Gerard Maral is the author of VSAT Networks, 2nd Edition, published by Wiley.

• Preface ixAcronyms and Abbreviations xiiiNotation xvii1 Introduction 11.1 VSAT network definition 11.2 VSAT network configurations 51.3 User terminal connectivity 91.4 VSAT network applications and types of traffic 111.4.1 Civilian VSAT networks 111.4.2 Military VSAT networks 151.5 VSAT networks: involved parties 151.6 VSAT network options 171.6.1 Star or mesh? 171.6.2 Data/voice/video 211.6.3 Fixed/demand assignment 221.6.4 Frequency bands 241.6.5 Hub options 291.7 VSAT network earth stations 301.7.1 VSAT station 301.7.2 Hub station 351.8 Economic aspects 391.9 Regulatory aspects 411.9.1 Licensing 421.9.2 Access to the space segment 431.9.3 Local regulations 431.10 Conclusions 441.10.1 Advantages 441.10.2 Drawbacks 452 Use of satellites for VSAT networks 472.1 Introduction 482.1.1 The relay function 482.1.2 Transparent and regenerative payload 502.1.3 Coverage 522.1.4 Impact of coverage on satellite relay performance 552.1.5 Frequency reuse 592.2 Orbits 602.2.1 Newton’s universal law of attraction 602.2.2 Orbital parameters 612.3 The geostationary satellite 652.3.1 Orbit parameters 652.3.2 Launching the satellite 652.3.3 Distance to the satellite 682.3.4 Propagation delay 692.3.5 Conjunction of the sun and the satellite 692.3.6 Orbit perturbations 702.3.7 Apparent satellite movement 722.3.8 Orbit corrections 762.3.9 Doppler effect 772.4 Satellites for VSAT services 773 Operational aspects 793.1 Installation 793.1.1 Hub 793.1.2 VSAT 793.1.3 Antenna pointing 813.2 The customer’s concerns 853.2.1 Interfaces to end equipment 863.2.2 Independence from vendor 863.2.3 Set-up time 863.2.4 Access to the service 873.2.5 Flexibility 873.2.6 Failure and disaster recovery 873.2.7 Blocking probability 893.2.8 Response time 903.2.9 Link quality 913.2.10 Availability 913.2.11 Maintenance 963.2.12 Hazards 973.2.13 Cost 974 Networking aspects 994.1 Network functions 994.2 Some definitions 1004.2.1 Links and connections 1004.2.2 Bit rate 1014.2.3 Protocols 1034.2.4 Delay 1034.2.5 Throughput 1044.2.6 Channel efficiency 1044.2.7 Channel utilisation 1044.3 Traffic characterisation 1054.3.1 Traffic forecasts 1054.3.2 Traffic measurements 1054.3.3 Traffic source modelling 1064.4 The OSI reference model for data communications 1104.4.1 The physical layer 1124.4.2 The data link layer 1124.4.3 The network layer 1144.4.4 The transport layer 1154.4.5 The upper layers (5 to 7) 1164.5 Application to VSAT networks 1164.5.1 Physical and protocol configurations of a VSAT network 1164.5.2 Protocol conversion (emulation) 1164.5.3 Reasons for protocol conversion 1184.6 Multiple access 1274.6.1 Basic multiple access protocols 1294.6.2 Meshed networks 1314.6.3 Star-shaped networks 1344.6.4 Fixed assignment versus demand assignment 1414.6.5 Random time division multiple access 1494.6.6 Delay analysis 1554.6.7 Conclusion 1614.7 Network design 1634.7.1 Principles 1634.7.2 Guidelines for preliminary dimensioning 1644.7.3 Example 1684.8 Conclusion 1695 Radio frequency link analysis 1715.1 Principles 1725.1.1 Thermal noise 1735.1.2 Interference noise 1745.1.3 Intermodulation noise 1745.1.4 Carrier power to noise power spectral density ratio 1765.1.5 Total noise 1765.2 Uplink analysis 1795.2.1 Power flux density at satellite distance 1805.2.2 Effective isotropic radiated power of the earth station 1815.2.3 Uplink path loss 1885.2.4 Figure of merit of satellite receiving equipment 1945.3 Downlink analysis 1955.3.1 Effective isotropic radiated power of the satellite 1975.3.2 Power Flux density at earth surface 1975.3.3 Downlink path loss 1985.3.4 Figure of merit of earth station receiving equipment 1985.4 Intermodulation analysis 2055.5 Interference analysis 2075.5.1 Expressions for carrier-to-interference ratio 2075.5.2 Types of interference 2085.5.3 Self-interference 2095.5.4 External interference 2195.5.5 Conclusion 2255.6 Overall link performance 2265.7 Bit error rate determination 2295.8 Power versus bandwidth exchange 2315.9 Example 231Appendices 239Appendix 1: Traffic source models 239Appendix 2: Automatic repeat request (ARQ) protocols 242Appendix 3: Interface protocols 245Appendix 4: Antenna parameters 250Appendix 5: Emitted and received power 254Appendix 6: Carrier amplification 257Appendix 7: VSAT products 260References 265Index 267