The design of Ka band satellite beacon receiver

Abstract

This paper describes the design of a Digital Signal Processing (DSP) based James Cook University – Satellite Transmission Rain Attenuation Project (JCU-STRAP) Ka band Satellite Beacon receiver/radiometer for measuring both the sky noise and the attenuation caused by rain and water vapour to satellite signals, at the same frequency and look angle. To obtain rain fade statistics, the received signal amplitude of a satellite beacon is recorded continuously at an eight times per second rate. To maximise the dynamic range over which the receiver can stay locked onto the satellite beacon, a receiver with an ultra low phase noise and absence of spurious signals is required.