SATELLITE COMMUNICATION

VERY SMALL APERTURE TERMINAL (VSAT)

Presented by Roji Varghese Rajan M.E. Communication Systems

HISTORY

1980s:first commercial VSATs were C band (6 GHz) receive-only systems by Equatorial Communications using spread spectrum technology.
1984:Equatorial later developed a C band (6/4 GHz) 2 way system using 1 m x 0.5 m antennas 1985:Schlumberger Oilfield Research developed the world's first Ku band (14/12 GHz) VSATs with Hughes Aerospace

VSAT-Major Players
Prodelin Corporation o Bharti BT Ltd o Comsat Max Ltd o Essel Shyam o HCL Comnet o Hughes Escorts Communications Ltd o India Satcom Ltd (ITI) o Telstra Vishesh
o

VSAT is a small telecommunication earth station that receives and transmits real-time data via satellite. Size of the VSAT dish antenna is about 2 to 4 feet (0.55-1.2 m) in diameter- that is mounted on a roof on a wall, or placed on the ground. Data rate range of 56 Kbps-4 Mbps

VSATs provide the vital communication link required to set up a satellite based communication network

http://www.iran-central.net/vsatwhat.htm

INTELSAT VSAT Handbook, Introduction to VSAT Networks, pp 2-4

Dish antenna Outdoor unit (ODU) VSAT INSTALLATION Interfacility link cable (IFL) Indoor unit (IDU)

Antenna and ODU provide the RF conversion and amplification for the satellite uplink and downlink ODU-called the RF transceiver includes: Up converter (U/C) Solid State Power Amplifier (SSPA) Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) Down converter (D/C) IDU provides the baseband interfacing required to carry the users services

HUB EARTH STATION

IDU

IFL

RFT

VSAT terminals-part of a network, with a larger earth station that serves as a network hub intelligence to control the network operation, configuration, and traffic. records the performance, status and activity levels of each VSAT terminal. Hub consists of: RF equipment VSAT interface equipment user interfaces

FREQUENCY BANDS

C-band (6/4 GHz) Ku-band (14/12 GHz)

VSAT network topologies

STAR
-all the traffic is routed via the master control station or Hub
Higher Propagation delay

Used by TDMA VSATs High central hub investment Smaller VSAT antenna sizes (1.8m) Lower VSAT costs Ideally suited for interactive data applications Large organizations, like banks, with centralized data processing requirements

MESH

-VSATs are linked together without going through a large hub

Lower Propagation delay (250 ms) Used by PAMA/DAMA VSATs Lower central hub investment Larger VSAT antenna sizes (3.8 m) Higher VSAT costs Suited for high data traffic Telephony applications and pointto-point high-speed links

ACCESS METHODS

Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) Demand Assigned Multiple Access (DAMA)

VSAT technology -INTELSAT system

Offers:
High availability Service flexibility High reliability Distance insensitivity High traffic capacity Powerful routing capabilities. The performance achieved by VSAT networks surpasses the performance of terrestrial networks in terms of availability and quality.

APPLICATIONS
Broadcasting or One-way applications

Stock, bonds, and commodity information Weather bulletins, sports scores, news and press releases

Sound broadcasting
Distribute video or TV programmes Digital video for conferencing or entertainment Training or continuing education from a distance Price lists, inventory records

Interactive or two-way applications

Distance Learning Video Teleconferencing Telemetry and SCADA systems Database inquiries Management of point-of-sale operations for super markets, retail shops, gas stations ATMs and credit card transactions E-mail and VoIP communications Medical data/Image transfer Sales monitoring/Inventory control Reservation requests and confirmations

BENEFITS
Point-to-multipoint and point-to-point communications Asymmetry of data transfer Greater productivity Transmission of huge data in less time across long distances Suitable for a large country and with areas of difficult terrain User only need to incur a fixed cost per VSAT services Low bit error rate Communication need not pass through ground facilities No interruption due to frequent changes in weather Monthly costs are competitive with SDSL/IDSL

DRAWBACKS
Higher initial equipment/installation costs Latency can impact some application performance Dish installation requires site planning and about 30 days of overall installation time Loss of transponder may lead to loss of network Propagation delay Eavesdropping Occasional outages due to the sun, weather Loss of transponder may lead to loss of network

REFERENCES
Dennis Roddy, Satellite Communications, 4th Edition, pp 564-566. Maral G., VSAT Networks, 2nd Edition. INTELSAT VSAT Handbook, INTELSAT Applications Support and Training Department, Washington D.C. Greg Heifner, Introduction to VSAT Technology, BROADBAND PROPERTIES, March 2004. http://www.satcoms.org.uk/satellite/forum/vsat-a-tutorial-on-vsats--vsat-tutorials_topic754.html http://www.ussc.com/about_VSAT.html