Abstract: A method and a satellite gateway for minimizing an impact of a noise floor variation in a spot beam satellite system. A demodulator processes digitized signals from multiple channels. Digitized signals are automatically gain controlled by respective automatic gain control components associated with respective channels. Automatic gain controlled digitized signals are downconverted and provided to a burst processor. The burst processor processes each downconverted signal and provides, with respect to each downconverted signal, an automatic gain control estimate, a code rate, and an inroute number to a processor component. The processor component determines an average automatic gain control value for each inroute, provides automatic gain control references to the respective automatic gain control components, and periodically sends noise map information to satellite terminals served by the satellite gateway. In some embodiments, the automatic gain control values are biased according to corresponding code rates.

Abstract: A method and a satellite gateway for minimizing an impact of a noise floor variation in a spot beam satellite system. A demodulator processes digitized signals from multiple channels. Digitized signals are automatically gain controlled by respective automatic gain control components associated with respective channels. Automatic gain controlled digitized signals are downconverted and provided to a burst processor. The burst processor processes each downconverted signal and provides, with respect to each downconverted signal, an automatic gain control estimate, a code rate, and an inroute number to a processor component. The processor component determines an average automatic gain control value for each inroute, provides automatic gain control references to the respective automatic gain control components, and periodically sends noise map information to satellite terminals served by the satellite gateway. In some embodiments, the automatic gain control values are biased according to corresponding code rates.

Abstract: An approach includes injecting a plurality of equal amplitude tones across a frequency band. The approach also includes determining frequency response based on the injected tones, determining an imbalance parameter associated with a quadrature down-converter based on the determined frequency response; determining one or more parameters for wideband quadrature compensation based on the determined frequency response, and compensating an input signal based on the determined imbalance parameter and the determined one or more parameters for the wideband quadrature compensation.

Abstract: An approach includes injecting a plurality of equal amplitude tones across a frequency band. The approach also includes determining frequency response based on the injected tones, determining an imbalance parameter associated with a quadrature down-converter based on the determined frequency response; determining one or more parameters for wideband quadrature compensation based on the determined frequency response, and compensating an input signal based on the determined imbalance parameter and the determined one or more parameters for the wideband quadrature compensation.

Abstract: A satellite-based communications network employing at least one satellite and a plurality of user terminals adapted for use with the communications network. The network includes a transmitter for transmitting data to the plurality of user terminals, where the data includes a plurality of broadcast modes and/or services. The transmitter transmits data in a packetized format in which a predetermined number of data packets are transmitted in a frame, where the frame is defined as a predetermined period of time. Further, the transmitter transmits each of the plurality of broadcast modes utilizing a single carrier frequency. Each of the plurality of user terminals includes a receiver for receiving the transmitted data and for regenerating the data so that the data is made available to a device coupled to the user terminal.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing automatic gain control for use in a satellite terminal of a satellite communication system capable of transmitting a plurality of different modes of data. The apparatus includes a demodulator circuit having an analog to digital converter; a first variable attenuator having an attenuation value set on the basis of a measured power level of a predetermined data signal; and a second variable attenuator having an attenuation value set on the basis of the mode of data being received by the satellite terminal, where each of the data modes have a corresponding predetermined attenuation value associated therewith which is utilized as the attenuation value of the second variable attenuator when the satellite terminal receives the data mode.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing automatic gain control for use in a satellite terminal of a satellite communication system capable of transmitting a plurality of different modes of data. The apparatus includes a demodulator circuit having an analog to digital converter; a first variable attenuator having an attenuation value set on the basis of a measured power level of a predetermined data signal; and a second variable attenuator having an attenuation value set on the basis of the mode of data being received by the satellite terminal, where each of the data modes have a corresponding predetermined attenuation value associated therewith which is utilized as the attenuation value of the second variable attenuator when the satellite terminal receives the data mode.

Abstract: An antenna of an earth station is adjusted at a predetermined interval for calibration purposes. A notification of clear sky is received. Signals from a satellite are received upon the receiving of the notification of clear sky. The antenna of the earth station is adjusted to point in various directions while receiving the signals from the satellite. A direction is determined where the antenna of the earth station is pointing where the strongest signal is received from the satellite. The antenna of the earth station is positioned to point in the direction where the strongest signal is received by the satellite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus of using ephemeris data for positioning of an antenna of an earth station. Ephemeris data is transmitted from the satellite to the earth station, wherein the ephemeris data comprises positioning data of a satellite. The ephemeris data is received by the earth station and is used to realize the location of the satellite. The antenna of the earth station is adjusted to point toward the satellite, using the received ephemeris data.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing automatic gain control for use in a satellite terminal of a satellite communication system capable of transmitting a plurality of different modes of data. The apparatus includes a demodulator circuit having an analog to digital converter; a first variable attenuator having an attenuation value set on the basis of a measured power level of a predetermined data signal; and a second variable attenuator having an attenuation value set on the basis of the mode of data being received by the satellite terminal, where each of the data modes have a corresponding predetermined attenuation value associated therewith which is utilized as the attenuation value of the second variable attenuator when the satellite terminal receives the data mode.

Abstract: A demodulator for use in a satellite communication system, which is operative for receiving a modulated signal having a data rate R (i.e., the demodulator receives R input samples per second). The demodulator includes a demultiplexer circuit having N shift registers, which functions to receive the R data samples per second as an input signal. The demultiplexer circuit operates to input the R input samples sequentially into the N shift registers such that each of the shift registers receives input samples at a data rate of R/N samples per second. The demodulator further includes signal recovery circuitry for processing the input samples contained in each of the N shift registers so as to regenerate the data contained in the incoming modulated signal transmitted by the satellite.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing automatic gain control for use in a satellite terminal of a satellite communication system capable of transmitting a plurality of different modes of data. The apparatus includes a demodulator circuit having an analog to digital converter; a first variable attenuator having an attenuation value set on the basis of a measured power level of a predetermined data signal; and a second variable attenuator having an attenuation value set on the basis of the mode of data being received by the satellite terminal, where each of the data modes have a corresponding predetermined attenuation value associated therewith which is utilized as the attenuation value of the second variable attenuator when the satellite terminal receives the data mode.