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VALLIAMMAI ENGINEERING COLLEGE

SRM Nagar, Kattankulathur – 603203.

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

EC6004 SATELLITE COMMUNICATION

QUESTION BANK

IV- YEAR VII SEM

ACDEMIC YEAR: 2017-2018 ODD SEMESTER

Prepared by

1. Dr.C.AMALI, A.P(Sr.G)/ ECE

2. Mr.D.MURUGESAN, A.P(Sr.G)/ ECE
3. Mr.M.SELVARAJ, A.P(O.G)/ ECE

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EC6004 SATALLITE COMMUNICATION

UNIT I SATELLITE ORBITS

Kepler’s Laws, Newton’s law, orbital parameters, orbital perturbations, station keeping,
geo stationary and non Geo-stationary orbits–Look Angle Determination- Limits of visibility –
eclipse-Subsatellite point–Sun transit outage-Launching Procedures-launch vehicles and
propulsion.
PART A
Q. No Questions BT Competence
Level
1. State Kepler’s first and third law. BTL1 Remember
2. Summarize the effects of atmospheric drag. BTL6 Create
3. Mention the parameters used in orbital analysis of a satellite. BTL2 Understand
4. Give the satellite visibility criterion. BTL3 Apply
5. Analyze where the determination of antenna look angles
BTL4 Analyze
used?
6. Identify the purpose of Station keeping. BTL3 Apply
7. Examine the basic factors affecting satellite position. BTL4 Analyze
8. Considering an earth station at the equator, with the antenna
pointing either west or east along the horizontal evaluate the BTL5 Evaluate
limiting angle.
9. Define geostationary orbit. BTL1 Remember
10. What do you mean by apogee? BTL1 Remember
11. Compare between ascending node and descending node. BTL2 Understand
12. Justify why the orbit is called as orbital Keplerian element? BTL5 Evaluate
13. Summarize the Newton’s laws. BTL2 Understand
14. Define the Kepler’s second law for planetary motion. BTL1 Remember
15. Classify the frequency bands used for satellite applications. BTL3 Apply
16. Differentiate between Apogee and Perigee. BTL4 Analyze
17. What are Geostationary Satellites? BTL1 Remember
18. Formulate the term azimuth angle. BTL6 Create
19. Point out the significance of subsatellite point? BTL1 Remember
20. Outline the sun transit outage. BTL2 Understand

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PART – B
1. (i)Express the three Kepler’s laws of planetary motion and list
the various orbital parameters. (8)
BTL2 Understand
(ii) Derive the suitable equations for look angles and the range
for geostationary satellite. (8)
2. (i)List and explain any one type of launching procedures of
satellite. (8)
(ii) A satellite in polar orbit has a perigee height of 600km and
BTL1 Remember
an apogee height of 1200km. Show the mean motion and the
rate of regression of the nodes. Assume the polar radius of the
earth to be equal to 6357kms. (8)
3. (i)Justify how altitude and orbit control is achieved from an
earth station. (8)
BTL6 Create
(ii) Illustrate the orbital parameters used for positioning the
satellite. (8)
4. (i)Examine the orbital perturbations in detail. (12)
(ii) A satellite is orbiting in the equatorial plane with a period
from perigee to perigee of 12 h. Given that the eccentricity is BTL4 Analyze
0.002. Calculate the semi major axis. The earth’s equatorial
radius is 6378.1414km. (4)
5. (i)Show the different types of satellite orbits and discuss their
merits and demerits. (8)
(ii)If a satellite is at a height of 36000km and orbiting in
BTL3 Apply
equatorial plane, comment whether the satellite will be under
eclipse on equinox days and discover the duration of the
eclipse. (8)
6. (i)Generate from basic principles the orbital velocity of a BTL5 Evaluate
satellite. (8)
(ii)Formulate the orbital velocity for the circular orbit. (8)
7. (i)What are the basic terms for earth-orbiting satellites and
explain. (8) BTL1 Remember
(ii) Describe briefly the earth eclipse of satellite. (8)
8. (i)Infer what you had understand by the sub satellite point? (8)
BTL2 Understand
(ii)Summarize on launch vehicles and propulsion. (8)
9. (i) Describe the significance of station keeping. (8)
(ii)Define the term angle of tilt and explain how the polar BTL1 Remember
mount antenna works? (8)
10. (i) Categorize the frequency allocations and draw the
frequency spectrum for satellite services. (12) BTL4 Analyze
(ii)Illustrate the effects of non-spherical earth. (4)
11. (i) Discuss in detail about orbital maneuvers like inclination,
BTL2 Understand
ascending node, semi-major axis and eccentricity. (8)
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(ii)Explain about orbital elements. (8)

