WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.

User Manual

by WAVECOM ELEKTRONIK AG
PUBLISHED BY
WAVECOM ELEKTRONIK AG
Hammerstrasse 8
CH-8180 Buelach
Switzerland

Phone +41-44-872 70 60
Fax +41-44-872 70 66
Email: info@wavecom.ch
Internet: http://www.wavecom.ch

© by WAVECOM ELEKTRONIK AG. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part in any form is prohibited without written consent of the copyright owner.

The publication of information in this document does not imply freedom from patent or other protective rights of WA-
VECOM ELEKTRONIK AG or others.
All brand names in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of their owners.

Specifications are subject to change without further notice

Printed: Wednesday, March 26, 2008, 17:04:46

Contents
Welcome 1
Introduction ............................................................................................. 1
Professional Version ................................................................................... 1
Training ................................................................................................... 1
Source Code ............................................................................................. 1
Company Profile ........................................................................................ 1
Revisions ................................................................................................. 2
References ............................................................................................... 2

Software 2
Installation ............................................................................................... 2
Setup ...................................................................................................... 3
Operation ................................................................................................. 6
Error Handling .......................................................................................... 7
Source ..................................................................................................... 7

Hardware Recommendations 7
Overview ................................................................................................. 7
General Description of the components ......................................................... 7
Antenna ........................................................................................ 7
Downconverter ............................................................................... 8
PC with W61PC(s) ........................................................................... 8
Proven Components ................................................................................... 8
Antenna ........................................................................................ 8
Downconverter ............................................................................... 8
PC ................................................................................................ 8

Glossary of Terms 9

Index 29

WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual Contents  v

Welcome
Congratulations on your purchase of a WAVECOM decoder. The product that you bought incorporates the
latest technology in data decoding together with the latest software release available at the time of ship-
ment.
Please, check our website http://www.wavecom.ch for software updates.
Always check the latest documentation on the installation CD or on our website.
We thank you for choosing a WAVECOM decoder and look forward to work with you in the future.
This chapter introduces WAVECOM ELEKTRONIK AG, the field of activity of the company, and how you
may benefit from the expertise of WAVECOM ELEKTRONIK AG.
This document describes the 'EasySatSystem' software of WAVECOM ELEKTRONIK AG; this product is
sometimes also called 'SAT-Coordination'.

Introduction
'EasySatSystem' controls the satellite-modes running on a system of up to 10 W61PC cards such to pre-
vent that more than one W61PC card monitors the same satellite communications session, identified by a
specific satellite-mode (INMARSAT-B, INMARSAT-M, and INMARSAT-mini-M), a service (data, fax, ISDN,
etc.), and mobile earth station identification number (termed MES Id in the following). The monitoring
system configuration is specified in a text file using a very simple syntax. For logging purposes, statistical
data concerning the monitored sessions can be collected.
'EasySatSystem' has 3 kinds of user interfaces:
 the operational status display of the coordinated cards, i.e., the ‘EasySatSystem’ graphical user in-
terface (GUI);
 the configuration interface, i.e., the text file EasySATSystem.ini, stored in some predefined direc-
tory;
 the MS-DOS command line with parameters.

Professional Version
This documentation is only available in the professional version of the WAVECOM decoder software.
Professional versions are only available to government bodies.
WAVECOM maintains a mailing list of our professional customers. For registration details, see Appendix at
the end of this manual.

Training
Please, note that when required WAVECOM is able to provide training on the WAVECOM XML interface.
Training can be ordered to take place at the customer location or at our offices in Switzerland.

Source Code
Source code is available for professional users. To obtain the Source Code please contact WAVECOM, at
www.wavecom.ch.

Company Profile

WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual Welcome  1

WAVECOM ELEKTRONIK GmbH was founded in 1985 in Hohentengen, Germany, close to the Swiss border.
In 1991 the company moved to Switzerland and established itself as WAVECOM ELEKTRONIK AG. Now lo-
cated in Buelach it is within close vicinity of Zuerich airport.
The company has focused on decoding and analysis systems for wireless data transmissions. The wide
product range spans from professional, high performance systems to devices for private and amateur ra-
dio use.
The very high quality standards combined with high system performance are appreciated by all customers
worldwide. A global network of authorized sales partners ensures that local assistance and basic level sup-
port can be provided in most places. More than 95% of all units sold are exported. The majority of the
customers are government agencies, defense organizations and the telecommunication industry.
About 40% of the turnover is invested in research and development. The employees at WAVECOM ELEK-
TRONIK AG are mainly engineers with experience in DSP technology, computer and RF hardware devel-
opment, software engineering and radio data transmission. Access to external know-how and human re-
sources enlarges the capabilities for realizing projects. Manufacturing is outsourced to specialized compa-
nies within Switzerland which can handle today's needs for processing surface mount components and
fine-pitch structures.
WAVECOM ELEKTRONIK AG does not have any juridical or financial links or connections to other compa-
nies or official bodies and is completely owned by its general manager, Mr. Christian Kesselring.

Revisions
Version Date Author Changes
0.1 16-01-2006 Hgr Initial draft
0.2 26-01-2006 Hgr Corrections after comments from RH
Install, Setup, Error handling, Source chapters added;
.Ini file description adapted to new format;
1.0 13-02-2006 Hgr Corrections after review MO, RH
1.001 29-03-2006 Hgr Addition of Command Line parameter /A:<n2>
1.002 25-10-2006 Hgr Reviewed version, Glossary added
1.003 03-11-2006 Hgr optional argument /L changed
1.1.000 10-03-2008 Hgr New directories for config and data, under :
documents and settings\All users\documents\ wavecom \easysat\config and
…\data

References
[1] WAVECOM ELEKTRONIK AG, EasySatSystem Specification, V 0.2

Software
Installation
During the installation of the product ‘EasySatSystem’ by means of the provided setup program, the direc-
tory into which the software shall be installed is specified. Hereafter, this directory is denoted as
<easysatsystem_dir>. The following files can be found in <easysatsystem_dir>:
 EasySatSystem.exe (the main and only executable)
 XMLRCICPP.dll (a required DLL)
 EasySATSystemUserManual.pdf (this document)

2  Software WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual

  FileHandler.exe (a program solely needed during the installation of ‘EasySatSystem’)
 WAVECOM_Decoder.chm, the Helpfile
Administrator privileges are required to modify the contents of the directory <easysatsystem_dir>
The Config file is stored in the directory (referred to as <easysatsystem_config_dir>):
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\WAVECOM \EasySat System\Config.
This directory contains the files:
 EasySatSystem.ini
 Template-EasySatSystem.ini.
By default, after start of EasySATSystem.exe, the program looks in this <easysatsystem_config_dir> di-
rectory for the required configuration file EasySATSystem.ini. However, a different directory can be speci-
fied by setting the environment variable EASYSATSYSTEM_CONFIG_DIR accordingly.
The collected data will be stored in the directory (referred to as <easysatsystem_data_dir>):
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\WAVECOM \EasySatSystem\Data.
By default, the <easysatsystem_data_dir> directory will be used to store statistical data files (if logging
has been enabled; see below). Again, a different directory can be specified by setting the environment
variable EASYSATSYSTEM_DATA_DIR accordingly.
User privileges are sufficient to modify (i.e., also delete) the subdirectories \Config and \Data as well as
their respective contents.
In order to have ‘EasySatSystem’ working properly, the 'XML Remote Control Interface' port has to be
opened on each personal computer (PC) hosting W61PC cards to be coordinated. This is done as follows:
1. Open 'Control Panel';
2. Open 'Windows Firewall';
3. If the 'On' button is set, then clear the 'Don't allow exceptions' checkbox;
4. Select the 'Exceptions' tab;
5. Click on 'Add Port…' and give a name and set the port number to the default value of 33234, or to
the value you have specified in the tab ‘Networking Information’ of the W61PC WavecomServer-
Control GUI;
6. For test purposes, it might also be necessary to open the port for the GUI of W61PC (default value
of 33233).
Furthermore, on each PC hosting W61PC cards to be coordinated, the respective WavecomService must be
running and allow remote connections. In order to allow remote connections to a WavecomService, check
the box ‘Allow Remote Connections’ in the tab ‘Networking Information’ of the respective W61PC Wave-
comServerControl GUI.

