Satellite Communications Pocket Book (eBook)

Front Cover 1
Satellite Communications Pocket Book 4
Copyright Page 5
Table of Contents 6
Preface 8
Acknowledgements 10
Chapter 1. Introduction 12
Chapter 2. Historical overview of 
16 
Evolution of media 16
The age of television broadcasting 16
Emergent technologies 17
The influence of satellites on cable television 17
Some milestones in satellites, video, and HDTV technologies 18
The role of satellite television in today's society 18
Chapter 3.The satellite age 20
The satellite 20
Footprint 22
Intelsat: an example of a satellite system 23
Satellite coverage 24
Orbit geometry 24
Low earth-orbiting satellites (see Figure 3.3) 27
Amateur radio space communications 28
Chapter 4. Growth in satellite communication systems 31
The satellite operators 31
Business television by satellite 32
Satellite market profile 34
The major networks 34
Growth of the commercials 48
Origins of direct satellite broadcasting for television, WARC 77 54
Chapter 5. Launching into space: a risk industry 59
Failure risks 60
Hazards in space 61
Economics of space communications 62
Space launching capability update 62
Payload data for launch vehicles 63
Launching sites 66
The launch 68
Chapter 6. Elements of satellite communication systems 71
Earth stations 72
Tracking of non-geosynchronous orbiting satellites 79
Wobbly satellites 81
Spacecraft and satellite manufacturers 82
Descriptions of satellites 83
The Transponder 88
How higher powered transponders have affected the bird 89
The role of the electronic power converter in a satellite 90
Klystrons and TWTs 92
Chapter 7. Television transmission systems 99
Vision and perception 99
Television transmission systems. Formats PAL, SECAM, NTSC 100
International television standards 100
System deficiencies in PAL, SECAM and NTSC 106
Picture quality: the quest for better resolution 107
Chapter 8. High-definition television systems (HDTV) 110
High-definition television: by evolution or revolution 111
Implementation of HDTV in the USA 112
Manufacturers of HDTV transmission equipment 115
Advanced definition television (ADTV) in the USA 115
Japan: the NHK system for HDTV: MUSE 117
HDTV: the European approach 119
World standard for the introduction of HDTV 121
PALplus: precursor or competitor to the MAC format? 122
Chapter 9. Direct broadcasting by satellite (DBS) 126
System considerations 126
Direct broadcasting by satellite in Japan 127
Broadcasting by DBS in the USA 131
HDTV technology: analogue versus digital? 136
10 Multiplexed analogue component systems (MAC) 137
MAC systems 137
High-quality sound 141
Conditional access and encryption 142
Chapter 11. Propagation of satellite signals 145
Propagation characteristics 145
Interruption of service due to eclipse 148
Gain and performance calculations for a satellite DBS system 149
Free space loss 150
Sources of interference in DBS systems 150
Chapter 12. Domestic receiving systems for DBS 152
DBS receiving systems 152
Manufacturers of satellite systems for DBS 154
Developments in satellite receivers 154
Reception of D-MAC transmissions by DBS 155
Low noise converter blocks 156
Receiving dishes for reception of DBS 157
Chapter 13. Satellite television as a mass medium 160
BBC World Service Television 160
STAR-TV 166
Worldnet 166
Arabic language broadcasting by satellite 167
Chapter 14. Astra, Eutelsat and CNN 168
Astra 168
Technical data on Astra 1A and IB 168
Eutelsat 170
The Cable News Network (CNN) 173
The role of the satellite in the Gulf War 175
Training by satellite 176
Brightstar 178
Chapter 15. VSATs and earth terminals 182
VSAT applications 183
Chapter 16.Mobile satellite systems (MSS) 186
Satellite system 187
The satellites 187
Global communications from hand-held portable telephones 191
Chapter 17. Emergent technologies 193
The technology of fibre optics 193
Operators of fibre networks 195
Digital video compression 195
Compression technology and definitions 198
Digital audio broadcasting (DAB) 199
Chapter 18. Conclusions 200
Abbreviations 201
Glossary 203
Bibliography 206
Appendix 210
Index 227