitter on –off switch will switch on –off the transmission.
4 Connect X1 antenna to uplink transmitter with BNC –BNC cable.
5 Set the o/p gain of uplink transmitter to maximum.
6 Place downlink receiver at a distance of 5-7 m.
7 Connect the downlink receiver to the AC mains and switch it on by mains switch.
8 The downlink receiver frequency can be changed from 1100 -1150 -1200 MHz.
9 The downlink receiver also has tuning potentiometer, which can be use to tune
any frequency from 950- 1500 MHz.
 Experiment No.4

Aim:- To transmit and receive PC data through satellite link.

Apparatus:- Uplink Transmitter, Downlink Receiver, dish antennas, Transponder,

2 No. of RS-232 9-pin cables ,2 Male to -1 Female RS -232
cable,2 sets of PC ,Satellite software and connecting cables.
Theory: - The Uplink transmitter sends signals at an uplink frequency,
which is higher than downlink frequency to avoid the interference. The quality
of signal
is much improved with active satellite specially when distances between transmitter
and
receiver are considerable.
Block diagram:-

RECEIVER
P.C TRANSMITTER TRANSPONDER
P.C

Fig 1. Block Diagram of transmit and receive PC data through satellite link.

Procedure:-
1. Connect the satellite uplink transmitter to AC mains.
2. Switch on the transmitter by mains switch and frequency display will come on.
3. The transmitting frequency can be selected by up –down switch. The
frequency can be changed from 1200 -1250-1300 MHz.
4. The transmitter on –off switch will switch on –off the transmission.
5. Connect X1 antenna to uplink transmitter with BNC –BNC cable.
6. Set the o/p gain of uplink transmitter to maximum.
7. Place downlink receiver at a distance of 5-7 m.
8. Connect the downlink receiver to the AC mains and switch it on by mains switch.
9. The downlink receiver frequency can be changed from 1100 -1150 -1200 MHz.
10. The downlink receiver also has tuning potentiometer, which can be used to tune
any frequency from 950- 1500 MHz.
11. Keep the tuning POT fully anticlockwise.
12. The downlink receiver on –off switch will switch on –off the receiver.
13. Attach R2 antenna to the downlink receiver with BNC –BNC cables.
14. Align both the transmitter and receiver antenna in line.
15. Place a satellite transponder between transmitter and receiver at a distance of 5-
7m

16. Connect the satellite transponder to the AC mains and switch it on by

mains Switch.
17. The receiver side of satellite Transponder has an on –off switch, which will
switch off the receiver of the satellite. Similarly on –off switch on transmitter side
Will switch off transmitter of satellite.
18. Adjust transmitter uplink frequency to 1300 MHz and transponder receiver
Frequency also to 1300MHz.
19. Keep downlink frequency of Transponder to 1100MHz.
20. Keep the downlink receiver to 1100MHz.
21. Connect RS -232 cable from uplink transmitter to one set of PC.
22. Connect RS -232 cable from downlink receiver to one set of PC.
23. Switch on the PC and install sat. Software on both PC and select
communication port COM 1 on both PC.
24. When the link is established, the typed matter on first set up PC will be
Transmitted to second set up PC via. Satellite link.
(If transmitted data is not received correctly then adjust gain POT of satellite
Transponder.)

Result : PC data transmitted from first setup PC is received in the second setup PC
via. Satellite link.
 Experiment No.5

Aim:- To transmit and receive three separate signals (Audio,video, tone)

simultaneously through satellite link

Apparatus :- Satellite Trainer kit, connecting cords.

Procedure:-
1. Place Satellite Transmitter, downlink receiver and transponder, preferably all
three in equidistant triangle of distance 3 meters.
2. Set X1 dish antenna of uplink transmitter of satellite transponder and R2 dish
antenna of downlink receiver position insight.
3. Set downlink receiver frequency to 2414 MHz by adjusting knob
provided onboard.
4. Connect separate audio, video and tone signal to the socket onboard
uplink transmitter.
5. Now switch on the speaker onboard downlink receiver and also TV receiver
to the downlink receiver.
6. Check for different combination of frequencies on transmitter and receiver.
 Fig 1. Block Diagram of Satellite Communication System
Result:-
With proper frequency matching, simultaneous transmission of all three signals
can be demonstrated.
 Experiment: 6
Objective: Study the delay between Uplink Transmitter and Downlink Receiver during data transmission.

Equipments Needed:
 Uplink Transmitter
 Dish Antennas
 Downlink Receiver
 Connecting cables.
 Digital Storage Oscilloscope
 Satellite Transponder

Procedure:
 Once you get the set up ready as per the experiment proceed as follows.
 Carry out the following settings at all three units starting from Uplink Transmitter then Satellite
Transponder and at last Downlink Receiver. This sequence of operation must be followed to avoid any
kind of Improper operation of the system.

