UNIVERSAL COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING &

TECHNOLOGY
(Department of Electronics & Communication)

Sub.: Satellite Communication (171007)

List of Experiments

Sr.
Experiment Title
No.

1 Design of a satellite.

2 To study uplink transmitter, down link receiver and transponder (emulator).

3 To set-up voice link between TX & RX using satellite.

4 To set-up video link between TX & RX using satellite.

5 To set-up video link between emulator & RX using satellite.

6 To set-up data link between TX & RX using satellite.

7 To set-up data link between emulator & RX using satellite.

To transmit & receive the function generator waveforms through a satellite
8 communication channel.

9 To estimate the C/N ratio.

 EXPERIMENT 1

AIM : DESIGN OF A SATELLITE

CONCLUSION:
 EXPERIMENT 2

AIM : TO STUDY UPLINK TRANSMITTER ,DOWN LINK RECEIVER

AND TRANSPONDER (EMULATOR).

UPLINK TRANSMITTER: In uplink 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. Uplinks are controlled so that
transmitted micro wave beam is extremely narrow in order not to interface with adjacent
satellite. We will use uplink frequency 5.74 GHz.

TRANSPONDER: Each satellite has a number of transponders which 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 transponders are used for each channel and are powered by solar panels with backup
batteries for eclipse protection. Transreceiver frequency will be 5.74GHz 2.414 GHz.
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. We will use downlink frequency 2.414 GHz
 [BLOCK DIAGRAM]

[LINK SETUP]

CONCLUSION:
 EXPERIMENT 3

AIM : TO SET-UP VOICE LINK BETWEEN TX & RX USING SATELLITE

Apparatus: Satellite uplink TX, Satellite downlink RX, Satellite link Emulator, Connecting Cables, Pair
of dish antennas with mounts and microphone.

Procedure:

1. Setup the link in a triangular fashion with TX, RX and Emulator.

2. Set Tx freq. at 5.74GHz and connect the dish antenna with SMA (surface mount antenna) lead to
RF out of TX

3. Switch on the sat link emulator and set the freq. of uplink Rx at 5.74 GHz and Downlink Tx as
2.414 GHz.

4. Set Rx freq. at 2.414 GHz for downlink Rx. and connect the dish antenna with SMA (surface
mount antenna) lead to RF out of RX.

5. Keep the switch audio 1, audio 2 to audio 1 and also mic switch to 1kHz. Same for Rx, it will
make the Rx sound to 1kHz test tone.

6. Check out audio o/p at RX.

CONCLUSION:
 EXPERIMENT 4

AIM : TO SET-UP VIDEO LINK BETWEEN TX & RX USING SATELLITE

Apparatus: Satellite uplink TX, Satellite downlink RX, Satellite link Emulator, Connecting Cables, Pair
of dish antennas with mounts, TV and camera.

Procedure:

1. Setup the link in a triangular fashion with TX, RX and Emulator.

2. Set Tx freq. at 5.74GHz and connect the dish antenna with SMA (surface mount antenna) lead to
RF out of TX

3. Switch on the sat link emulator and set the freq. of uplink Rx at 5.74 GHz and Downlink Tx as
2.414 GHz.

4. Set Rx freq. at 2.414 GHz for downlink Rx. and connect the dish antenna with SMA (surface
mount antenna lead to RF out of RX.

5. Connect the video camera o/p to video in of TX and connect the power supply of camera.
6. Set the i/p select switch to video.
7. Connect the video monitor to video out of RX and connect the power supply of monitor.
8. Observe video s/g at different freqs.

CONCLUSION:
 EXPERIMENT 5

AIM : TO SET-UP VIDEO LINK BETWEEN EMULATOR & RX USING

SATELLITE.

Apparatus: Satellite downlink RX, Satellite link Emulator, Connecting Cables, Pair of dish antennas
with mounts, TV and camera.

Procedure:

1. Setup the link in a triangular fashion with RX and Emulator.

2. Set Emulator Downlink Tx as 2.414 GHz.

3. Set Rx freq. at 2.414 GHz for downlink Rx. and connect the dish antenna with SMA (surface
mount antenna lead to RF out of RX.

4. Connect the video camera o/p to video in of Emulator and connect the power supply of camera.
5. Set the i/p select switch to video.
6. Connect the video monitor to video out of RX and connect the power supply of monitor.
7. Observe video s/g at different freqs.

CONCLUSION:
 EXPERIMENT 6

AIM : TO SET-UP DATA LINK BETWEEN TX & RX USING SATELLITE.

