Assignment-IV and Its Solution

1. A satellite link has same carrier to noise ratio in uplink as well as in down link. The
over all Carrier to noise ratio of the link will be

A. always less than that of individual

B. always greater than that of individual
C. equal to the individual one
D. unpredictable

Solution:
1
The over all carrier to noise ratio of a satellite link can be calculated as C/N t
=
1 1
C/Nup
+ C/Ndn . So, for equal C/N in up as well as in down links, the over all C/N will
be half of the individual one. Hence, the appropriate option will be A.

2. If 500 watt of RF power fed to an earth station antenna saturates a transponder having
SFD of −86 dBw/sq-meter at a distance of 40000 Km, then the earth station transmit
antenna gain is

A. 40 dB
B. 50 dB
C. 60 dB
D. 70 dB

Solution:
The saturation flux density of the transponder is given as −86dBw/sq-meter. The
500
power density received by the transponder is Wd = 4π×(40000×10 3 )2 = 2.48 × 10
−14

Watts/sq-meter, which is equivalently −136 dBw/sq-meter. So, the gain of the an-
tenna is −86 − (−136) = 50 dB. So, the appropriate option is B

3. A geostationary satellite has an elevation angle of 350 with respect to a particular

earth station at mean sea level. The earth station is operating at 4 GHz downlink
frequency. The specific attenuation due to stratiform rainfall in the downlink is 1.4
dB/Km. Determine the signal attenuation in the downlink assuming rain height of 3
Km.

A. 10.5 dB
B. 7.3 dB
C. 5.4 dB
D. 4.1 dB

Solution:
It is mentioned in the question that the satellite is located at an elevation angle of 35
degree and the rain is of stratiform type and has a height of 3 Km. Hence, by applying
the simple and fundamental formula of trigonometry, we can easily determine the
actual slant signal path. With reference to the figure given below, we can determine
the signal path, l = sind350 = 5.23 Km. So, the total attenuation of the signal caused
by the rain is A = 1.4 × 5.23 = 7.32 dB. So, the mos appropriate one is B.

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 Figure 1: Figure of satellite signal path through rain

4. A standard earth station with G/T of 30 dB/K receives a signal measures the C/N0
of a satellite beacon as 90 dBHz, whereas the C/N0 of the same beacon is measured at
the same location by a VSAT receiver is 70 dBHz. Determine the G/T of the VSAT
station receiver.

A. 10 dB/K
B. 11 dB/K
C. 12 dB/K
D. 13 dB/K

Solution:
The C/N0 of an earth station can be mathematically formulated as,
C/N0es = EIRPbeacon + G/Tes − L − k = 90 and the same for VSAT terminal can be
represented as, C/N0vsat = EIRPbeacon + G/Tvsat − L − k = 70. By solving the two
equations we can determine the G/T of the VSAT as 10 dB/K. Hence, the correct one
is A.

5. In a point-to-point satellite communication system, the carrier signal at the satellite

as received over uplink is 40 dB greater than the strength of the interference signal
from an interference Earth station. Also, the strength of the signal power received
at the desired Earth station over the downlink is 35 dB more than the strength of
the interference signal due to an interfering satellite. Determine the total carrier-to-
interference ratio of the satellite link

A. 30 dB
B. 34 dB
C. 40 dB
D. 44 dB

Solution:
For uplink, the carrier power is 40 dB greater than the interference power, thus, the
(C/I)up = 40dB or equivalently 104 . Similarly, from the question, the (C/I)dn = 35dB,
equivalently 3162.28. Now, by using the formula for over all carrier-t-noise ratio of the

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 satellite link, C/I−1
t = C/I1 up + C/I1 dn = [ 1014 + 1013.5 ]. So, (C/I)t = 10−4 +10
1
−3.5 = 2402.5,

equivalently 33.8 dB. So, the correct choice is B

6. Assume that the noise power associated with a GPS signal over 2 MHz bandwidth is
-141 dBw. If there are 10 satellites visible to the receiver and for simplicity assuming
power from each satellite at the receiver is -160 dBw, what is the SNR (including
interference) at the receiver output?

A. -19 dB
B. 19 dB
C. -15 dB
D. 15 dB

Solution:
Noise power associated with the signal over 2 MHz bandwidth is supplied as -141 dBw.
There are 10 satellites, each of the satellites is radiating and receiver receives -160 dBw
power from each of them. Thus for a receiving a signal from a particular satellite,
rest nine satellites will create interference to the signal. Hence, the interference signal
strength can be calculated as −160+10 log(9) = −150.5 dBw. Now, the considering the
combined effects of noise and interference, the total noise power can be calculated as
N + I = 10−14.1 + 10−15.05 = 8.8345 × 10−15 watts, equivalently −140.7dBw. Therefore,
the signal to noise ratio can be calculated as −160 + 140.7 = −19.3dB. So, the closest
option is A.

