MODULAR PROGRAMME COURSEWORK

Evaluation Criteria

Module Details

Module Code Run Module Title

UFMFLN-15-3 February 2025 Satellite Communication
Module Leader Module Coordinator Module Tutors
Mohammed Altayeb Mohammed Altayeb
Component and Element Number Weighting: (% of the Module's assessment)
CW-Sit 50%
Element Description Total Assignment time
Coursework
Assignment

Dates

Date Issued to Students Date to be Returned to Students

Submission Place Submission Date

Level P Academic Support Office
Submission Time

Deliverables

A collaborative report with a word limit of up to 4000 words, excluding appendices, references, and
additional supporting documents

Module Leader Signature

Mohammed Altayeb
Upholding Academic Integrity and Addressing Assessment Misconduct
GCET is dedicated to promoting good academic practice in all forms of assessment submissions,
ensuring that students maintain honesty and uphold academic integrity. Each student is expected to
demonstrate ethical behavior when creating, representing, and acknowledging the work of others in
their submissions.

Any academic misconduct, such as plagiarism, collusion, fabrication, falsification, or contract

cheating, will be thoroughly investigated and may result in sanctions as outlined in GCET's
Assessment Misconduct Policy.

Introduction:

This assignment aims to assess students' abilities to design and simulate a satellite communications
link, taking into account both technical and practical challenges. The focus will be on understanding
the operational principles of satellite communication systems and developing solutions that address
various real-world factors, such as signal loss, interference, and other channel characteristics.
Students will work in groups to apply their knowledge to a realistic design problem relevant to
satellite communications in Oman.

Objective of the Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to assess students based on the following learning outcomes:

The objectives of this assignment are as follows:

- Design a satellite communication system, demonstrating a thorough understanding of satellite

network operations and the challenges faced in real-world implementations.

- Develop solutions for both basic and complex radio link design challenges, addressing issues like
signal loss, interference, and channel degradation.

- Develop a detailed satellite communications link budget, applying established engineering

practices to ensure the system's performance in a lossy communication channel.

- Evaluate the economic, commercial, and societal implications of satellite communication systems
in Oman, considering both the benefits and potential challenges.
- Demonstrate independent learning skills essential for continuous professional growth in the field
of satellite communications.

Group Work Guidelines:

This assignment is group-based, and each group may consist of up to 3-4 Students. Each group will
work collaboratively on the design and simulation of a satellite communication system. However,
each student must clearly outline their individual contributions at the end of the report to allow for
individual assessment.

Group Size: Groups may consist of 3-4 students.

Individual Contributions: Each group member must detail their contributions to the project in the
report to ensure fair evaluation.

Submission Instructions:

The assignment must be submitted electronically through Moodle. Please follow the guidelines
below for submission:

- File Format: The report should be submitted as a PDF file.

The file should be named using the format: your_full_name_Your_UWE_ID.pdf (e.g.,

mohammed_altayeb_187458.pdf).

- Report Structure:

Include a cover page as the first page of the report. Attach the Safe-Assign report after the cover
page.

At the end of the report, each group member must provide a brief summary of their individual
contributions.

- Zip Folder:

All files, including the report and any additional materials, must be compressed into a single .zip
folder. Name the folder according to the same format as the report (e.g.,
mohammed_altayeb_187458.zip).
 - Submission Platform:

Upload the .zip folder to Moodle by the specified deadline.

Late Submission Policy

Late Submission Window: A 48-hour period following the original deadline during which
assignments can be submitted without penalty.

Submission Method: Assignments must be submitted electronically via Moodle.

Post-Window Policy: Submissions made after the 48-hour window will not be accepted, resulting in
a non-submission being recorded.

Important Considerations:

Assignment Exemptions: Certain assignments may be exempt from the late submission window. It's
essential to verify the specific policy for each assignment.

Reasonable Adjustments: Students eligible for reasonable adjustments may receive a seven-day
extension following the original deadline. This adjustment applies to students who are disabled,
carers of disabled persons, or due to pregnancy, maternity, or paternity.

UWE Bristol

No Need for Evidence: If you are unable to meet the original deadline and wish to use the late
submission window, you do not need to provide a reason or evidence.

Materials

 MATLAB Communications Tool Box.

