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Mobile Propagation Results from Using the ACTS Mobile TerminalNASA's Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) provides an ideal spaced-based platform for analyzing the Ka-band mobile satellite channel. This paper reports on the results of the Ka-band mobile propagation analysis campaign using the ACTS Mobile Terminal (AMT) developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The objectives of the mobile propagation experiments were to measure and analyze the fading characteristics of the Ka-band channel. The analysis involved examining pilot tone tests in three environments: lightly shadowed suburban, moderately shadowed suburban, and heavily shadowed suburban. The results indicate that Ka-band pilot tones experience significant multipath and fading effects. It may be possible to design link margins to provide reliable service for the lightly shadowed suburban environment at Ka-band. However, for areas with moderate and heavy shadowing, the link margin required to realize reliable communications with 99% availability is excessive (26 dB for moderate shadowing, and greater then 30 dB for heavy shadowing). An alternate approach would be to use shadowing/fading countermeasures (e.g., interleaved error control coding and antenna diversity). Such mitigation techniques, necessary for reliable Ka-band mobile communication within a suburban environment, are currently being considered within the NASA program.
Document ID
19960026915
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Pinck, Deborah
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Rice, Michael D.
(Brigham Young Univ. Provo, UT United States)
Date Acquired
August 17, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1996
Publication Information
Publication: Advanced Communication Technology Satellite Results Conference
Volume: Part 2
Subject Category
Communications And Radar
Accession Number
96N28431
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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