7. A multiple carrier satellite Transponder operating at 6 GHz uplink and 4 GHz downlink
has Transponder Saturation Flux Density of −67.5 dBw/sq-meter and corresponding
saturated EIRP of 26.6 dBw. The transponder is operating at 12 dB Input Back Off.
The satellite power amplifier characteristics specify that for every dB of Input back-off
the Output Back-off changes by 0.5 dB. If Satellite G/T is −11.6 dB/K, satellite to
earth station range is 40800 Km and Earth Station G/T is 40.7 dB/K, find total C/N0 .

A. 98.9 dBHz
B. 92.5 dBHz
C. 90.4 dBHz
D. 96.2 dBHz

Solution:
It is mentioned that, the saturation flux density ψ = −67.5 dBw/sq-meter, the uplink
frequency is 6 GHz. Therefore, the spreading factor can be easily calculated as S =
2
10 log λ4πu = −37.01 dB-sq-meter.
It is also mentioned that the satellite transponder is operated at 12 dB input back off
and it has an effect on the output back off. Hence, for 12 dB input back off the effect
on output back off is 12 × 0.5 = 6 dB. hence, we can calculate the C/N0 for uplink

C/N0u = ψ − IBO + S + G/Tsat − k

= −67.5 − 12 − 37.01 + 228.6 − 11.6
= 100.5 dBHz

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 In similar fashion, the C/N0 of the downlink, can be determined. So,

C/N0d = EIRP − OBO + G/Tes − L − k

4πRf
= EIRP − OBO + G/Tes − 20 log −k
c
= 26.6 − 6 + 40.7 − 196.69 + 228.6
= 93.21 dBHz

Now, the over all C/N0 of the satellite link would be,

1 1 1
= +
C/N0t C/Nu C/Nu
1 1 1
= 10.05 + 9.321
C/N0t 10 10
= 5.6665 × 10−10

So, the over all C/N0 of the link would be −10 log 5.6665 × 10−10 Hz = 92.46 dBHz.
Thus, the appropriate choice is B.

8. A receive antenna observes rain attenuation of 7 dB. The receiver noise figure is 2 dB,
and receive antenna gain is 40 dBi. Using power control FMT, how much increase in
downlink power is required? Assume negligible clear sky noise temperature and T0 for
rain as 275 K and T0 for receiver as 290 K.

A. 7.32 dB
B. 9. 65 dB
C. 10.65 dB
D. 12.78 dB

Solution:
Total Attenuation,L during rain is 7 dB, equivalently 5 in linear scale. The sky noise
temperature is negligible i.e. 0K
Antenna noise temperature during rain is the Noise temperature at the output of rain
attenuation = T0 × L−1
L
= 275 × 5−1
5
= 220K
Receiver Noise figure =2dB, equivalently 1.58 in linear scale.
Receiver noise temperature = To (F − 1) = 290(1.58 − 1) = 168.2K
System noise temperature during rain =220 + 168.2 = 388.2K i.e 25.9 dBK
Receiver G/T during rain =40 − 25.9 = 14.1 dB/K
Receiver noise temperature without rain =168.2K = 22.25dBK, as sky noise is negli-
gible.
Receiver G/T without rain = 40 − 22.25 = 17.75 dB/K
Reduction of receiver G/T due to rain ∆G/T = 3.65 dB. Due to this reduction of G/T
and rain attenuation, C/N0 during rain will be reduced.
To maintain same C/No as of clear sky, Downlink EIRP is to be increased to compen-
sate the effect of rain fade. Increase in downlink power = rain attenuation + receiver
G/T reduction due to rain = 7 + 3.65 = 10.65 dB Thus the correct answer is C.

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 9. Assume rain rate is same for two locations A and B, which are situated on the same
longitudes of a GEO satellite. Station A is 400 N and station B is at 410 N and both
the stations have same altitudes. For equal rain height, the rain attenuation from the
stations to satellite link will be

A. A>B
B. A=B
C. A<B
D. Can not be determined

Solution:
The earth stations are located at same longitude as that of GEO satellite. The station
A is located at 400 N, which is in close with the satellite as compared to station B,
which is located at 410 N. Therefore, the elevation angle of Station A is greater than
that of Station B. Therefore, the effective signal path through rain from the satellite
will be higher for the station B. So the attenuation faced by station A will be less than
that of station B. Hence, the appropriate choice is C.

10. If at End Of Life (EOL) LNA gain of an earth station is expected to decrease by 3 dB
from the beginning of its operation, but the antenna gain remains same, then G/T of
the earth station at EOL will

A. Remain same
B. Increase
C. Decrease
D. None of these

Solution:
At the end of the life the antenna gain remain constant, the gain of the LNA is expected
to decrease, so, the effective noise temperature increases because Ts = TLNA + GTLNA rx
.
Hence the G/T ratio increases as the LNA gain decreases. So, the appropriate option
is C.