12. (i)Demonstrate the different applications & different services
provided by satellite services. (6) BTL3 Apply
(ii) Develop the points to predict the satellite position. (10)
13. (i)Can you give short notes on atmospheric drag and inclined
orbits. (12) BTL1 Remember
(ii)List the features of near stationary orbits. (4)
14. (i) Identify the limits of visibility for an earth station situated
at mean sea level, at latitude 48.42o north and longitude 89.26o
west. Assume a minimum angle of elevation of 5o. (8) BTL4 Analyze
(ii)Analyze the conditions that are required for an orbit to be
geostationary. (8)

UNIT II SPACE SEGMENT AND SATELLITE LINK DESIGN

Spacecraft Technology- Structure, Primary power, Attitude and Orbit control, Thermal
control and Propulsion, communication Payload and supporting subsystems, Telemetry,
Tracking and command. Satellite uplink and downlink Analysis and Design, link budget, E/N
calculation- performance impairments-system noise, inter modulation and interference,
Propagation Characteristics and Frequency considerations- System reliability and design
lifetime.
PART A
Q.No Questions BT Competence
Level
1. Analyze the reason behind omnidirectional antenna being
used aboard a satellite for telemetry and command during the BTL4 Analyze
launch phase.
2. Explain the need of thermal control segment for a spacecraft. BTL2 Understand
3. Define the term “EIRP”. BTL1 Remember
4. Assess the characteristics of spin body stabilization? BTL5 Evaluate
5. Define frequency planning. BTL1 Remember
6. Infer the reason of intermodulation noise originate in a
BTL2 Understand
satellite link.
7. Outline the meaning of antenna noise temperature and system
BTL1 Remember
noise temperature referred to the input.
8. Develop the procedures required to control the attitude of a
BTL6 Create
satellite through active control?
9. Examine why noise temperature is a useful concept in
BTL4 Analyze
communication receivers?
10. Identify the parameters that decide the system reliability. BTL1 Remember

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11. Evaluate the command systems to protect against

unauthorized commands and errors. BTL5 Evaluate
12. Draw some common structural types to hold the spacecraft. BTL1 Remember
13. Point out the two segments of basic satellite communication. BTL4 Analyze
14. Write a note on station keeping. BTL3 Apply
15. Define the term propellant. BTL1 Remember
16. Illustrate the concepts of frequency reuse technique. BTL3 Apply
17. Describe how do you achieve stabilization by momentum
BTL2 Understand
wheel?
18. Why a propulsion subsystem is required for a satellite? BTL3 Apply
19. Summarize the features of spot beam antenna. BTL2 Understand
20. Formulate uplink & downlink equation of a satellite. BTL6 Create
PART – B
1. (i)Consider a transmit earth station operating at an uplink
frequency of 6GHz. The antenna diameter is 7m with an
efficiency of 60%. The antenna tracking loss and atmospheric
attenuation is 1.2dB. The uplink slant range is 37506km.
Generate the required output power (dBW) of the HPA system BTL6 Create
at the antenna feed to provide a -80 dBW/m2 power flux
density at the satellite? (8)
(ii)Discuss in detail about the communication payload and
supporting subsystems. (8)
2. (i)For a satellite circuit the carrier-to-ratios are uplink 23dB,
downlink 20dB, inter modulation 24dB. Calculate the overall
carrier-to-ratio to decibels. Suggest a method to reduce
BTL4 Analyze
intermodulation noise. (8)
(ii)Examine the system reliability and design life time of the
space segment. (8)
3. (i)Demonstrate the concept of frequency planning & explain
the frequency considerations. (6)
BTL3 Apply
(ii)Sketch the attitude control momentum wheel stabilization
in space segment with necessary diagrams and explain it. (10)
4. (i)Describe about antenna subsystem. (10)
BTL2 Understand
(ii)Discuss in detail about the spacecraft subsystem. (6)
5. (i)Generate the various supporting subsystems and its
structure with diagrams.(4) BTL5 Evaluate
(ii) Evaluate the equations for primary power of subsystems.
(12)

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6. (i)Recall the important points about the propulsion. (10)

