Delta University for Sciences and Technology

Faculty of Engineering
Communications & Computer Engineering Department

Satellite Communications(2)
By:
Dr. Bassant Mohey El-Dein

Fall Semester 2020-2021

Lec 6
 Satellite Multiple Access
Multiple Access (MA):
• Refers to the general process used in
communications systems , in which system assets
(circuits, channels, transponders, etc.) are allocated
to users.
The goal of MA process:
• Is to allow the communication network to respond
to be expected change in user demand and adapt
resources to provide the desired level to
performance throughout high demand provide as
well as average or limited demand condition
 Satellite Multiple Access
• The process, also called medium access control (MAC)
for some wireless networks, is an important and
sometimes essential element in the communications
system infrastructure, needed to ensure adequate
capacity and link availability, particularly during times
of heavy use of the communications system.

• The primary assets available to the satellite

communications systems designer to use in a multiple
access process are :
➢ satellite transponders
➢ user ground terminals.
 Satellite Multiple Access

• Satellite MA techniques interconnect ground

stations through multiple satellite transponders
with the goal of optimizing several system
attributes such as:

• spectral efficiency; • power efficiency;

• reduced latency; • increased
throughput.
 ACCESS OPTIONS IN A SATELLITE
COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
Four basic multiple access
configurations are identified
in Figure.

The simplest option

• consists of a single baseband channel modulating an RF carrier that
feeds the satellite transponder.
• The baseband channel could be analog, such as analog voice or
video, or a digital bit stream representing data, voice, or video.
• The modulation could be analog, such as amplitude modulation
(AM) or frequency modulation (FM), or digital, such as frequency
shift keying (FSK), or various forms of phase shift keying, such as
BPSK or QPSK
 Access options in a satellite communications
network

The second option

•multiple single baseband/modulation chains are combined before feeding the
transponder.
•In this case, the final amplifier in the transponder is usually operated in a power
backoff mode to avoid intermodulation noise.
 Access options in a satellite communications
network
The third
•consists of a single modulated carrier; however, multiple baseband channels are
multiplexed onto a single data stream before carrier modulation.
•Typical multiplexing formats include Frequency Division Multiplexing
(FDM) for analog sources and Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) for digital sources
 Access options in a satellite communications
network

d- This Case is complex one

•consists of multiple multiplexed
baseband channels modulating multiple
RF carriers, with the multiple carriers all
introduced to the single transponder.
•This option also requires power
backoff to avoid intermodulation noise.
 Access options in a satellite communications
network

•Cases (a) and (c) with a single carrier present in the transponder, are
usually referred to as single channel per carrier (SCPC) operation.

•SCPC transponders can usually operate with input levels set to

drive the final power amplifier to full saturation, providing high
power efficiency.
 Access options in a satellite communications
network

• Cases (b) and (d) are multiple channel per carrier (MCPC) systems, which

• MCPC transponders operate with input levels set well below the
saturation level to avoid intermodulation that can cause crosstalk
noise with analog data, or increased bit errors with digital data
streams.
 Multiple Access Technique
• Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA)

• Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)

• Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA).

 Multiple Access Technique
Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA)
• FDMA systems consist of multiple carriers that are separated by frequency in
the transponder.The transmissions can be analog or digital, or combinations of
both.

Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)

• In TDMA the multiple carriers are separated by TIME in the transponder,
presenting only one carrier at any time to the transponder.
• TDMA is most practical for digital data only, because the transmissions are in a
burst mode to provide the time division capability.

Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA).

• CDMA is a combination of both frequency and time separation. It is the most
complex technique, requiring several levels of synchronization at both the
transmission and reception levels.