Satellite Communication Course And Certification

What is Satellite Communication?

Satellite Communication is the deployment and use of artificial satellites to provide communication links between various areas and points on the earth. 

Satellite Communication is also defined as the use of satellite technology for communications.  

Satellite Communication plays a very important part in the global telecommunication systems. Approximately, 2000 artificial satellites have been deployed that are orbiting around the earth and are sending back analog and digital signals which carry voice, video and other forms of data from one location to the other worldwide.

Satellite Communication also bring about long distance communication and can work under circumstances or conditions which are not feasible in other forms of communication.

How Satellite Communication Works: 

Satellite is commonly referred to as a self-contained communication system, which has the ability to receive signals from the earth, and uses a transponder to retransmit these signals back. A Transponder is an integrated receiver and transmitter of radio signals. Satellites are built to be light-weight as the cost of launching a satellite is expensive and is based on the weight, so for this reason, satellites have to be made as light-weight as possible with durable materials. They are to operate at very high accuracy of 99.9% in the vacuum of space with no likelihood of maintenance or repair. Launching a satellite into space requires a very powerful multistage rocket to propel it into the right orbit.  

The high-frequency radio waves that are used for telecommunications travels through Line Of Site and are therefore obstructed by the structure of the earth. The purpose of Communications Satellites is to send the signal around the curve of the earth which allows Communication between very distant geographical points. Communications Satellites makes use of a broad range of radio and microwave frequencies. To avoid signal interference, international organizations have governing rules for which frequency bands certain organizations are allowed to use. This way of assigning network bands reduces the risks of signal Interference.

Satellite Communication Services: 

The services provided by Satelite Communications include:

1. Voice Calling,

2. Video Calling,

3. Data,

4. Internet,

5. Fax,

6. Radio and

7. Television Channels.

Components of Satellite Communication: 

Satellite Communication has two main components;

1. Ground Segment: This consists of fixed or mobile transmission, reception, and ancillary equipment. Satellite receivers on the ground include direct-to-home (DTH) satellite equipment, mobile reception equipment in aircraft, satellite telephones, and handheld devices.

2. Space Segment: This is primarily the satellite itself. A typical satellite link involves the transmission or uplinking of a signal from an Earth station to a satellite. The satellite then receives and amplifies the signal and retransmits it back to Earth, where it is received and reamplified by Earth stations and terminals. 

Why Satellite Communication?

1. Allow voice communication all over the world

2. Enable access to internet connections such as providing an Internet connection for data transfer, GPS applications, Internet surfing, etc.

3. Used in military applications and navigation

4. Used in the research and development sector

Features of Satellite Communications

Below are some of the Features Of Satellite Communications:

1. Satellites that are used in Satellite Communications are normally in geostationary orbit. Some of them are placed in a Kepler Orbit with an Eccentricity of less than 1, or highly Elliptical Orbits.

2. Satellite Communications also provide global availability of frequencies. It covers not only landmasses but it also covers maritime and riverine areas as well. Large distances can then be covered quite easily.

3. One of the major benefits provided by Satellite Communication is superior reliability unlike other kinds of Communication. It doesn't need terrestrial infrastructure for its operation.

4. Satellite Communication could offer better performance speed and uniformity are much more defined than in other forms of Communication.

5. Scalability is higher in the case of satellite communications.

6. The cost of deployment is higher than other kinds of communications in the case of Satellite Communications.

7. As it is less vulnerable than other forms of Communication, it is highly used in the defense and military departments.

8. Satellite Communications also provide and relay accurate weather information.

9. It could also be helpful during times of disasters as its services rarely fail.

10. A high amount of data can be easily transmitted with the help of satellites.

Advantages of Satellite Communication

Some of the advantages include: 

1. Enables Flexibility

2. Ease in installing new circuits

3. Easy distance coverage

4. Enables broadcasting possibilities

5. Enables users to control the network

6. Low-cost burden

Benefits of Satellite Communication

The Following Are Some Of The Benefits Of Satellite Communication:

1. Satellite Communications is used for mobile Communication applications independent of the location.

2. It is used for mobile and wireless communication applications independent of location.

3. It covers a wide area of the earth hence the entire country or region can be covered with just one Satellite.

4. It provides wider bandwidth based on SCPC or MCPC allocation types.

5. It co-exists with a terrestrial microwave line of sight communication.

6. It is easy to install and manage the ground station sites.

7. It does not incur much of the costs per VSAT site.

8. It is used for voice, data, video and any other information transmission. The satellite system can be interfaced with internet infrastructure to obtain internet service.

9. It is easy to obtain service from one single provider and uniform service is available.

10. It has a small fading margin on the order of about 3dB.

Why Study Satellite Communication?

1. Learn how satellite communication systems work

2. Get involved in exciting research and innovation that continuously revolves in this field

3. Increase your earning potential

4. Understand how the world stays connected and coordinated

5. Work with potential big corporations and agencies

6. Job opportunities and career advancement. 

Satellite Communication Course Outline

1 Satellite Communications - Introduction

2 Satellite Communications - Satellite Orbits 

3 Satellite Communications - Satellite Subsystems  

4 Satellite Communications - The RF Link 

5 Satellite Communications - Link System Performance  

6 Satellite Communications - Transmission Impairments  

7 Satellite Communications - Propagation Effects Modeling and Prediction  

8 Satellite Communications - Rain Fade Mitigation  

9 Satellite Communications - The Composite Link  

10 Satellite Communications - Signal Processing  

11 Satellite Communications - Satellite Multiple Access  

12 Satellite Communications - The Mobile Satellite Channel 

13 Satellite Communications - Spectrum Management

14 Satellite Communications - Interference Mitigation 

15 Satellite Communications - High Throughput Satellites  

16 Satellite Communications - Video Lectures

17 Satellite Communications - Exams and Certification