FU Berlin
Institute of Computer Science
Mobile Communications
Chapter 5: Satellite Systems
Mobile Communications
Chapter 5: Satellite Systems
support mobile communications
global coverage without wiring costs for base stations
implementation of varying population densities
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jochen Schiller, http://www.jochenschiller.de/
MC SS02
5.1
Basics
Satellites in circular orbits
attractive force Fg = m g (R/r)
centrifugal force Fc = m v/r
m: mass of the satellite
R: radius of the earth (R = 6370 km)
r: distance to the center of the earth
g: acceleration of gravity (g = 9.81 m/s)
v: satellite speed
Stable orbit
Fg = F c
mgR/r = mv/r
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jochen Schiller, http://www.jochenschiller.de/
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jochen H. Schiller
2002
r = g R/v
MC SS02
5.2
5.1
FU Berlin
Institute of Computer Science
Mobile Communications
Chapter 5: Satellite Systems
Satellite period and orbits
24
satellite
period [h]
velocity [ x1000 km/h]
20
16
12
8
4
synchronous distance
35,786 km
10
20
40 x106 m
30
radius
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jochen Schiller, http://www.jochenschiller.de/
MC SS02
5.3
Inclination
plane of satellite orbit
satellite orbit
Perigee (closest point to the earth)
d
inclination d
equatorial plane
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jochen Schiller, http://www.jochenschiller.de/
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jochen H. Schiller
2002
MC SS02
5.4
5.2
FU Berlin
Institute of Computer Science
Mobile Communications
Chapter 5: Satellite Systems
Elevation
Elevation:
angle e between center of satellite beam
and surface
minimal elevation:
elevation needed at least
to communicate with the satellite
LOS (Line of Sight) to the satellite
necessary for connections.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jochen Schiller, http://www.jochenschiller.de/
MC SS02
5.5
Atmospheric attenuation
Attenuation of
the signal in %
Example: satellite systems at 4-6 GHz
50
40
rain absorption
30
fog absorption
e
20
10
atmospheric
absorption
5 10
20
30
40
50
elevation of the satellite
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jochen Schiller, http://www.jochenschiller.de/
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jochen H. Schiller
2002
MC SS02
5.6
5.3
FU Berlin
Institute of Computer Science
Mobile Communications
Chapter 5: Satellite Systems
Orbits I
Four different types of satellite orbits:
GEO: geostationary orbit,
ca. 36000 km above earth surface
LEO (Low Earth Orbit):
ca. 500 - 1500 km
MEO (Medium Earth Orbit) or
ICO (Intermediate Circular Orbit):
ca. 6000 - 20000 km
HEO (Highly Elliptical Orbit) elliptical orbits
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jochen Schiller, http://www.jochenschiller.de/
MC SS02
5.7
Orbits II
GEO (Inmarsat)
HEO
MEO (ICO)
LEO
(Globalstar,
Irdium)
inner and outer Van
Allen belts
earth
1000
10000
Van-Allen-Belts:
ionized particles
2000 - 6000 km and
15000 - 30000 km
above earth surface
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jochen Schiller, http://www.jochenschiller.de/
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jochen H. Schiller
2002
35768
km
MC SS02
5.8
5.4
FU Berlin
Institute of Computer Science
Mobile Communications
Chapter 5: Satellite Systems
Classical satellite systems
Inter Satellite Link
(ISL)
Mobile User
Link (MUL)
Gateway Link
(GWL)
GWL
Some satellites have
special antennas to
create smaller cells
using spot beams
(e.g. 163 spot beams
MUL
per Satellite in then
ICO-system)
small cells
(spotbeams)
base station
or gateway
footprint
ISDN
PSTN: Public Switched
Telephone Network
PSTN
GSM
User data
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jochen Schiller, http://www.jochenschiller.de/
MC SS02
5.9
Satellites
Iridium
Globalstar
ICO
(LEO)
(LEO)
(MEO)
The have all gone
Bankrupt!
LEO: low earth orbit
MEO: medium earth orbit
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jochen Schiller, http://www.jochenschiller.de/
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jochen H. Schiller
2002
MC SS02
5.10
5.5
FU Berlin
Institute of Computer Science
Mobile Communications
Chapter 5: Satellite Systems
End
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jochen Schiller, http://www.jochenschiller.de/
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jochen H. Schiller
2002
MC SS02
5.11
5.6
