Why this VSAT course?
This unique, fast-track course enables individuals and organisations to understand satellite communication systems, technology, performance and trade-offs. The course includes a technical coverage of VSAT systems design and provides the ability to assess and evaluate VSAT systems for deployment into wide area network solutions.
VSAT Training Course Objectives
On completing this course, you will be able to:
- Understand essential satellite communications theory and principles
- Describe satellites in terms of size, payloads, transponders, antennas, LEO, MEO, GEO, HEO orbits and lifetime
- Describe the concepts of satcom links, transponders, frequency bands, link budgets and how they are affected by antennas
- Define amplitude, frequency, phase, bandwidth, deciBels, gain, EIRP, spectrum, symbol rate, bit rate, noise, power, C/N and Eb/No
- Describe and compare satcom modulation and coding schemes
- Describe the relationships between antenna size, frequency, beamwidth, gain and sidelobes
- Define EIRP, G/T, satellite footprints and contours
- Define rain fade loss, rain zones, solar outages and service availability
- Identify the hardware components used in a VSAT and larger earth stations
- Define the functions of the antenna, LNB, TRF, BUC, IFL, OMT, waveguide, modem and coders
- Define and describe SCPC, TDM, TDMA, MF-TDMA, DVB, DVB-RCS, star, and mesh networks.
Who should attend this VSAT course
- Technicians and Engineers wanting to move into the field of satellite communications, or VSAT-based installations.
- IT and communications decision makers wanting to evaluate VSAT and other satellite communications products and services.
- Engineers, Communications managers, IT managers and Technicians currently working with satellite communications and VSAT equipment.
VSAT Course Pre-requisites
Delegates should have some existing training or experience in telecommunications prior to attending the course.
Lifetime Post-Course Support
After completing this VSAT training course, delegates receive lifetime post-training support from LEVER Technology Group, to help them apply the technologies and skills they have learned with us, to provide career-long support, and to ensure they are better equipped for their future roles in IT and networking.
VSAT Training Course Content
Overview of Satellite Systems and Services
- Satcom scenarios and their evolution
- Network architectures
- VSATs
- Traffic and Services
- Basic link operation
- Regulatory issues and constraints
Principles of Satellite Communications
- Features of satcoms
- Orbits (GEO, MEO, LEO, HEO)
- Satellite types and transponders
- Star versus mesh networks
- System requirements
Link Fundamentals
- Power, Noise and Link analysis
- The deciBel (dB), dBW, dBm, dBi
- EIRP
- Understanding satellite Link Budgets
Antennas for Satcoms
- Antenna principles
- Parameters and performance, gain, beamwidth, sidelobes, G/T
- Polarisation
- Designs for hub stations and VSATs
- Sidelobes and practical considerations
Modulation and Coding
- Principles of Modulation
- BPSK, QPSK, 8PSK, QAM schemes
- Symbol rate, bit rate
- Noise, power, C/N and Eb/No
- BER vs Eb/No
- Practical performance and limitations
- Principles of Coding
- Common coding schemes: Convolutional, Turbo, LDPC, Polar
Satellite Access Techniques
- Multiplexing, Multiple Access
- FDMA
- TDM, TDMA
- Aloha / Contention schemes
- SCPC, DAMA
- CDMA
- Hybrid schemes
Military VSAT systems
- Requirements, system drivers and operation
- Military satellites
- Military terminals
- Threats and countermeasures
Introduction to Data Protocols over Satellite
- Circuit and Packet switching
- Data integrity, ARQ
- Review of the OSI model
- TCP/IP over satcom links
- Satcom effects and mitigation solutions
Satellite Engineering
- Satellite design concepts
- Transponder design
- Example satellites
- Satellite footprints and contours
- Operational issues
Terminal Installation Considerations
- Discussion of VSAT installation criteria and techniques
- LNB, TRF, BUC, IFL, OMT, waveguide
Higher Frequency Bands Rationale
- Trade-offs of Ka- versus Ku-band
- Implications for civil and military VSAT systems
Link and Terminal Design
- Elements of VSATs
- Terminal design criteria
- Terminal performance analysis
- Amplifier non-linearities
- Phase Noise considerations
Further System Design Issues
- Interference in VSAT systems
- Power Control
Propagation in VSAT systems
- Band characteristics and propagation impairments
- Atmospheric behaviour
- Rain losses
- Other losses
- Solar outages
- Prediction techniques summary
Markets and Evolution of Satcoms
- Key markets and growth
- Constraints
- Example satellite and services
- The Future
Digital Video Broadcast
- DVB principles and standards
- DVB-S2
- DVB-RCS