Setup
'EasySatSystem' can run on any PC under the Microsoft Windows XP or Vista operating system. If cards on
more than one PC must be coordinated, then the PCs must be connected via a network.
'EasySatSystem' must be told somehow which PCs with which W61PC cards it must coordinate. This is
done with the configuration file EasySATSystem.ini, which, by default, needs to be located in the directory
<easysatsystem_config_dir>. An alternative location can be specified by means of the environment vari-
able EASYSATSYSTEM_CONFIG_DIR.
In the EasySATSystem.ini file, one can also specify the sessions to exclusively be watched by listing the
respective MES Ids; if no MES Id is specified, then all sessions will be watched.
It is also possible to specify the duration (in seconds) of the automatic level setting (ALS) performed at
mode start-up. Only the first valid value specified will be used, if several are given in EasySATSystem.ini.
If desired, ‘EasySatSystem’ collects statistical data concerning the monitored sessions. In such a case,
when exiting ‘EasySatSystem’, a respective text file is stored in the directory <easysatsystem_data_dir>
or in the directory specified by the environment variable EASYSATSYSTEM_DATA_DIR if it is set. The
name of such a file is ‘Stat<dateAndTime>.txt’, where <dateAndTime> denotes the date and time (includ-
ing seconds) of the log-file creation, which occurs at the end of a monitoring session with ‘EasySatSys-
tem’. Be aware that such a file may become quite large. To enable statistical logging, a sampling interval
(in seconds) greater than 0 has to be specified in EasySATSystem.ini. Only the first valid value specified
will be used, if several are given in EasySATSystem.ini.
The name of the configuration file must be 'EasySATSystem.ini' (case-insensitive).

WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual Software  3

Below, the syntax of the configuration file is specified, for which the following rules apply:
 Whitespace (blanks, tabs) can be expanded to any length;
 EOL means end-of-line;
 * means repetition 0 or more times;
 Single superscript (e.g., xyz10) means repetition exactly the given number of times;
 Range superscript (e.g., xyz1-9) means repetition with minimum and maximum bounds;
 Bold words must appear exactly as shown;
 | means alternative;
 Terms in <…> are expanded;
The starting point for the syntax is <config>.
<config> ::= <section>*
<section> ::= <cardSection> | <mesWatchSection>
| <alsPeriodSection> | <logPeriodSection>
<cardSection> ::= <cardSectLine>EOL
<addrLine>EOL<snLine>EOL<modeLine>EOL
<cardSectLine> ::= [card_<n>]
<n> running number starting at 1
<addrLine> ::= address = <nameOrIPAddress>;
<nameOrIPAddress> ::= char1-30
<snLine> ::= serialno = <serialNo>;
<serialNo> ::= numchar10
<modeLine> ::= <mode>;
<mode> ::= sat-b | sat-m | sat-mini-m
<mesWatchSection> ::= <watchSectLine>EOL<watchLine>EOL
<watchSectLine> ::= [watch]
<watchLine> ::= mesid = <mesIdNo> ;
<mesIdNo> ::= numchar1-8
<alsPeriodSection> ::= <alsPeriodSectLine>EOL<periodLine>EOL
<alsPeriodSectLine> ::= [als]
<logPeriodSection> ::= <logPeriodSectLine>EOL<periodLine>EOL
<logPeriodSectLine> ::= [log]
<periodLine> ::= period = <seconds> ;
<seconds> ::= numchar
Note:
 The string <nameOrIPAddress> can be the PC name, or the dotted IP address of the PC. The local
PC of 'EasySatSystem' can also be denoted by 127.0.0.1.
 A maximum of 10 card-sections can be specified. Each card can run on its own PC, so there can be
a maximum of 10 PCs. One PC can have a maximum of 8 cards.
 The number of MES Id watch-sections is not limited.
Following are two examples of valid configuration files. Example 1 shows the configuration file for a sys-
tem with 4 cards configured for INMARSAT-B, 1 for INMARSAT-M and 5 for INMARSAT-mini-M, residing on
2 different PCs (Niklaus2 and Test-w61pc). All MES Ids shall be considered, no ALS shall be performed,
and no statistical data shall be collected. In Example 2, the system to be monitored consists of 3 different
PCs and 4 cards: the local one (127.0.0.1) with one card and two remote hosts, 123.45.67.89 with one
card and ComputerA with two cards. On all cards INMARSAT-B transmissions with specific MES Ids shall be
monitored. Furthermore, ALS shall be performed for a period of 5 minutes (300 seconds), and statistical
data shall be collected every 30 seconds.

4  Software WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual

 Example 1:
[card_1]
address = Niklaus2;
serialno= 0508002720;
mode = sat-b;
[card_2]
address = Niklaus2;
serialno= 0508001120;
mode = sat-b;
[card_3]
address = Test-w61pc;
serialno= 0508007220;
mode = sat-b;
[card_4]
address = Test-w61pc;
serialno= 0508004620;
mode = sat-b;
[card_5]
address = Test-w61pc;
serialno= 0508005620;
mode = sat-m;
[card_6]
address = Test-w61pc;
serialno= 0508008320;
mode = sat-mini-m;
[card_7]
address = Test-w61pc;
serialno= 0508002120;
mode = sat-mini-m;
[card_8]
address = Test-w61pc;
serialno= 0508010020;
mode = sat-mini-m;
[card_9]
address = Test-w61pc;
serialno= 0508003620;
mode = sat-mini-m;
[card_10]
address = Test-w61pc;
serialno= 0508003920;
mode = sat-mini-m;

Example 2:
[card_1]
address = 127.0.0.1;
serialno= 0508002720;
mode = sat-b;
[card_2]
address = ComputerA;
serialno= 0508001120;
mode = sat-b;
[card_3]
address = 123.45.67.89;
serialno= 0508007220;
mode = sat-b;
[card_4]
address = ComputerA;
serialno= 0508004620;
mode = sat-b;
[watch]
mesid = 12345;
[watch]
mesid = 54321;
[watch]
mesid = 67890;
[watch]
mesid = 98765;
[als]
period = 300;
[log]
period = 30;

The rules must be followed strictly; if there is an error in the EasySATSystem.ini file, the corresponding
card will not be included in the coordination process.

WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual Software  5

Operation
'EasySatSystem' must be started by the user. The command to start ‘EasySatSystem’ has the following
format:
<easysatsystem_dir>/EasySatSystem [/L:<n1>] [/A:<n2>]
The optional argument /L indicates that statistics data should be collected. The number <n1> must be in
the range 4..120. This number specifies the sampling interval for the statistics data in seconds; (approxi-
mately) every n1 seconds a snapshot of the busy status of each card is taken and written at program ter-
mination to the statistics file Stat<dateAndTime>.txt in <easysatsystem_data_dir> or in the directory
specified by the environment variable EASYSATSYSTEM_DATA_DIR if it is set. If this argument is not pre-
sent, or n1 is not in the range 4..120, no statistics data will be collected. A sampling interval specified in
the configuration file EasySATSystem.ini has precedence over the value passed as argument on the com-
mand line. Absence of both parameters indicates that no statistical data has to be collected.
The optional argument /A specifies the duration (in seconds) of the ALS that will be performed on each
card. An ALS period specified in the configuration file EasySATSystem.ini has precedence over the value
passed as argument on the command line. Absence of both parameters indicates that no ALS has to be
done.
After starting ‘EasySatSystem’, a new window appears on the display, showing one line of status informa-
tion for each correctly configured W61PC card, as well as the specified ALS period, sampling interval, and
MES Id watch-list. The maximum number of cards is fixed to maxN=10, since the window has space for
exactly this number. If less than maxN cards are configured, the remaining lines contain empty fields.
For each configured card the following information is shown:

Column heading meaning

Number This is the global number of the card within the scope of the coordinated cards;
range: 1..maxN.
SAT Mode The SAT mode configured on this card.
Computer Name or IP Address Address of the computer of this card; can be the (dotted) IP address or the
computer name; maximum length 30 characters.
Serial # Serial number of this card.
Op Status Operational status of the card, this can be:
'Not Connected': the PC of this card is not under control of ‘EasySatSystem’;
'Host Connected' (transient): the PC has answered to ‘EasySatSystem’ and an-
nounced all its cards;
'Card Ready' (transient): the card has answered;
'Mode Running': the mode was set on the card;
'Busy Session': the card is monitoring a SAT session.
MESId If Op Status is ' Busy Session', this is the forward MES Id of the terminal being
in the monitoring session, otherwise this field is empty;
Service If Op Status is ' Busy Session', this is the service being monitored, otherwise
this field is empty

The term ‘transient’ means that this state may last only a very short time, and is therefore possibly not
visible for the user.
If a configured card is not shown at all, then there must be an error in the respective card’s specification
in the EasySATSystem.ini file.
There is only one button available, named 'Exit'. Pressing this button will terminate the program, as will
pressing the 'Close' button in the window frame.
Note:
 At start-up, 'EasySatSystem' does not automatically synchronise with the operational status of the
cards, meaning that, if a card is already in a session, this is not shown. Only at the next status
change of the card, the ‘Op Status’ field will display the correct status.
 It can take some time until the program has properly terminated after pressing 'Exit' or 'Close'.
 The system does not check if more than one instance of 'EasySatSystem' coordinates the same
card(s). So make sure to start this program with the same cards configured only once.
 It is recommended to manually control from time to time the signal level settings at the different
cards under the control of ‘EasySatSystem’, also when ALS is enabled.

6  Software WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual

Error Handling
'EasySatSystem' tries to connect configured, but not connected cards approximately every 30 seconds. All
cards not connected are shown in the ‘Op Status’ field accordingly.

Source
To obtain a Source Code License please contact WAVECOM ELEKTRONIK AG, at http://www.wavecom.ch.

Hardware Recommendations
This document describes how the WAVECOM W61PC card with the optional W61SAT SW can be used to
implement a simple INMARSAT L-Band Monitoring system. A brief overview of the INMARSAT System is
given in the help file of the W61PC.

Overview
The W61SAT SW allows the monitoring of the L-Band downlink (in the 1550 MHz range, also called for-
ward path) of the INMARSAT System. This link contains the information from the Land Earth Station to the
Mobile Earth Stations, MES.

outdoor indoor

L-Band
W61 W61
W61 W61
W61 W61

Antenna Downconver- PCs with W61

ter cards and
W61SAT SW

coax signal ca-

ble
The Monitoring System consists of 3 main components:
Antenna, including a low noise amplifier, LNA;
Downconverter, L-Band to 70 MHz IF;
PC(s) with W61 card(s) and the optional W61SAT SW; the PC requirements: > 1 GHz, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB
HD, CD;
These components are connected with coax cable. If more than 1 W61 is to be fed with the same signal, a
splitter should be used to correctly match the impedance of the W61 70 MHz input (input IF70#4, 50
Ohm).

General Description of the components

Antenna
The antenna system must have a figure of merit G/T > 0 dB/K, this is easy possible with a parabolic dish
of at least 2 m diameter and a low noise amplifier with a noise figure of 0.8 dB. The polarization of the L-

WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual Hardware Recommendations  7

Band signal is RHCP, so if a parabolic reflector is used, the feed must pick up the LHCP component (mirror
effect).
There is no tracking of the satellite necessary, the antenna can be of a fixed type, which is installed and
aligned to the satellite only once.

Downconverter
This is a commercial product, converting L-Band to 70 MHz IF with a bandwidth of +/- 20 MHz.

PC with W61PC(s)
These are commercially available computers, with a Pentium processor running under the Microsoft XP
Operating System, with at least 1 PCI slot for the W61 card. CPU clock rate should be > 1 GHz, RAM >=
512 MB, and HD of 60 GB, the W61 SW takes about 40 MB, but the disk is used by the collected data from
monitoring.

Proven Components
A system with the following components has been tested at WAVECOM ELEKTRONIK AG, and can be used.

Antenna

Loopyagi (low cost solution)

A L-Band loopyagi antenna, type 2045LY, from Directive Systems [http://www.directivesystems.com/] to-
gether with a low-noise amplifier, MKU 152 A, from Kuhne electronic [http://www.kuhne-electronic.de/]
allows monitoring the local spot beams with reasonable success. The L-Band signal is connected to the re-
ceiver directly.

Dish antenna

WAVECOM ELEKTRONIK AG uses a 3.7 m epoxy-glass resin dish reflector, with an integrated Feed-LNA
from Köditz Nachrichtentechnik [http://www.koeditz-nachrichtentechnik.de/]. The L-Band signal goes di-
rectly to the converter.
WAVECOM also tested a dish of only 0.7 m diameter with a LNA/feed from SSB electronics
(http://www.ssb.de/ but not available any longer) with very useful results.
The INMARSAT mini M system is based on spot beams for coverage. This allows to build terminals with a
small antenna, but for monitoring, it is impossible to receive all spot beams at a given geographic location.
In order to catch also the signals from a neighboring spot beam, the antenna must have more gain, which
means a bigger dish than necessary for the local spot beam.
WAVECOM recommends a dish of at least 2.4 m diameter.

Downconverter
At WAVECOM a type MP-9201 Satellite Downconverter from Micro Phase Communications, Inc is used
(http://www.microphaseinc.com).

PC
A Dell computer of the type Dimension 8200 is in use at WAVECOM ELEKTRONIK AG.

8  Hardware Recommendations WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual

Glossary of Terms
ADC
Analog-to-Digital Conversion.
Process of converting analog signals to a digital representation. DAC represents the reverse translation.

AFC
Automatic Frequency Control.
A circuit which automatically controls the frequency of a signal.

AGC
Automatic Gain Control.
A circuit which automatically controls the gain of an amplifier so that the output signal level is virtually
constant for varying input signal levels.

ALC
Automatic Level Control.
A circuit which automatically controls the gain of a receiver so that the output signal level is virtually con-
stant.

ALS
Automatic Level Setting.
The process of ALC.

AM
Amplitude Modulation.
The baseband signal is caused to vary the amplitude or height of the carrier wave to create the desired in-
formation content.

Amplifier
A device used to boost the strength of an electronic signal.

Antenna
A device for transmitting and receiving radio waves. Depending on their use and operating frequency, an-
tennas can take the form of a single piece of wire, a dipole a grid such as a Yagi array, a horn, a helix, a
sophisticated parabolic-shaped dish, or a phase array of active electronic elements of virtually any flat or
convoluted surface.

AOS
Acquisition of Signal.
The time or location where a satellite is in line of sight.

Aperture
The cross sectional area of the antenna exposed to the satellite signal.

WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual Glossary of Terms  9

Apogee
The point in an satellite orbit where the satellite is the highest (farthest distance) from the surface of the
earth. Usually measured from the center of the earth.

