Introduction
Link budgets serve as the foundational tool in the design, analysis, and optimization of satellite communication systems, incorporating factors such as radio-wave propagation, satellite performance, terminal equipment specifications, radio frequency interference (RFI), and various physical layer parameters. These calculations are essential for both fixed and mobile satellite systems, and understanding the structure and content of a link budget is crucial for engineers, designers, and managers involved in satellite communications. SatMaster, a well-established and cost-effective PC-based software, is a key solution for these tasks, developed and provided by Arrowe Technical Services (UK).

This comprehensive five-day course offers in-depth coverage of link budget principles, alongside practical, hands-on experience using SatMaster. The training will focus on applications across various satellite services, including digital television transmission (both one-way and two-way), interactive services using Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs), point-to-point data transmission, and mobile terminal communications. It will cover services in UHF, L, S, C, X, Ku, and Ka frequency bands for both fixed and mobile applications. Through interactive workshops, participants will gain proficiency in link budget design and the use of SatMaster, building confidence to prepare and optimize link budgets for real-world satellite communication systems.

Course Objectives

• Understand the core principles and components of satellite link budgets.
• Gain practical experience with link budget calculations through hands-on workshops.
• Learn how to apply SatMaster for accurate satellite link analysis and design.
• Understand critical considerations in link budgeting, including interference and environmental factors.
• Explore advanced features in VSAT systems and their impact on link budgets.

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction to Satellite Systems and VSAT Technologies

• Overview of transmission system types and satellite communication fundamentals.
• Introduction to VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) technology and its key characteristics.
• Satellite classifications and frequency band selection.
• Key components of a VSAT Earth Station: block diagram and operational characteristics.
• Satellite link information flow and VSAT network topologies.
• Techniques for multiple access in VSAT networks and relevant terminology.

Days 2-3: Fundamentals of Satellite Link Budget Calculations

• Overview of standard principles for satellite link budgets.
• Key factors influencing link budget calculations:
  • Frequency band selection and satellite footprints (EIRP, G/T, PFD, SFD).
  • Propagation considerations: isotropic sources, line-of-sight, and atmospheric effects (troposphere, ionosphere, rainfall).
  • Earth station characteristics: antenna design (radiation pattern, front-to-back ratio, HPBW, gain, polarization considerations), high-power amplifier (HPA) sizing, uplink power control.
  • Modulation systems and forward error correction (FEC) techniques.
  • Bandwidth and spectral efficiency considerations, including roll-off factor and power equivalent bandwidth (PEB).
  • Availability, bit error rate (BER), and link margin (EbNo/EsNo).

Day 4: Advanced Link Budget Design Considerations

• Key design considerations for satellite link budgets, focusing on antenna, LNB, HPA, and carrier operation.
• Fine-tuning link budget results using SatMaster.
• Practical use of SatMaster’s advanced calculators and tools:
  • Bandwidth calculator, sun outage predictions, noise figure to noise temperature conversion, and beamwidth calculations.
  • Practical exercises: uplink/downlink calculations, rain models, satellite characteristics, and carrier configurations.

Day 5: Advanced VSAT Systems and Network Considerations

• Exploring adaptive uplink power control techniques and their impact on system performance.
• Adaptive coding and modulation techniques to optimize link efficiency.
• Link budget considerations in contexts such as carrier-to-noise ratio (CNC), bandwidth cancellation, and Layer 2 networking.
• Traffic shaping, quality of service (QoS) parameters, and their effects on satellite communications.
• Open discussion on real-world challenges and best practices in VSAT system design.

Course Delivery

• Interactive workshops: Participants will work on realistic case studies and apply the learned concepts to solve practical link budgeting problems using SatMaster.
• Course materials, including detailed notes and example files, will be provided to support learning and post-course reference.