Setting at Uplink Transmitter:

2. Now set the "Channel A" to 'Data' mode using the 'Channel Select A' key, so as to transmit data signals
from Uplink Transmitter. The data signals are transmitted through 'Video' channel of the transmitter.
3. Connect the DSO CHI to Data Generator test point.

Setting at Satellite Transponder:

 Keep the toggle switch to 'Telemetry On' position prey,. at Satellite Transponder unit.

Setting at Downlink Receiver:

 Now set the "Channel A" to 'Data' mode using the 'Channel Select A' key, so as to receive data signals
from Uplink Transmitter. The data signals are received through 'Video' channel of the receiver

Connect the DSO CHIT to 'Received Data" section and observe the data.
 The recommended DSO settings are as follows:
  Adjust the Time/Div knob at 50ms.
 Adjust Volt/Div. Knob at 2V. o Set appropriate trigger level, so that the signal becomes stable on
screen.
 Select Acquisition mode to 'Normal' position.
 Select Display 'Persist' to 'Off' position.
 Now gradually rotate the 'Delay Adjust' knob and observe the changes in the delay between the
transmitted and received data.

Result: The experiment can be useful to observe simulated delay in satellite

 Experiment no: 7

Objective: To study the global positioning system and GPS

receiver.

THEORY:-
The GPS system consists of a constellation of 24 satellites. While not officially declared fully
operational, for all practical purposes the system is now fully operational. These satellites orbit the
earth at an altitude of about 10,900 miles and at an inclination of 55 degrees. As I will
demonstrate in my next column, this orbit translates to an orbital period of 12 hours. The orbits are
distributed around the earth in such a way that at least 4 satellites are always visible from virtually any
point on the surface of the earth. This provides a means of precisely determining the position of the
user in longitude, latitude, and altitude. The satellites operate at two frequencies, known as L1 and
L2. These two frequencies are 1575.42 MHz and 1227.6 MHz, respectively.

Fig 1. Constellation of GPS system

The whole system operates at a system clock frequency of 10.23 MHz, which is an exact
submultiples of the L1 and L2 frequencies. The two transmission frequencies are modulated with a
pseudo-random signal to produce spread spectrum signals. The L1 channel is modulated
with both a 1.023 Mbps pseudo-random code known as the C/A (course/acquisition) code
and a 10.23 Mbps PN code known as the P (precision) code. The L2 channel is only modulated with
the P code. The two codes are considerably different in characteristics. The L1 code repeats every
1023 bits, or every 1 millisecond. The P code, on the other hand, only repeats itself every 267 days.
Furthermore, the P code can be encrypted by the Department of Defense, so as to make it unavailable
to civilian (or unauthorized) users. This limits the best accuracy obtainable by unauthorized users to
about 30 meters, while allowing authorized users to achieve accuracies of up to 3 meters.
Additionally, the DOD, at its discretion, can disseminate slightly inaccurate information pertaining to
the location of the satellites, so as to further degrade the accuracy obtainable by unauthorized

users to about 100 meters. These accuracy degradation capabilities are important, since
hostile nations could use the information against us in times of war.
As time has gone by, however, more potential applications have been developed for GPS
and many techniques have been developed to augment the accuracy available to unauthorized
users. Techniques like carrier phase tracking and differential GPS can allow users to obtain
centimeter level accuracy, especially in cases where measurements are being made at a fixed location.
However, it is well established that even aircraft positions can be determined to an accuracy of better
than several meters, even in real time.
Other applications include moving map displays in cars and trucks. Attitudes of aircraft
and spacecraft can also be determined with GPS. GPS equipment is currently set-up in the San
Francisco area to allow researchers to measure the amount of shifting in the earth's surface during the
next earthquake. GPS was also recently used to measure the height of Mount Everest and K2. Forest
fire fighters use GPS to define the extent of fires and townships are using GPS equipped vans to map
roads in a small fraction of the time that would be required for conventional surveying
techniques.
 Fig 2.Determining position using GPS

Determining Position

A GPS receiver "knows" the location of the satellites, because that information is
included in satellite transmissions. By estimating how far away a satellite is, the receiver also "knows"
it is located somewhere on the surface of an imaginary sphere centered at the satellite. It then
determines the sizes of several spheres, one for each satellite. The receiver is located where these
spheres intersect.

Signals
In order for GPS to work, a network of satellites was placed into

orbit around planet Earth, each broadcasting a specific signal, much like a normal radio signal. This
signal can be received by a low cost, low technology aerial, even though the signal is very weak. Rather
than carrying an actual radio or television program, the signals that are broadcast by the satellites carry
data that is passed from the aerial, decoded and used by to the GPS software. The information is
specific enough that the GPS software can identify the satellite, it’s location in space, and calculates the
time that the signal took to travel from the satellite to the GPS receiver. Using different signals from
different satellites, the GPS software is able to calculate the position of the receiver. The principle
is very similar to that which is used in orienteering – if you can identify three places on your map,
take a bearing to where they are, and draw three lines on the map, then you will find out where you
are on the map. The lines will intersect, and, depending on the accuracy of the bearings, the
triangle that they form where they intersect will approximate your position, within a margin of
error. GPS software performs a similar kind of exercise, using the known positions of the satellites
in space, and measuring the time that the signal has taken to travel from the satellite to Earth. The
result of the “trilateration” (the term used when distances are used instead of bearings) of at least three
satellites, assuming that the clocks are all synchronized enables the software to calculate, within a
margin of error, where the device is located in terms of its latitude (East-West) and longitude
(North-South) and distance from the center of the Earth.

Timing & Correction

In a perfect world, the accuracy should be absolute, but there

are many different factors which prevent this. Principally, it is impossible to ensure that the clocks
are all synchronized. Since the satellites each contain atomic clocks which are extremely accurate,
and certainly accurate with respect to each other, we can assume that most of the problem lies with
the clock inside the GPS unit itself. Keeping the cost of the technology down to a minimum is a
key part of the success of any consumer device, and it is simply not possible to fit each GPS unit
with an atomic clock costing tens of thousands of dollars. Luckily, in creating the system, the
designers designed GPS to work whether the receiver’s clock is accurate or not. There are a few
solutions. However the solution that was chosen uses a fourth satellite to provide a cross check in
the trilateration process. Since trilateration from three signals should pinpoint the location exactly,
adding a fourth will move that location; that is, it will not intersect with the calculated location. This
indicates to the GPS software that there is a discrepancy, and so it performs an additional calculation to
find a value that it can use to adjust all the signals so that the four lines intersect. Usually, this is as
simple as subtracting a second (for example) from each of the calculated travel times of the signals.
 Thus, the GPS software can also update its’ own internal clock; and means that not only do we
have an accurate positioning device, but also an atomic clock in the palm of our
hands.

Mapping
Knowing where the device is in space is one
thing, but it is fairly useless information without something to compare it with. Thus, the
mapping part of any GPS software is very important; it is how GPS works our possible routes,
and allows the user to plan trips in advance. In fact, it is often the mapping data which elevates
the price of the GPS solution; it must be accurate and updated reasonably frequently. There
are, however, several kinds of map, and each is intended for different users, with different
needs. Road users, for example, require that their mapping data contains accurate
information about the road network in the region that they will be traveling in, but will
not require detailed information about the lie of the land – they do not really worry about
the height of hills and so forth. On the other hand, hiking GPS users might wish to have a
detailed map of the terrain, rivers, hills and so forth, and perhaps tracks and trails, but not
roads. They might also like to adorn their map with specific icons of things that they find
along the way and that they wish to keep a record of
– not to mention waypoints; locations to make for on their general route.
Finally, marine users need very specific information relating to the sea bed, navigable channels,
and other pieces of maritime data that enables them to navigate safely. Of course, the sea itself
is reasonably featureless, but underneath quite some detail is needed to be sure that the boat
will not become grounded.

Fishermen also use marine GPS to locate themselves and track the movement of shoals of fish
both in real time, and to predict where they will be the next day. The advent of GPS fixing
has also meant that co-operative fishing has become much easier, where there are several boats
all relaying their locations to each other while they locate the best fishing waters.
Special kinds of marine GPS, known as fish finders, also combine several functions in one
to help fishermen.

GPS Accuracy
 The accuracy of a position determined with GPS depends on the type of receiver. Most hand-
held GPS units have about 10-20 meter accuracy. Other types of receivers use a method called
Differential GPS (DGPS) to obtain much higher accuracy. DGPS requires an additional
receiver fixed at a known location nearby. Observations made by the stationary receiver
are used to correct positions recorded by the roving units, producing an accuracy greater
than 1 meter. When the system was created, timing errors were inserted into GPS
transmissions to limit theaccuracy of non-military GPS receivers to about 100 meters. This
part of GPS operations, called Selective Availability, was eliminated in May 2000.

GPS Receiver:-

The Global Positioning System (GPS) works on the principle that if you know your distance
from several locations, then you can calculate your location. The known locations are
the 24 satellites located in six orbital planes at an altitude of 20,200Km. These satellites
circle the Earth every 12 hours and broadcast a data stream at the primary frequency L1 of
1.575GHz which carries the coarse -acquistion (C/A) encoded signal to the ground. The
GPS receiver measures the time of arrival of the C/A code to a fraction of a millisecond, and
thus determines the distance to the satellite.