APRS
Automatic Position Reporting System.
A system developed by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, for tracking and digital communications with mobile GPS
equipped stations with two-way radio.

Asymmetric transmission
Where the information or data transmission speeds for the forward and return channels differ (e.g. high
speed for the forward channel and low for return).

Asynchronous transmission
A method of data transmission which allows characters to be sent at irregular intervals by preceding each
character with a start bit, and following it with a stop bit.

Attenuation
The loss in power of electromagnetic signals between transmission and reception points.

Availability
The ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the total time a functional unit or service is capable of being used
or is available to be used during a given interval to the length of the interval; e.g., if the unit is not capa-
ble of being used for 20 minutes in a week, the availability is 99.8 percent (10080 - 20 minutes/10080
minutes * 100).

AZ/EL Mount
Antenna mount that requires two separate adjustments to move from one satellite to another.

Azimuth
Angle between true north and a particular satellite. Can be measured with a compass.

Backoff
The process of reducing the input and output power levels of a traveling wave tube to obtain more linear
operation.

Band Pass Filter

An active or passive circuit which allows signals within the desired frequency band to pass through but im-
pedes signals outside this pass band from getting through.

Bandwidth
A measure of spectrum (frequency) use or capacity. For instance, a voice transmission by telephone re-
quires a bandwidth of about 3000 cycles per second (3KHz). A TV channel occupies a bandwidth of 6 mil-
lion cycles per second (6 MHz) in terrestrial systems. In satellite based systems a larger bandwidth of 17.5
to 72 MHz is used to spread or "dither" the television signal in order to prevent interference.

Baseband
The basic direct output signal in an intermediate frequency based obtained directly from a television cam-
era, satellite television receiver, or video tape recorder. Baseband signals can be viewed only on studio

10  Glossary of Terms WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual

monitors. To display the baseband signal on a conventional television set a "modulator" is required to con-
vert the baseband signal to one of the VHF or UHF television channels which the television set can be
tuned to receive.

Baud
The rate of data transmission based on the number of signal elements or symbols transmitted per second.
Today most digital signals are characterized in bits per second.

Beacon
Low-power carrier transmitted by a satellite which supplies the controlling engineers on the ground with a
means of monitoring telemetry data, tracking the satellite, or conducting propagation experiments. This
tracking beacon is usually a horn or omni antenna.

Beam width
The angle or conical shape of the beam the antenna projects. Large antennas have narrower beam widths
and can pinpoint satellites in space or dense traffic areas on the earth more precisely. Tighter beam
widths thus deliver higher levels of power and thus greater communications performance.

Bent Pipe Transponder

A "bent pipe" transponder is the term for a transponder that amplifies the received signal and retransmits
it to earth without demodulation. It may be a linear transponder, like FO-29, INMARSAT A,B, C, M, that
will handle multiple signals as long as they are near the same signal level at the satellite or a limiting
transponder that is captured by the strongest signal. Limiting transponders have higher power efficiency
than linear transponders.

Bird
Slang for a communications satellite located in geosynchronous orbit.

Bit
A single digital unit of information.

Bit Error Rate

The fraction of a sequence of message bits that are in error. A bit error rate of 10e-6 means that there is
an average of one error per million bits.

Bit Rate
The speed of a digital transmission, measured in bits per second.

Byte
Sequence or group of eight bits. 1 byte = 8 bits; 1 Kbyte = 1,024 bytes; 1Mbyte = 1,024 Kbytes; 1Gbyte
= 1,024 Mbytes.

Block Down Converter

A device used to convert signals in the frequency range above 1 GHz down to UHF or lower frequencies (1
GHz and lower).

BPSK
Binary Phase Shift Keying.
A digital modulation scheme used in transmission communications.

WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual Glossary of Terms  11

Broad beam
A single large circular beam that covers a large geographic area, sometimes also called Global beam.

Broadcast
The sending of one transmission to multiple users in a defined group (compare to unicast).

Byte
A sequence of eight adjacent binary digits usually treated as a unit.

C/N
Carrier to Noise Ratio.
The ratio of the received carrier power and the noise power in a given bandwidth, expressed in dB. This
figure is directly related to G/T and S/N; and in a video signal the higher the C/N, the better the received
picture.

C/T
Carrier-to-noise-temperature ratio.

Call
1. Any demand to set up a connection.
2. A unit of traffic measurement.

Carrier
The basic radio, television, or telephony center of frequency transmit signal. The carrier in an analog sig-
nal. is modulated by manipulating its amplitude (making it louder or softer) or its frequency (shifting it up
or down) in relation to the incoming signal. Satellite carriers operating in the analog mode are usually fre-
quency modulated.

Carrier Frequency
The main frequency on which a voice, data, or video signal is sent. Microwave and satellite communica-
tions transmitters operate above 1 GHz (a GHz is one billion cycles per second).

C-Band
This is the band between 4 and 8 GHz.

CDMA
Code division multiple access. Refers to a multiple-access scheme where stations use spread-spectrum
modulations and orthogonal codes to avoid interfering with one another.

Channel
A frequency band in which a specific broadcast signal is transmitted. Channel frequencies are specified in
the United States by the Federal Communications Commission. Analog Television signals require a 6 MHz
frequency band to carry all the necessary picture detail.

Circuit mode
A circuit switched operational mode for transferring (transporting and switching) user information through
a network. Contrast with packet switching mode.

12  Glossary of Terms WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual

Clarke Belt
The name given in honor of Arthur C. Clarke to the orbit 22,237 miles directly above the equator where
satellites can maintain a stationary position in relation to the earth. Also called geo-stationary orbit.
This orbit was first postulated by the science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke in Wireless World magazine in
1945. Satellites placed in these orbits, although traveling around the earth at thousands of miles an hour,
appear to be stationary when viewed from a point on the earth, since the earth is rotating upon its axis at
the same angular rate that the satellite is traveling around the earth.

Cliff effect
Sudden breakdown or loss of digital signal reception when it contains more errors than the error correc-
tion system can cope with. Up to this point there is no degradation in reception quality; a significant ad-
vantage over analog where there is a gradual deterioration.

Codec
1. Coder/decoder system for digital television transmission.
2. The algorithm (HW or SW) for compressing digital voice.

Co-Location
Ability of multiple satellites to share the same approximate geostationary orbital assignment frequently
due to the fact that different frequency bands are used.

Compression
A technique to reduce the amount of data to be transmitted that reduces the amount of bandwidth needed
to transmit data, video or audio, thus increasing the capacity of a satellite transponder.

Data
Representation of facts, concepts, or instructions in a formalized manner suitable for communication, in-
terpretation, or processing by humans or by automatic means.

dB
Decibel.
An analog unit of measure of signal strength, volume, or signal loss due to resistance as expressed in lo-
garithmic form.

dBi
The dB power relative to an isotropic source.

DBS
Direct broadcast satellite (for television). Refers to service that uses satellites to broadcast multiple chan-
nels of television programming directly to home mounted small-dish antennas.

dBW
The ratio of the power to one Watt expressed in decibels.

Delay
The time it takes for a signal to go from the sending station through the satellite to the receiving station.
This transmission delay for a single hop satellite connection is very close on one-quarter of a second.

WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual Glossary of Terms  13

Demodulation
The process for retrieving an information signal that has been modulated onto a carrier.

Demodulator
A unit which extracts or "demodulates" the "wanted "signals from the received carrier.

DES
Data Encryption Standard.
A cryptographic algorithm for the protection of unclassified computer data, issued as Federal Information
Processing Standard Publication 46-1.

Deviation
The modulation level of an FM signal determined by the amount of frequency shift from the frequency of
the main carrier.

Digital
Conversion of information into bits of data for transmission through wire, fiber optic cable, satellite, or
over air techniques. Method allows simultaneous transmission of voice, data or video.