Apparatus: Satellite downlink TX, Satellite downlink RX, Satellite link Emulator, Connecting Cables,
Pair of dish antennas with mounts

Procedure:

1. Setup the link in a triangular fashion with TX, RX and Emulator.

2. Set Tx freq. at 5.74GHz and connect the dish antenna with SMA (surface mount antenna) lead to
RF out of TX

3. Switch on the sat link emulator and set the freq. of uplink Rx at 5.74 GHz and Downlink Tx as
2.414 GHz.

4. Set Rx freq. at 2.414 GHz for downlink Rx. and connect the dish antenna with SMA (surface
mount antenna lead to RF out of RX.

5. Switch to data service both at TX & Rx.

6. Make Enable On of Telecommand of TX and also define address for ex. 0011
7. Make Enable Off of telecommand of emulator (switch given back side of the module).
8. Make Enable on of telemetry of RX and define the same address as on TX.
9. Transmit data from TX and observe the o/p at RX.

CONCLUSION:
 EXPERIMENT 7

AIM : TO SET-UP DATA LINK BETWEEN EMULATOR & RX USING

SATELLITE.

Apparatus: Satellite downlink RX, Satellite link Emulator, Connecting Cables, Pair of dish antennas
with mounts

Procedure:

1. Setup RX and Emulator.

2. Switch on the sat link emulator and set the freq. of Downlink Tx as 2.414 GHz.

3. Set Rx freq. at 2.414 GHz for downlink Rx. and connect the dish antenna with SMA (surface
mount antenna lead to RF out of RX.

4. Switch to data service at Rx.

5. Make Enable On of telecommand of emulator (switch given back side of the module) and give
address.
6. Give address of telemetry at emulator as in telecommand of emulator.
7. Make Enable off of telemetry of RX and define the same address as on emulator
8. Transmit data from Emulator and observe the o/p at RX.

CONCLUSION:
 EXPERIMENT 8

AIM : TO TRANSMIT & RECEIVE THE FUNCTION GENERATOR

WAVEFORMS THROUGH A SATELLITE COMMUNICATION
CHANNEL.

Apparatus: Satellite downlink TX, Satellite downlink RX, Satellite link Emulator, Connecting Cables,
Pair of dish antennas with mounts, CRO, Function generator

Procedure:

1. Setup the link in a triangular fashion with TX, RX and Emulator.

2. Set Tx freq. at 5.74GHz and connect the dish antenna with SMA (surface mount antenna) lead to
RF out of TX

3. Switch on the sat link emulator and set the freq. of uplink Rx at 5.74 GHz and Downlink Tx as
2.414 GHz.

4. Set Rx freq. at 2.414 GHz for downlink Rx. and connect the dish antenna with SMA (surface
mount antenna lead to RF out of RX.

5. Set fun gen. o/p to 0.5 v peak to peak and dont exceed this level else clipping will occur.
6. Connect the fun.gen. o/p to video in of TX
7. Connect video out of RX to CRO
8. Observe for sine, square and sawtooth waves of different freqs.

CONCLUSION:
 EXPERIMENT 9

AIM : TO ESTIMATE THE C/N RATIO.

Apparatus: Satellite transmitter, Satellite receiver and satellite link emulator. RHCP & LHCP
axial mode helix antennas, Dish Antennas, Patch antennas Antenna stands with connecting cable,
PC monitor, video to VGA convertor card provided, camera, function generator, CRO
X2,spectrum analyzer

Procedure:

1. Setup the link as before. If switching ON the 1KHZ tone on transmitter will make the
receiver sound to KHz test tone via satellite, PLL of complete link are O.K, and a
successful sat link is said to be established.
2. Now, switch off the carrier by switching of both Transmitter (Tx) and satellite.
3. Receiver(Rx) will read only its noise floor at RSSI output which has a DC voltage output
in proportion to the received signal strength
4. The chart at the back of the manual can be use to convert DC voltage to corresponding
RF signal level in dBm or dBuV.
5. Say, in absence of any carrier Rx reads 0.95 V which is equal to -91 dBm(refer to chart).
Reading directly shows 16dBuV on LCD display.
6. Thus, -91 dBm is noise floor of Rx that means if carrier received by Rx is less than -96
dBm it will be unable to measure it.
7. Now, switch on Tx and satellite and say, the Rx reads 1.93 V which equals to -59 dBm of
carrier level being received, Reading directly shows 48dBuV on LCD display.
8. Thus, C/N= carrier level / noise level. As both noise and carrier signal detected are
measured in dB, C/N can be calculated by taking the difference of two readings on
C/N=carrier level(in dB) noise level(in dB).
9. Hence, C/N= -59-(-91)=32 dB approx.
10. Make sure the Rx is not saturated with carrier otherwise incorrect C/N will be read. This
can be done by increasing path loss at Rx and satellite and or taking Rx farther away
from satellite.
11. Measure the C/N reading for different levels of path loss.

CONCLUSION: