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VSAT Technology and

Applications
VSAT Advantages
Full or partial independence from terrestrial infrastructure
Cost savings over terrestrial lines
Nationwide reach, distance-independent
Network management from a single point
Quick deployment, network flexibility
Consistent and rapid response time
Increased network availability
and reliability
Inherent broadcast / multicast platform


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Unicast, Multicast, Broadcast
Each Unicast Packet is Numbered and Acknowledged

Unicast, Multicast, Broadcast
Multicasts Packets are Not Acknowledged
Different Data Steams can be sent simultaneously to many users

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Unicast, Multicast, Broadcast
Broadcast Packets are sent to all users in the Network Simultaneously
Broadcasts are Not Acknowledged
VSAT Networks can use Reliable Broadcast Protocols and applications
that are based on NACKs, not ACKs
VSAT Markets
Enterprise
Retail; Oil & Gas; Banking; Government
POS; Back Office; Browsing; Telemetry
Telephony
Public: Public Call Offices, small businesses,
farmers, private lines
Corporate: Telephony/Data infrastructure
Internet (IP)
High-speed, always-on, Internet-access for
consumers, small businesses and schools
Intranet and IP infrastructure for the enterprise
IP multicast-based services
BTV
Content delivery


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Characteristics of GEO Satellites
35,680 Km above the Earth
~24 Hour Period
Average 14-17 Year Lifespan
Single Satellite theoretically can provide up to 42% Earth Coverage
Large, expensive, difficult to launch
Located approximately every 2
o
above the equator
Several Satellites may operate at the same azimuth on different
frequencies/polarization
GEO/LEO Comparison
Geosychronous (GEO) Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Example Eurosat Hot-Bird Series Iridium
Referred
to as:
Fleet Constellation
Suitable
For:
TV/Radio Broadcasts;
VSAT/Data Communications
Networks; Telephony Networks;
Data Multicast
Handheld Global Telephony Networks;
Remote Sensing; Reconnaissance;
Weather
Altitude 35,680 km 200-1400 km
Orbit Geosynchronous (Inclination 0
0
) Polar (Inclination 90
0
)
Period 24 Hours AOS-LOS Depends on Altitude
(Period Typically 90 Minutes)
Cost 200-300m $US Relatively Cheap
Stand-
Alone
Yes (Bent-Pipe) No (Works in a Constellation)
(*Single LEO Satellites must be
constantly tracked and suffer from
Doppler Effect)
Size 20-30 meter span As small as 1
3
m
Bands C; X-C; KU; Ka Primarily VHF/UHF; L-Band
Delay Minimum 240ms Minimal
Bitrate DVB 2.5-52 Mbps Low Bit Rates
EIRP 30-54 dBW Depends on Satellite
Frequency
Re-Use
No (Only on Orthogonal
Polarization)
Yes (On Non-Adjacent Spot Beams)
Launch Single Payload (>4000 kg Lift
Capability)
Multiple; Can be Piggybacked
Life Span 14-17 Years 4-8 Years

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VSAT Network Architectures
One Way
One-Way Receive Only
High Bit-Rate DVB Compliant Outbound
Inbound Return Channel via Dial-Up Modem
Can be used with existing infrastructure
Example: Harmonics CyberStream
TM



Satellite
Router
Internet
RFT
IP Encapsulator
DVB Modulator
VSAT TVRO
Antenna
DVB Receiver
LAN
Modem/ISDN
Return
Baseband
Equipment
TCP/IP ACKs NACKs
VSAT Network Architectures
Two-Way Star Topology
All VSATs Communicate via a Single Hub
Network is Independent of Existing Infrastructure
VSAT Antenna Size dependent upon Power and Gain of Hub Antenna
Also Upon Inbound Bitrate, ODU Power and Satellite Footprint
Contention Based Access Usually TDMA or FTDMA
Typical Ping Times Approximately 650-700ms



Hub
VSAT
VSAT
VSAT
VSAT
VSAT
VSAT
VSAT
VSAT
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VSAT Network Architectures
Two-Way Star Topology Double Hop
VSAT Network Architectures
Two-Way Mesh Topology
VSATs communicate directly with each other
Some systems require initial signaling via the Hub
Larger Antennas, Higher Power required at the VSAT
Smaller Antenna, Lower Power required at the Hub
Used extensively in Telephony Networks
Delay minimized on VSAT to VSAT Calls



VSAT
VSAT
VSAT
VSAT
VSAT
VSAT
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Typical Hub Configuration
Network Management
Entire Network Controlled, Configured and Monitored from a Single
Location called the NOC (Network Operations Center)




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Typical VSAT Indoor Unit
(Skystar 360E)
(Front) (Rear)
VSAT Communication Bands
VSAT Networks use Geostationary Satellites (GEO)
All located directly above the equator, at an altitude of ~36,000 km
and spaced approximately every 2 degrees



Band Up-Link
(GHz)
Down-Link
(GHz)
Notes
L .9-1.6 .9-1.6 Shared with terrestrial
S 1.610-1.625 2.483-2.5 Shared with ISM
Band
C 3.7-4.2 5.925-6.425 Shared with terrestrial
Ku 11.7-12.2 14-14.5 Attenuation due to
rain
Ka 17.7-21.7 27.5-30.5 High Equipment cost;
attenuation due to
rain
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0 1
0deg "0" 180deg "1"
45deg 00
135deg 10
315deg 01
225deg 11

45
o
11 State
135
o
10 State
315
o
00 State
225
o
00 State
Q
I
1 State 0 State
Q
I
Q
I
Modulation Types

BPSK Binary Phase Shift Keying
Use alternative sine wave phase to
encode bits
Simple to implement
Inefficient use of Bandwidth
Very Robust
One bit per symbol (2 States)
QPSK Quadrature (Quarternary) Phase
Shift Keying
Efficient use of Bandwidth
Requires more complex receiver for
demodulation
Two bits per symbol (4 States)

Link Budget (Margin)
The process of correctly sizing uplink and downlink paths
for:
Satellite
Hub
Remotes
Takes into account:
Satellite performance
Path Loss
Atmospheric effects
Frequency bands
Uplink antenna and amplifier performance
Download antenna size and receiver noise figure
Path Loss at 12 GHz over 36,000 km can exceed 205 dB !
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Access Schemes
The Need for Bandwidth Efficiency
Bandwidth (and power) = $
Better bandwidth efficiency
translates into Cost Savings
Outbound and Inbound BW
proportional to:
Number of Users
Bit Rate
Power/Modulation & Error
Correction Coding
Type of traffic
QoS (Quality of Service)
Outbound Transmission:
Constant, Single Frequency
Inbound Transmission: Bursty,
Frequency Hopping
All VSATs must share the
allocated inbound BW
OB IB
F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 Fn
Amateur Radio Applications
Internet-to-Radio Link
Typical Node
VSAT Antenna
PC + Sound Card + VoIP Application
VSAT
Radio/PC Interface
VHF/UHF Conventional or Trunked Repeater
VHF or UHF
Omni
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Amateur Radio Applications
Internet-to-Radio Link





New York Repeater/VSAT
Boston Repeater/VSAT
London Repeater/Direct
Hub
VoIP
Servers
Internet
VoIP Internet Direct