Digital data
Data represented by discrete values or conditions (i.e., "0" or "1"), as opposed to analog data.

Digital voice
Analog voice signals that have been converted into digital signals.

Digitize
To convert analog signals into digital ones.

Dish
A parabolic antenna which collects and focuses satellite signals. C-Band antennas range in size from five
to eight feet in diameter, and K-Band antennas range from 18 inches to five feet.

Downlink
The satellite to earth half of a 2 way telecommunications satellite link. Often used to describe the receive
dish end of the link.

DSP
1. Digital Speech Processing.
2. Digital Signal Processing.

Duplex Transmission
Capability for simultaneous data transmission between a sending station and a receiving station.

DVB
Digital Video Broadcasting.
The European-backed project to harmonize adoption of digital video.

14  Glossary of Terms WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual

E1
Wide-area digital transmission facility used predominantly in Europe that carries data at a rate of 2.048
Mbit/s.

E3
Wide-area digital transmission facility used predominantly in Europe that carries data at a rate of 34.368
Mbit/s.

Earth Station
The term used to describe the combination or antenna, low-noise amplifier (LNA), down-converter, and
receiver electronics. used to receive a signal transmitted by a satellite. Earth Station antennas vary in size
from the.2 foot to 12 foot (65 centimeters to 3.7 meters) diameter size used for TV reception to as large
as 100 feet (30 meters) in diameter sometimes used for international communications. The typical anten-
na used for INTELSAT communication is today 13 to 18 meters or 40 to 60 feet.

Echo Canceller
An electronic circuit which attenuates or eliminates the echo effect on satellite telephony links. Echo can-
cellers are largely replacing obsolete echo suppressors.

Edge of Coverage
Limit of a satellite's defined service area. In many cases, the EOC is defined as being 3 dB down from the
signal level at beam center. However, reception may still be possible beyond the -3dB point.

EIRP
Effective Isotropic Radiated Power.
This term describes the strength of the signal leaving the satellite antenna or the transmitting earth sta-
tion antenna, and is used in determining the C/N and S/N. The transmit power value in units of dBW is
expressed by the product of the transponder output power and the gain of the satellite transmit antenna.

Elevation
Angle between the earth's surface and a particular satellite at a given reception point (0° for horizontal
and 90° for vertical).

Encrypt
To convert plain text into an unintelligible form by means of a cryptosystem.

EOL
End of Life of a satellite.

Equatorial Orbit
An orbit with a plane parallel to the earth's equator.

F/D
Ratio of antenna focal length to antenna diameter. A higher ratio means a shallower dish.

FDMA
Frequency Division Multiple Access.
Refers to the use of multiple carriers within the same transponder where each uplink has been assigned
frequency slot and bandwidth. This is usually employed in conjunction with Frequency Modulation.

WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual Glossary of Terms  15

FEC
Forward Error Correction.
A technique for improving the robustness of data transmission. Excess bits are included in the outgoing
data stream so that error-correction algorithms can be applied upon reception. For the satellite standard
the Viterbi code combined with the Reed Solomon code is used. Commercial use of transponders makes
3/4 and 5/6, which means that three out of four or five out of six bits contain useable information.

Feed
This term has at least two key meanings within the field of satellite communications. It is used to describe
the transmission of video programming from a distribution center. It is also used to describe the feed sys-
tem of an antenna. The feed system may consist of a sub reflector plus a feed horn or a feed horn only

Feed horn
The part of the satellite system that collects and focuses satellite signals reflected by the dish.

FM
Frequency Modulation.

Focal Length
Distance from the center feed to the center of the dish.

Focal Point
The area toward which the primary reflector (dish) reflects received signal energy. This is where the feed
system is typically located.

Footprint
A map of the signal strength showing the EIRP contours of equal signal strengths as they cover the earth's
surface. Different satellite transponders on the same satellite will often have different footprints of the
signal strength. The accuracy of EIRP footprints or contour data can improve with the operational age of
the satellite. The actual EIRP levels of the satellite, however, tends to decrease slowly as the spacecraft
ages.

Forward path
The transmission path issued from the service provider and reaching the end user.

FPGA
Field-Programmable Gate Array.
This is an array of logic elements that are interconnected via an array of busses

Frequency
The number of times that an alternating current goes through its complete cycle in one second of time.
One cycle per second is also referred to as one hertz; 1000 cycles per second, one kilohertz; 1,000,000
cycles per second, one megahertz: and 1,000,000,000 cycles per second, one gigahertz.

Frequency Coordination
A process to eliminate frequency interference between different satellite systems or between terrestrial
microwave systems and satellites. In the U.S. this activity relies upon a computerized service utilizing an
extensive database to analyze potential microwave interference problems that arise between organizations
using the same microwave band. As the same C-band frequency spectrum is used by telephone networks

16  Glossary of Terms WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual

and CATV companies when they are contemplating the installation of an earth station, they will often ob-
tain a frequency coordination study to determine if any problems will exist.

FTP
File Transfer Protocol.
The Internet protocol (and program) used to transfer files between hosts.

Full-duplex operation
A mode of operation in which simultaneous communication in both directions may occur between two ter-
minals. In contrast to half duplex or simplex operation in which communications occur in only one direc-
tion at a time.

G/T
A figure of merit of an antenna and low noise amplifier combination expressed in dB. "G" is the net gain of
the system and "T" is the noise temperature of the system. The higher the number, the better the system.

Gain
A measure of amplification expressed in dB.

GAN
Global Area Network (INMARSAT M-4).

Gateway
In a communication network, one of the network nodes equipped for interfacing with a network using dif-
ferent protocols. Note: A gateway may contain devices such as protocol translators, impedance matching
devices, rate converters, fault isolation, or signal translators as necessary to provide system interopera-
bility.

Geostationary
Refers to a geosynchronous satellite angle with zero inclination, so the satellite appears to hover over one
spot on the earth's equator.

Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO)

Satellite in geosynchronous orbit travel around the Earth in an area approximately 22,300 miles from the
surface at the same rate that the Earth turns, therefore completing one revolution every 24 hours.

GHz
One billion cycles per second. Signals operating above 3 Gigahertz are known as microwaves, above 30
GHz they are known as millimeter waves. As one moves above the millimeter waves, signals begin to take
on the characteristics of light-waves.

Global Beam
An antenna down-link pattern, which effectively covers one-third of the globe. Global beams are aimed at
the center of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans by the respective Intelsat satellites, enabling all na-
tions on each side of the ocean to receive the signal. Because they transmit to such a wide area, global
beam transponders have significantly lower EIRP outputs at the surface of the Earth as compared to a
spotbeam. Therefore, earth stations receiving global beam signals need antennas much larger in size (typ-
ically 10 meters and above (i.e., 30 feet and up).

WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual Glossary of Terms  17

GMDSS
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.

GPS
Global Positioning System.

Half-duplex operation
That mode of operation in which communication between two terminals occurs in either direction but in
only one direction at a time. Contrast with duplex or simplex operation. Note: Half-duplex operation may
occur on half-duplex circuits or on duplex circuits, but it may not occur on simplex circuits.

HGS
Hughes Global Services, Inc.

High Power Amplifier (HPA)

Equipment used to amplify signals.

Hub
The master station through which all communications to, from and between micro terminals must flow. In
the future satellites with on-board processing will allow hubs to be eliminated as MESH networks are able
to connect all points in a network together.

Hybrid satellite
A satellite which carries two or more different communications payloads (i.e., C-band and Ku-band).

Hz
Hertz.
The name given to the basic measure of radio frequency characteristics. An electromagnetic wave com-
pletes a full oscillation from its positive to its negative pole and back again in what is known as a cycle. A
single Hertz is thus equal to one cycle per second.

