7.
1 Configuration and general characteristics of earth stations 491
[Link] VSATs (very small aperture terminals)
The term "very small aperture terminal", or simply "VSAT" was introduced in the eighties to
designate small earth stations generally implemented in the framework of "VSAT systems" (or
"VSAT networks") used for private corporate communications. In fact, if the term remains widely
used, although it does not cover any precise definition, this is because it has marked the success of a
really new market with the introduction of low cost direct connections, by satellite, of multiple users
to central communication or computing facilities and of the production, by quantities (tens of
thousands), of the small earth stations needed for these utilizations.
The response of the ITU to this generalization of such earth stations and systems has been two-fold:
• Recommendations were specially issued for the earth stations, covering generalities (ITU-R
S.725), spurious emissions (ITU-R S.726), cross-polarization isolation (ITU-R S.727), off-axis
e.i.r.p. (ITU-R S.728), control and monitoring function (ITU-R S.729), interconnection with
public switched data networks (ITU-T X.361) and with public ISDN (ITU-T I.571)4;
• a special Handbook was published on the subject (Supplement 3 to the main Handbook: "VSAT
systems and earth stations", Geneva, 1995).
Note that only summary information is given below on VSATs and that the reader is referred to
the above-mentioned Supplement for detailed technical descriptions on VSATs;
• VSAT earth stations are usually implemented to form closed networks for dedicated
applications either for information broadcasting (receive only VSATs) or for information
exchange (transmit/receive VSATs);
• VSAT (remote) earth stations are generally directly installed, on users' premises and
unattended. Their location density may be high;
• VSAT earth stations are often part of a network which has a "star" topology, consisting of a
relatively large central station (hub station: see above § [Link]), and many VSAT (remote)
earth stations. However, some networks operate in a point-to-point- or "mesh"- configuration,
without a hub;
• VSAT earth stations usually employ digital transmission with a low or medium bit rate
(≤ 2 Mbit/s); and
• VSAT (remote) earth stations are equipped with small antennas: the antenna diameters are
normally limited to 2.4 m, however, in some circumstances, large diameter up to 5 m may be
required.
Note that:
1) the most commonly used FSS bands are 14/11-12 GHz and 6/4 GHz.
2) the coding modulation and access techniques could be very diverse, corresponding to the most
effective technologies for a given application.
3) TVRO earth stations are not classified as VSATs. However, the reception of video signals by a
VSAT is often implemented.
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4 Specifications on VSAT operation were also issued in the USA, in Europe, in Japan, etc.
492 CHAPTER 7 Earth segment
[Link] a) General construction and installation of VSAT
The VSAT earth station is functionally divided into three major elements: the antenna, outdoor unit
(ODU) and indoor unit (IDU). The typical configuration of a VSAT is shown in Figure 7.3. All
three components are compact and designed for low cost mass production. This section mainly
describes the configuration of VSATs for 14/11-12 GHz band operation. The configuration for
6/4 GHz band operation is similar except for the antenna and RF circuit.
Antenna Outdoor unit (ODU) Indoor unit (IDU)
LNC DEM
IFL
BBP to DTE
HPC MOD
TV receiver
(option) to TV set
LNC: Low noise amplifier and converter
HPC: High power amplifier and converter
IFL: Inter-facility link
DEM: Demodulator
MOD: Modulator
BBP: Baseband processor
DTE: Data terminal equipment
Sat/C7-03
FIGURE 7.3
Typical configuration of a VSAT
Small offset parabolic antennas with typically 1 to 2 metre diameters are widely used. The ODU
typically contains RF electronics such as a low noise converter (a low noise amplifier with a down
converter) and a high power converter (a high power amplifier with an up converter) in a compact
weatherproof housing with an integrated antenna feed horn, and is installed behind the antenna focal
point. The antenna with the ODU can be installed very easily on the roof top, on the wall, or in the
car park of the user's office buildings, where the user data terminals are located. The IDU typically
contains an IF circuit, a modem and a baseband signal processor. Sometimes the modulator circuits
are contained in the ODU instead of in the IDU.
7.1 Configuration and general characteristics of earth stations 493
ODU Antenna
IFL
IDU
Sat/C7-04
FIGURE 7.4
Typical installation of a VSAT
The IDU is usually installed near the user data terminals and connected to them directly through the
standard data communication interface. Usually an optional TV receiver can be connected to the
IDU to receive TV signals transmitted by another transponder of the same satellite. The ODU and
the IDU are connected by inter-facility link (IFL) cable(s). The IDU can be separated from the ODU
by as much as 100 m to 300 m.
A typical installation layout of the VSAT is shown in Figure 7.4. Consideration should be given to
safety aspects to protect operational personnel and the public, such as tolerance to high winds,
avoidance of electrical shock, lightning protection, and protection from radio-frequency radiation
hazards.
Again, for more details on VSAT systems, refer to "VSAT Systems and Earth Stations
(Supplement 3 to the Handbook)".
[Link] Other very small terminals
Following the success of VSATs, new types of very low cost terminals (i.e. at the price, say, of a
PC) are appearing on the market for a very wide range of applications and with the hope of sales by
mass quantities.
These terminals (sometimes called USATs, for ultra small aperture terminals) will operate with new
satellite systems which are currently proposed all over the world and which are based on powerful
GSO satellites or on non-GSO satellites (e.g. TELEDESIC, SKYBRIDGE5). The reduction in cost
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5 See in Chapter 6, § 6.5 and Appendix 6.1.
494 CHAPTER 7 Earth segment
of the terminals should be permitted by mass production and should be based on the utilization of
advanced technologies (ASIC, etc.) and of digital signal processing, most of the functions (including
possibly demodulation) being implemented by software on a small number of VLSI components6.
The proposed systems generally fall in two categories with different applications:
• implementation of telecommunications means in isolated sites (villages, islands, etc.), at
acceptable economical conditions, especially for serving developing countries;
• wideband direct access from user terminals to any type of communication networks on a global
basis.
7.1.4 Transportable and portable earth station
[Link] Transportable earth station
Transportable earth stations are used in the following applications:
• satellite news gathering (SNG) (see § 7.9);
• emergency communications in cases of natural disasters;
• temporary communications;
• additional communications capacity for special events.
These earth stations are transportable via a van, truck or aircraft and provide voice, data and video
transmission through an international, regional and domestic satellite systems. Various transportable
earth stations are used in the 6/4 GHz, 14/12 GHz and 30/20 GHz frequency bands. Examples of
transportable earth station realizations are described below (refer to Recommendation ITU-R
S.1001).
Various types of small earth station equipment have been developed for the use of new satellite
communication systems in the 14/12 GHz band. To implement small earth stations, efforts have
been made to decrease the size and to improve transportability so as to ease their use for general
applications. This allows the occasional or temporary use of these earth stations for relief operations
within a country or even worldwide. Such temporary earth stations are installed either in a vehicle or
use portable containers with a small antenna. It is thus possible to use them in an emergency.
The vehicle equipped earth station in which all the necessary equipment is installed in the vehicle,
e.g. a four-wheel drive van, permits operation within 10 min of arrival including all necessary
actions such as antenna direction adjustments.
A transportable earth station is disassembled prior to transportation and reassembled at the site
within approximately 15 to 30 min. The size and weight of the equipment generally allow it to be
carried by hand by one or two persons, and the containers are within the limit of the IATA checked
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6 Reduction of the size and the cost of the terminals can go even further in the case of mobile earth stations (MSS) for
S-PCN applications.