Satellite Communications

1
Satellite Communications

• DirecTV and Satellite Radio

2
Overview

• Direct Broadcast Satellite
• DirecTV
• Satellite Radio
• Background
• Common Technology
• Competitors
• XM
• SIRIUS
• WorldSpace

3
Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS)

• Direct Broadcast Satellite
• Refers to either
• Television Service
• Satellites which deliver service
• Mini-dish systems
• Parabolic Surface
• Focuses incoming signals into Feed Horn
• Reflects outgoing signals into narrow beam
• Main part Consists of Low Noise Blockdown
  Converter (LNB)

4
Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS)

• Typical System
• Operates in upper Ku Band (12 GHz to 14 GHz)
• Legislation
• C Band
• Proprietary equipment needed
• Encryption
• Smart Card
• Fixed Satellite Service (FSS)
• Operates in C-Band (3.4 GHz to 7 GHz)

5
DirecTVGood TV, Better TV, DirecTV

• Technology
• Satellites
• Three geostationary satellites
• Two more to be launched
• 18 x 20 in elliptical dish
• 5 LNBs
• High Definition
• Access Cards
• D2/P12 Current Issue
• Law suits
• ISO-7186 Smart Card Device
• MPEG-II Compression
• 270 Mbps down to 10 Mbps

6
Satellite Fleet
Satellite Orbital slot Launch date Satellite type
DirecTV-1 110.0 W 17 December 1993 Hughes Electronics HS-601
DirecTV-2 100.8 W 3 August 1994 Hughes Electronics HS-601
DirecTV-1R 100.8 W 10 October 1999 Hughes Electronics HS-601HP
DirecTV-4S 101.2 W 27 November 2001 Hughes Electronics HS-601HP
DirecTV-5 72.5 W 7 May 2002 Space Systems/Loral LS-1300
DirecTV-6 109.8 W 9 March 1997 Space Systems/Loral LS-1300
DirecTV-7S 119.0 W 4 May 2004 Space Systems/Loral LS-1300
DirecTV-8 101.0 W 22 May 2005 Space Systems/Loral LS-1300
DirecTV-9S 101.1 W 13 October 2006 Space Systems/Loral LS-1300
SPACEWAY-1 102.8 W 26 April 2005 Boeing BSS-702
SPACEWAY-2 99.2 W 16 November 2005 Boeing BSS-702
DirecTV-10, 11, 12 TBD Est. 2007 Boeing BSS-702
7
Satellite Radio

• Background
• Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS)
• Established in 1992
• Operates in S-Band (2.3 GHz)
• 4 Second Delay
• Main Competitors
• North America
• XM and Sirius
• Europe, Middle East, Africa
• WorldSpace
• Terrestrial Repeaters (Cell Towers)

8
XM Radio

• Technology
• Satellites
• Two geostationary satellites
• XM Rhythm at 115 west
• XM Blues at 85 west
• Replaced previous XM Rock and XM Roll
• Third as a spare
• Uses 12.5 MHz of S band 2332.5 to 2345.0 MHz
• GM, Honda

9
XM Ground Repeaters
10
(No Transcript)
11
SIRIUS Radio

• Technology
• Satellites
• Three Medium Earth Orbit
• Extremely Elliptical Path
• At least one satellite for 14 hours per day.
• Positions
• Radiosat 1, Radiosat 2, Radiosat 3
• Fourth as a spare
• BMW, Daimler-Benz, VAG

12
SIRIUS
13
WorldSpace

• Technology
• Operates in L-Band (1.467 GHz to 1.492 GHz)
• Satellites
• AfriStar, AsiaStar, AmeriStar

14
Summary

• Direct Broadcast Satellite
• DirecTV
• Satellite Radio
• XM, SIRIUS, WorldSpace
• Background
• Technology
• Satellites