IBS
INTELSAT Business Services.

Inclination
The angle between the orbital plane of a satellite and the equatorial plane of the earth.

INMARSAT
The International Maritime Satellite Organization operates a network of satellites for international trans-
missions for all types of international mobile services including maritime, aeronautical, and land mobile.
Established in 1979 to serve the maritime industry by developing satellite communications for ship man-
agement and distress and safety applications, INMARSAT currently operates a global satellite system
which is used by independent service providers to offer an unparalleled range of voice and multimedia
communications for customers on the move or in remote locations.
INMARSAT-A: INMARSAT original phone, fax and data system
INMARSAT-B: Digital successor to INMARSAT-A
INMARSAT-B HSD: 64 Kbit/s high speed data option
INMARSAT-C: Store-and-forward data through briefcase terminals

18  Glossary of Terms WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual

INMARSAT-D, D+: Global messaging and data broadcasts to pager-sized terminals
INMARSAT-E: Global alerting services via INMARSAT
INMARSAT-mini-M: INMARSAT smallest satellite phones for voice, fax and data
INMARSAT Aero-I: INMARSAT latest aeronautical satcoms service

Interference
Energy which tends to interfere with the reception of the desired signals, such as fading from airline
flights, RF interference from adjacent channels, or ghosting from reflecting objects such as mountains and
buildings.

Intermodulation
No amplifier is perfectly linear, so multiple signals will be combined with each signal unintentionally mod-
ulating others in the pass band to some extent. The amount of distortion increases with the signal power
levels. The third order intercept is most important for linear transponders and the power level of the third-
order distortion products increases at three times the rate at which the original signal levels increase.

Internetworking
The process of interconnecting a number of individual networks to provide a path from a terminal or a
host on one network to a terminal or a host on another network. The networks involved may be of the
same type, or they may be of different types. However, each network is distinct, with its own addresses,
internal protocols, access methods, and administration.

IRIDIUM
A LEO based satellite voice, messaging and paging system.

ISDN
Integrated Services Digital Network.
A CCITT standard for integrated transmission of voice, video and data. Bandwidths include: Basic Rate In-
terface - BR (144 Kbps - 2 B & 1 D channel) and Primary Rate - PRI (1.544 and 2.048 Mbps).

Isotropic Antenna
A hypothetical omni-directional point-source antenna that serves as an engineering reference for the mea-
surement of antenna gain.

ITU
International Telecommunication Union.

Jammer
An active electronic counter-measures (ECM) device designed to deny intelligence to unfriendly detectors
or to disrupt communications.

JPEG
ISO Joint Picture Expert Group standard for the compression of still pictures.

Ka-Band
The frequency range from 18 to 31 GHz.

kbps
Kilobit per second.

WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual Glossary of Terms  19

Refers to transmission speed of 1,000 bits per second.

Kelvin (K)
The temperature measurement scale used in the scientific community. Zero K represents absolute zero,
and corresponds to minus 459 degrees Fahrenheit or minus 273 Celsius. Thermal noise characteristics of
LNA are measured in Kelvin.

kHz
Kilohertz.
Refers to a unit of frequency equal to 1,000 Hertz.

Ku-Band
The frequency range from 10.9 to 17 GHz. This band has been split into two segments by the Federal
Communications Commission. The first is the 11.7-12.2 GHz band known as FSS (Fixed Satellite Service),
and there are 22 FSS Ku-Band satellites in orbit over North America today. They range in power from 20
to 60 watts per transponder, requiring a three to five foot antenna for clear reception. The 12.2-12.7 GHz
segment is known as BSS (Broadcasting Satellite Service). Satellites in this band range in power from
100-200 watts per transponder, allowing the use of receiver antennas as small as 18 inches.

LAN
Local Area Network.
A data communications system that (a) lies within a limited spatial area, (b) has a specific user group, (c)
has a specific topology, and (d) is not a public switched telecommunications network, but may be con-
nected to one.

L-Band
The frequency range from 0.5 to 1.5 GHz. Also used to refer to the 950 to 1450MHz used for mobile com-
munications.

Leased Line
A dedicated circuit typically supplied by the telephone company.

LEO
Low Earth Orbit.
Satellites placed in orbit less than 22,300 miles above the earth.

Line amplifier
Amplifier used in the middle of a network to re-amplify a signal.

Link Margin
The amount of signal in dB by which the satellite system exceeds the minimum levels required for opera-
tion. This is usually determined by adding transmitter power and antenna gain, minus the path and
transmission line losses.

LNA
Low Noise Amplifier.
A preamplifier usually mounted on a receiving dish antenna designed amplify weak signals and contribute
the least amount of thermal noise to the received signal.

20  Glossary of Terms WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual

LNB
Low Noise Block converter.
A small device mounted at the focal point of a satellite dish which converts and amplifies high-frequency
satellite signals into lower frequencies. The successor to the LNA.

LOS
1. Loss of Signal. The time or point when a satellite passes from being in line of sight of a ground
station.
2. Line of Sight. If no obstruction (mountain, building,…) exists between the transmitter and receiver
antenna.

Margin
The amount of signal in dB by which the satellite system exceeds the minimum levels required for opera-
tion.

Megahertz (MHz)
Refers to a frequency equal to one million Hertz, or cycles per second.

MEO
Medium Earth Orbit.

Microwave
Line-of-sight, point-to-point transmission of signals at high frequency. Many CATV systems receive some
television signals from a distant antenna location with the antenna and the system connected by micro-
wave relay. Microwaves are also used for data, voice, and indeed all types of information transmission.
The growth of fiber optic networks have tended to curtail the growth and use of microwave relays.

Microwave Interference
Interference which occurs when an earth station aimed at a distant satellite picks up a second, often
stronger signal, from a local telephone terrestrial microwave relay transmitter. Microwave interference can
also be produced by nearby radar transmitters as well as the sun itself. Relocating the antenna by only
several feet will often completely eliminate the microwave interference.

Modem
Acronym for MOdulator-DEModulator. A device that modulates and demodulates signals. Note: Modems
are primarily used for converting digital signals into quasi-analog signals for transmission over analog
communication channels and for reconverting the quasi-analog signals into digital signals.

Modulation
The process of manipulating the frequency or amplitude of a carrier in relation to an incoming video, voice
or data signal.

Modulator
A device which modulates a carrier.

MPEG
The Moving Pictures Experts Group, the television industry's informal standards group.

WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual Glossary of Terms  21

MPEG-2
The agreed standard covering the compression of data (coding and encoding) for digital television.

MSS
Mobile Satellite Service.

Multicast
Multicast is a subset of broadcast that extends the broadcast concept of one to many by allowing "the
sending of one transmission to many users in a defined group, but not necessarily to all users in that
group."

Multiplexing
Techniques that allow a number of simultaneous transmissions over a single circuit.

Noise
Any unwanted and unmodulated energy that is always present to some extent within any signal.

Noise Figure
A term which is a figure of merit of a device, such as an LNA or receiver, expressed in dB, which compares
the device with a perfect device.

On-line
Electronic availability on demand from a computer-based system without mounting removable media such
as magnetic tape or disks.

Outage
A telecommunication service condition wherein a user is deprived of service due to a malfunction of the
communication system.

Packet
In data communication, a grouping of a sequence of binary digits, including data and control signals, that
is transmitted and switched as a composite whole. The data, control signals, and possibly error control in-
formation, are arranged in a specific format. The packet can be of either fixed or variable length.

Packet Data
A process where stored data is transmitted in discrete units, called packets, allowing for more efficient use
of channel capacity and reliability of transfer.

