Despite the proliferation of new communications technologies, the decades-old satellite industry is shifting with the times. Now in its second edition, this guide addresses the myriad aspects of the technology in its current form and explores the paths it is expected to take in the future.

Satellites are increasingly used for global communications, as well as for radio and television transmissions. With the growth of mobile communications, and of digital technology, the use of satellite systems is set to expand substantially and already all students of electronics or communications engineering must study the subject. This book steers a middle path between offering a basic understanding of the process of communication by satellite and the methodology used; and the extensive mathematical analysis normally adopted in similar texts. It presents the basic concepts, using as much mathematical content as is necessary to make the process understandable. The principles introduced are backed up by examples of actual applications showing how professional systems engineers have achieved the required system performance capabilities. The practical systems chosen are representative of modern day applications and comprise an international communications system, an international maritime system and a regional system.

Deals with the physics and geometry of the geostationary orbit, and the construction and operation of satellites and launch vehicles. Gives a thorough analysis of essential factors governing the quality of speech, data, and television signals received via satellite. Particular attention is paid to the use of satellites for maritime, aeronautical and land-mobile communications and VSATs (very-small aperture terminals). Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Revisions to 5th Edition by: Zhili Sun, University of Surrey, UK New and updated edition of this authoritative and comprehensive reference to the field of satellite communications engineering Building on the success of previous editions, Satellite Communications Systems, Fifth Edition covers the entire field of satellite communications engineering from orbital mechanics to satellite design and launch, configuration and installation of earth stations, including the implementation of communications links and the set-up of the satellite network. This book provides a comprehensive treatment of satellite communications systems engineering and discusses the technological applications. It demonstrates how system components interact and details the relationship between the system and its environment. The authors discuss the systems aspects such as techniques enabling equipment and system dimensioning and state of the art technology for satellite platforms, payloads and earth stations. New features and updates for the fifth edition include: More information on techniques allowing service provision of multimedia content Extra material on techniques for broadcasting, including recent standards DVB-RCS and DVB-S2 (Digital Video Broadcasting -Return Channel Satellite and -Satellite Version 2) Updates on onboard processing By offering a detailed and practical overview, Satellite Communications Systems continues to be an authoritative text for advanced students, engineers and designers throughout the field of satellite communications and engineering.

Explains the reasons, limitations and trade-offs inherent tocommunications satellites. The first half deals with link powerbudgets as well as communications hardware and examples of completelink budgets. Spacecraft technology and a description of theobjectives and basic operating methods of each of the majorsupporting subsystems are covered in the last half. Containsend-of-chapter exercises and solutions. An Instructor's Manual presenting detailed solutions to all theproblems in the book is available from the Wiley editorialdepartment.