 RF Block Set accessible on PCs in the laboratories

Therefore, candidates are required to design and simulate a complete satellite communications link
operating in a geostationary Orbiting a lossy communication channel using MATLAB software . The
satellite link will primarily serve data communication needs within Oman.
Candidates are required to perform comprehensive research, and the design should be customized
specifically for application in the Sultanate of Oman. The key losses that must be considered in the
channel include:

1. Free space loss

2. Atmospheric attenuation (due to sandstorms and rain)
3. Depointing losses
4. Polarization mismatch losses

In addition to these losses, candidates should also account for Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)
and thermal noise in both the uplink and downlink. However, Doppler shift, Faraday rotation,
atmospheric gas attenuation (for frequencies below 10 GHz), fog and ice cloud attenuation,
scintillation, and multipath effects can be disregarded.

Another essential factor to incorporate is the Round-Trip Time Delay as part of the design pertains
to a satellite in geostationary orbit.

For this assignment, candidates must choose uplink and downlink F-Hz within the S Band (2 GHz
to 3 GHz). The design should also include considerations for satellite constellations, orbital
parameters, including the angle between the satellite and the ground station, the radio interface, all
relative to a receiver located in Muscat.

The assignment involves creating a link budget with detailed calculations that specify antenna
parameters, error correction techniques, and a chosen multiple access method (CDMA, FDMA,
or TDMA, but not SDMA). You must also provide an overview of various design options and
their performance metrics, including outage probability, throughput, bit-error rate, and capacity.
The main objective is to design a satellite communication system that ensures reliable data
transmission in a lossy environment. You may establish additional criteria’s, which must be
clearly defined. A report of up to 4000 words is required, including specific elements. The
complete final design:

1. illustrating the MATLAB component blocks, their interconnections, and their application to
satellite communication systems.
2. An explanation detailing the function of each component in the design and its significance
within the system. The evaluation criteria should emphasize the necessity of each design
element concerning the assigned task, considering the receiver’s location in Muscat, Oman,
as well as the orbital and frequency specifications.
 3. A comprehensive explanation of the design choices and calculations for each component as
well as the overall system. This section should present results, including graphical or
numerical data from simulations conducted during the design process, and discuss any trade-
offs made based on performance metrics.
4. A presentation of the final, fully operational satellite communication system.

Evaluation Criteria

The assignment will be graded based on the following components:

- Abstract (5 Marks): A concise summary of the assignment, including objectives,

methodology, and results.
- Objectives (5 Marks): Clear articulation of the assignment’s goals and how they are
achieved.
- Comprehensiveness of Secondary Research (25 Marks): In-depth research on satellite
communication systems and the specific challenges of working in Oman.
- Understanding of the Selected Topic (10 Marks): Demonstration of a strong understanding
of satellite communication principles and their application in the context of the assignment.
- Simulation Model Design (25 Marks): Development of a complete and functional satellite
communication model in MATLAB, considering all relevant factors.
- Result Analysis and Demonstration (25 Marks): Presentation and analysis of simulation
results, including performance metrics and discussion of trade-offs.
- Conclusions (5 Marks): Clear and concise summary of findings, including recommendations
for future work or improvements.

Evaluation Criteria Description Marks

Abstract A concise summary of the 5
assignment, including objectives,
methodology, and results.
Objectives Clear articulation of the 5
assignment’s goals and how they
are achieved.
Comprehensiveness of In-depth research on satellite 25
Secondary Research communication systems and the
 specific challenges of working in
Oman.
Understanding of the Selected Demonstration of a strong 10
Topic understanding of satellite
communication principles and
their application.
Simulation Model Design Development of a complete and 25
functional satellite
communication model in
MATLAB, considering all factors.
Result Analysis and Presentation and analysis of 25
Demonstration simulation results, including
performance metrics and trade-
offs.
Conclusions recommendations for future 5
work or improvements.

Final Thoughts

The main goal of this assignment is to design and simulate a satellite communication system that
ensures reliable data transmission in a lossy environment. You are expected to thoroughly research
the topic, select appropriate design parameters, and provide a comprehensive report detailing your
work, including any assumptions made and design decisions taken. Ensure that all sections are well-
researched, clearly explained, and thoroughly documented.