Packet mode
A packet switched operational mode for transferring (transporting and switching) user information through
a network without establishing a connection. The packets do not necessarily arrive at their destination in
the order they were sent, unlike the circuit mode of transmission. See packet switching.

Packet Switching
Data transmission method that divides messages into standard-sized packets for greater efficiency of
routing and transport through a network.

22  Glossary of Terms WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual

Parabolic Antenna
A type of antenna which takes its name from the shape of the dish described mathematically as a parabo-
la. The function of the parabolic shape is to focus the weak microwave signal hitting the surface of the
dish into a single focal point in front of the dish. It is at this point that the feed horn is usually located.

Pass band
The frequency range over which the amplifier or transponder reproduces signals.

PCM
Pulse Code Modulation.
A time division modulation technique in which analog signals are sampled and quantized at periodic inter-
vals into digital signals. The values observed are typically represented by a coded arrangement of 8 bits of
which one may be for parity.

PCS
Personal Communications System.

PLL
Phase-Locked Loop.
A type of electronic circuit used to demodulate satellite signals.

Polar Mount
Antenna mechanism permitting steering in both elevation and azimuth through rotation about a single
axis. While an astronomer's polar mount has its axis parallel to that of the earth, satellite earth stations
utilize a modified polar mount geometry that incorporates a declination offset.

Polar Orbit
An orbit with its plane aligned in parallel with the polar axis of the earth.

Polarization
A technique used by the satellite designer to increase the capacity of the satellite transmission channels
by reusing the satellite transponder frequencies. In linear cross polarization schemes, half of the trans-
ponders beam their signals to earth in a vertically polarized mode; the other half horizontally polarize their
down links. Although the two sets of frequencies overlap, they are 90 degree out of phase, and will not in-
terfere with each other. To successfully receive and decode these signals on earth, the earth station must
be outfitted with a properly polarized feed horn to select the vertically or horizontally polarized signals as
desired.
In some installations, the feed horn has the capability of receiving the vertical and horizontal transponder
signals simultaneously, and routing them into separate LNAs for delivery to two or more satellite television
receivers. Unlike most domestic satellites, the Intelsat series use a technique known as left-hand and
right-hand circular polarization.

Polarization offset angle

The angle from vertical that the LNB needs to be set at for maximum reception efficiency. The actual angle
depends on the geographical location of the reception site.

Polarization Rotator
A device that can be manually or automatically adjusted to select one of two orthogonal polarizations.

WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual Glossary of Terms  23

Protocol
Any set of standard procedures that permit devices to intercommunicate.

PSK
Phase Shift Keying.
A modulation technique that involves phase shifting the carrier to reflect a digital stream.

PSTN
Public Switched Telephone Network.
Any common carrier network that provides circuit switching among public users. Note: The term is usually
applied to the public switched telephone network, but it could be applied more generally to other switched
networks, e.g., packet switched public data networks.

PTT
Post Telephone and Telegraph Administration.
Refers to operating agencies directly or indirectly controlled by governments in charge of telecommunica-
tions services in most countries of the world.

Pulse Code Modulation

A time division modulation technique in which analog signals are sampled and quantized at periodic inter-
vals into digital signals. The values observed are typically represented by a coded arrangement of 8 bits of
which one may be for parity.

QPSK
Quadrature Phase Shift Keying.
System of modulating a satellite signal.

Rain Outage
Loss of signal at Ku- or Ka-Band frequencies due to absorption and increased sky-noise temperature
caused by heavy rainfall.

Receiver (Rx)
An electronic device which enables a particular satellite signal to be separated from all others being re-
ceived by an earth station, and converts the signal format into a format for video, voice or data.

Receiver Sensitivity
Expressed in dBm this tells how much power the detector must receive to achieve a specific baseband per-
formance, such as a specified bit error rate or signal to noise ratio.

RFI
Radio Frequency Interference.
A term used to denote apparent disturbance or distortion to satellite signals.

Router
Network layer device that determines the optimal path along which network traffic should be forwarded.
Routers forward packets from one network to another based on network layer information.

24  Glossary of Terms WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual

S/N
Signal to Noise Ratio.
The ratio of the signal power and noise power. The better the signal to noise ratio, the better the quality
of the signal.

Satellite
A sophisticated electronic communications relay station orbiting 22,237 miles above the equator moving in
a fixed orbit at the same speed and direction of the earth (about 7,000 mph east to west).

Scalar Feed
A type of horn antenna feed which uses a series of concentric rings to capture signals that have been re-
flected toward the focal point of a parabolic antenna.

SCPC
Single Channel Per Carrier.
An economical way to get multiple signals on one transponder.

Side lobe
Off-axis response of an antenna.

Simplex operation
That mode of operation in which communication between two points occurs in only one direction at a time.
Contrast with half duplex or duplex operation.

Slot
That longitudinal position in the geosynchronous orbit into which a communications satellite is "parked".
Above the United States, communications satellites are typically positioned in slots which are based at two
to three degree intervals.

Solar Outage
Solar outages occur when an antenna is looking at a satellite, and the sun passes behind or near the sa-
tellite and within the field of view of the antenna. This field of view is usually wider than the beam width.
Solar outages can be exactly predicted as to the timing for each site.

Spectrum
The range of electromagnetic radio frequencies used in transmission of voice, data and television.

Spillover
Satellite signal that falls on locations outside the beam pattern's defined edge of coverage.

Spin Stabilization
A form of satellite stabilization and attitude control which is achieved through spinning the exterior of the
spacecraft about its axis at a fixed rate.

Splitter
A passive device (one with no active electronic components) which distributes a signal carried on a cable
in two or more paths and sends it to a number of receivers simultaneously.

WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual Glossary of Terms  25

Spot Beam
A focused antenna pattern sent to a limited geographical area. Spot beams are used by satellites to deliv-
er certain transponder signals to geographically well defined areas.

Spread Spectrum
The transmission of a signal using a much wider bandwidth and power than would normally be required.
Spread spectrum also involves the use of narrower signals that are frequency hopped through various
parts of the transponder. Both techniques produce low levels of interference Between the users. They also
provide security in that the signals appear as though they were random noise to unauthorized earth sta-
tions. Both military and civil satellite applications have developed for spread spectrum transmissions.

SSPA
Solid state power amplifier.

Stationkeeping
Minor orbital adjustments that are conducted to maintain the satellite's orbital assignment within the allo-
cated "box" within the geostationary arc.

Sub carrier
A second signal "piggybacked" onto a main signal to carry additional information. In satellite television
transmission, the video picture is transmitted over the main carrier. The corresponding audio is sent via
an FM sub carrier. Some satellite transponders carry as many as four special audio or data sub carriers
whose signals may or may not be related to the main programming.

TDM
Time Division Multiplexing.
Multiple users can receive their data on the same frequency. TDM avoids the intermodulation problem en-
tirely as each user's signal is presented serially and the downlink transmitter can be more power efficient
than FDM.

TDMA
Time Division Multiple Access.
Refers to a form of multiple access where a single carrier is the shared by many users. A method of ac-
cessing a satellite using time separation; sending simultaneous data streams interleaved using a clock to
separate the various data packets.

Terrestrial
In communications parlance, this refers to Earth, land or ground-based telecommunications systems.

Transceiver
A combination of transmitter and receiver.

Transmitter
An electronic device consisting of oscillator, modulator and other circuits which produce a radio or televi-
sion electromagnetic wave signal for radiation into the atmosphere by an antenna.

Transponder
A device located on board the satellite which receives signals up linked by a programmer and transmits
them back to earth on a different frequency.

