High Frequency
Satellite Communications
Radio Frequency theory
Satellite components
orbits / beam characteristics
100

what is the lowest frequency considered to be HF?

3 MHz

100

what is a signal transmitted from a satellite TO an earth terminal called?

Downlink

100

what is modulation?

Changing of from one state to another 

"Mixing" signals to form a new output

100

converts an Intermediate Frequency up to a higher frequency 

Block Up-converter

100

what height is a geosynchronous orbit about the equator?

23,000 miles

200

amount of resistance used by most radio systems

50 Ohms (rg-58)

200

how many GPS satellites are required for PRECISE timing.

4

200

an unmodulated signal carries

no information / it is only a crarrier wave

200

increases the power of a received signal 

Low noise amplifier

200

What beam type is used to cover the largest geographical areas?

global Beam 

300

what is the wavelength for 10 MHz

30 meters

300

MUOS and IW are examples of

tactical satellite communications

300

this type of modulation varies the amplitude of the RF

Amplitude Modulation (AM)

300

performs the modulation and demodulation of a given signal

Modem

300

what frequency range does X band operate in?

8-12 GHz

400

What does ALE do?

automatically selects the best predetermined frequency to use

400

What does the signal to noise ratio measure 

the amount of desired signal compared to the background noise 

400

a non-resonant antenna is used for what?

multiple frequencies

400

in the TX path this component increases the power to allow the signal to reach the satellite

High Powered Amplifier (HPA) we use SSPA's

400

geostationary orbits are measured by their position above which man made imaginary lines

longitude

500

polarization is

the orientation of the radiating elements  (orientation of the antenna)

500

these are the TX bands currently used by JCSE

X and KU

500

What is the formula to find the wavelength of a given frequency?

wavelength = velocity / frequency

wavelength = speed of light (c or 300,000 Kms) / frequency 

500

collects/reflects RF from a satellite to/from the feed horn

reflectors

500

which coverage type covers about 1/2 of the the global beam coverage

Hemispheric coverage

M
e
n
u