26  Glossary of Terms WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual

A combination of receiver, frequency converter, and transmitter package, physically part of a communica-
tions satellite. TV Transponders have a typical output of 5 to 10 watts, operate over a frequency band with
a 36 to 72 megahertz bandwidth in the L, C, Ku, and sometimes Ka Bands or in effect typically in the mi-
crowave spectrum, except for mobile satellite communications. TV Communications satellites typically
have between 12 and 24 onboard transponders although the INTELSAT VI at the extreme end has 50.

TT&C
Telemetry, Tracking and Control.
Means of accessing the control systems in a spacecraft in order to position and configure the spacecraft;
or the facility which monitors and controls the health of a satellite.

TVRO
Television Receive Only.
Terminals that use antenna reflectors and associated electronic equipment to receive and process televi-
sion and audio communications via satellite. Typically small home systems.

Tweeking
The process of adjusting an electronic receiver circuit to optimize its performance.

TWT (Traveling-wave tube)

A microwave tube of special design using a broadband circuit in which a beam of electrons interacts conti-
nuously with a guided electromagnetic field to amplify microwave frequencies.

TWTA (Traveling-wave-tube amplifier)

A combination of a power supply, a modulator (for pulsed systems), and a traveling-wave tube, often
packaged in a common enclosure.

UHF
Ultra High Frequency.
The band in the 500 to 900 MHz range, including TV channels 14 through 83.

Unicast
A unicast application transmits a copy of every packet to every receiver.

Uplink
The transmitter and antenna system used to transmit signals from a ground station to a satellite. Also the
frequency the satellite expects to receive transmissions.
The earth station used to transmit signals to a satellite.

USB
Universal Serial Bus.
Local communication network used to connect PC I/O devices to the host PC. The host communicates with
the I/O devices by polling each device in a 1 ms (full speed) or 1/8 ms (high speed) cycle. The communi-
cation link uses differential signaling over twisted pair wire at 1.5 MBPS (low speed) 12 MBPS (full speed)
or 480 MBPS (high speed).

V.35
ITU-T standard describing a synchronous, physical layer protocol used for communications between a
network access device and a packet network. V.35 is most commonly used in the United States and in Eu-
rope, and is recommended for speeds up to 48 Kbit/s.

WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual Glossary of Terms  27

VC
Virtual Circuit.
A communication arrangement in which data from a source user may be passed to a destination user over
various real circuit configurations during a single period of communication.

VHF
Very High Frequency.
The band in the 30 to 300 MHz range, including TV channels 2 through 13

VPN
Virtual Private Network.
A capability that allows users to create their own private information network.

VSAT
Very Small Aperture Terminal.
A means of narrowcast transmission of video, voice and data by SCPA means to a satellite, typically used
in business applications.

VSWR
Voltage Standing Wave Ratio.
A measurement of mismatch in a cable, waveguide, or antenna system.

WAN
Wide Area Network.

Waveguide
A metallic microwave conductor, typically rectangular in shape, used to carry microwave signals into and
out of microwave antennas.

X.25
A set of packet switching standards published by the CCITT.

28  Glossary of Terms WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual

 Codec 13
Co-Location 13
Company Profile 1

Index Compression 13

D
Data 13
dB 13
dBi 13
A DBS 13
ADC 9 dBW 13
AFC 9 Delay 13
AGC 9 Demodulation 14
ALC 9 Demodulator 14
ALS 9 DES 14
AM 9 Deviation 14
Amplifier 9 Digital 14
Antenna 7, 8, 9 Digital data 14
AOS 9 Digital voice 14
Aperture 9 Digitize 14
Apogee 10 Dish 14
APRS 10 Dish antenna 8
Asymmetric transmission 10 Downconverter 8
Asynchronous transmission 10 Downlink 14
Attenuation 10 DSP 14
Availability 10 Duplex Transmission 14
AZ/EL Mount 10 DVB 14
Azimuth 10
E
B E1 15
Backoff 10 E3 15
Band Pass Filter 10 Earth Station 15
Bandwidth 10 Echo Canceller 15
Baseband 10 Edge of Coverage 15
Baud 11 EIRP 15
Beacon 11 Elevation 15
Beam width 11 Encrypt 15
Bent Pipe Transponder 11 EOL 15
Bird 11 Equatorial Orbit 15
Bit 11 Error Handling 7
Bit Error Rate 11
Bit Rate 11 F
Block Down Converter 11
BPSK 11 F/D 15
Broad beam 12 FDMA 15
Broadcast 12 FEC 16
Byte 12 Feed 16
Feed horn 16
FM 16
C Focal Length 16
C/N 12 Focal Point 16
C/T 12 Footprint 16
Call 12 Forward path 16
Carrier 12 FPGA 16
Carrier Frequency 12 Frequency 16
C-Band 12 Frequency Coordination 16
CDMA 12 FTP 17
Channel 12 Full-duplex operation 17
Circuit mode 12
Clarke Belt 13
Cliff effect 13
WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual Index  29
G Loopyagi (low cost solution) 8
LOS 21
G/T 17
Gain 17
GAN 17 M
Gateway 17 Margin 21
General Description of the components 7 Megahertz (MHz) 21
Geostationary 17 MEO 21
Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO) 17 Microwave 21
GHz 17 Microwave Interference 21
Global Beam 17 Modem 21
Glossary of Terms 9 Modulation 21
GMDSS 18 Modulator 21
GPS 18 MPEG 21
MPEG-2 22
H MSS 22
Multicast 22
Half-duplex operation 18 Multiplexing 22
Hardware Recommendations 7
HGS 18
High Power Amplifier (HPA) 18 N
Hub 18 Noise 22
Hybrid satellite 18 Noise Figure 22
Hz 18

O
I
On-line 22
IBS 18 Operation 6
Inclination 18 Outage 22
INMARSAT 18 Overview 7
Installation 2
Interference 19
Intermodulation 19 P
Internetworking 19
Packet 22
Introduction 1
Packet Data 22
IRIDIUM 19
Packet mode 22
ISDN 19
Packet Switching 22
Isotropic Antenna 19
Parabolic Antenna 23
ITU 19
Pass band 23
PC 8
J PC with W61PC(s) 8
PCM 23
Jammer 19 PCS 23
JPEG 19 PLL 23
Polar Mount 23
K Polar Orbit 23
Polarization 23
Ka-Band 19 Polarization offset angle 23
kbps 19 Polarization Rotator 23
Kelvin (K) 20 Professional Version 1
kHz 20 Protocol 24
Ku-Band 20 Proven Components 8
PSK 24
L PSTN 24
PTT 24
LAN 20 Pulse Code Modulation 24
L-Band 20
Leased Line 20
LEO 20 Q
Line amplifier 20 QPSK 24
Link Margin 20
LNA 20
LNB 21

30  Index WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual

R VSWR 28

Rain Outage 24
Receiver (Rx) 24 W
Receiver Sensitivity 24 WAN 28
References 2 Waveguide 28
Revisions 2 Welcome 1
RFI 24
Router 24
X
S X.25 28
S/N 25
Satellite 25
Scalar Feed 25
SCPC 25
Setup 3
Side lobe 25
Simplex operation 25
Slot 25
Software 2
Solar Outage 25
Source 7
Source Code 1
Spectrum 25
Spillover 25
Spin Stabilization 25
Splitter 25
Spot Beam 26
Spread Spectrum 26
SSPA 26
Stationkeeping 26
Sub carrier 26

T
TDM 26
TDMA 26
Terrestrial 26
Training 1
Transceiver 26
Transmitter 26
Transponder 26
TT&C 27
TVRO 27
Tweeking 27
TWT (Traveling-wave tube) 27
TWTA (Traveling-wave-tube amplifier) 27

U
UHF 27
Unicast 27
Uplink 27
USB 27

V
V.35 27
VC 28
VHF 28
VPN 28
VSAT 28

WAVECOM EasySatSystem Software W61 v1.1 User Manual Index  31