(ii) Define propagation characteristics. (3)
BTL1 Remember
(iii)Write short note on performance impairments of
interference. (3)
7. Examine how the attitude and orbit control system (AOCS) is
achieved through spin stabilization systems? Give necessary BTL4 Analyze
diagrams. (16)
8. (i)Explain TT and C system in detail. (8)
(ii)Express equation for the downlink C/N ratio for the BTL2 Understand
satellite. (8)
9. (i)State how intermodulation noise originates in a satellite link
and describe how it is reduced? (8) BTL1 Remember
(ii)Give the equations for the link power budget. (8)
10. (i)State the importance of station keeping. (8)
BTL1 Remember
(ii)Derive the satellite link design equation. (8)
11. (i)Summarize the sources of noise in satellite communication.
What is the importance of noise temperature in link design?
(8) BTL2 Understand
(ii)Explain the necessity of power amplifier in the
transponder. (8)
12. (i)Describe briefly about the factors governing the design of
satellite links. (10)
BTL1 Remember
(ii)Outline the factors that contributing to noise in an earth
station receiving channel. (6)
13. (i)Justify the reasons behind why the transponders are
connected in the communication channel with a neat
diagrams. (4) BTL4 Analyze
(ii)Analyze the wideband receiver and input demultiplexer
with appropriate diagrams. (12)
14. From the calculation of system noise temperature, show that
BTL3 Apply
C/N ratio is directly proportional to G/T ratio. (16)

UNIT III EARTH SEGMENT

Introduction – Receive – Only home TV systems – Outdoor unit – Indoor unit for analog
(FM) TV – Master antenna TV system – Community antenna TV system – Transmit – Receive
earth stations – Problems – Equivalent isotropic radiated power – Transmission losses – Free-
space transmission – Feeder losses – Antenna misalignment losses – Fixed atmospheric and
ionospheric losses – Link power budget equation – System noise – Antenna noise – Amplifier
noise temperature – Amplifiers in cascade – Noise factor – Noise temperature of absorptive
networks – Overall system noise temperature – Carrier to Noise ratio – Uplink – Saturation flux

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density – Input back off – The earth station - HPA – Downlink – Output back off – Satellite
TWTA output – Effects of rain – Uplink rain– Fade margin – Downlink rain – Fade margin –
Combined uplink and downlink C/N ratio – Intermodulation noise.
PART A
Q.No Questions BT Level Competence
1. State the reason for the high power amplifier in earth stations
BTL5 Evaluate
deploying some sort of redundancy configuration.
2. Analyze the basic form of a cassegrain antenna. BTL4 Analyze
3. Write the features of MATV. BTL1 Remember
4. Examine the parameter which is generally regarded as figure
BTL4 Analyze
of merit. Why?
5. Define antenna gain. BTL1 Remember
6. A satellite downlink at 10GHz operates with a transmit
power of 5w and an antenna gain of 48.2dB. Estimate the BTL6 Create
EIRP in dBw.
7. For a given satellite and signal transmission, identify the
BTL3 Apply
earth station parameters affecting the C/N ratio.
8. Illustrate noise factor and noise margin? BTL2 Understand
9. What do you understand by the term Saturation flux density? BTL1 Remember
10. Assess the reason for deploying a demodulator / remodulator
unit in our home television set when we want to function in a BTL5 Evaluate
satellite TV / FM receiving system.
11. Indicate the reason of LNA in a satellite receiving system
BTL2 Understand
placed at the antenna end of the feeder cable.
12. Outline, why cassegrain antennas are popular for large earth
BTL1 Remember
stations?
13. Illustrate about earth segment? BTL2 Understand
14. Elaborate the difference between KU-band and the C-band
BTL6 Create
receive only systems.
15. Sketch the outdoor unit for receive only home TV systems. BTL3 Apply
16. State the different transmission losses during the transmission
BTL1 Remember
link.
17. Write about fade margin. BTL3 Apply
18. Draw and explain antenna misalignment losses. BTL1 Remember
19. What do you infer about intermodulation? BTL2 Understand
20. Calculate output back-off in downlink process. BTL4 Analyze

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PART – B
Draw a neat block diagram and explain the functional

1. elements of a basic digital earth station and also the main BTL1 Remember
elements of a satellite tracking system. (16)
Formulate the procedures involved in test equipment

2. measurements on G/T, C/NO and EIRP with reference to the BTL6 Create
earth segment. (16)
(i) Write in brief about MATV & CATV systems. (8)
3. (ii)Explain how the gain of large antennas can be optimized. BTL1 Remember
(8)
(i)Estimate Equivalent Isotropic radiated power with an
4. example.(6) BTL2 Understand
(ii)Discuss in detail about the various transmission losses. (10)
(i)Point out the calculation of link power budget equation. (4)
5. (ii) Identify the various types of system noise. Explain it in BTL4 Analyze
detail. (12)
(i)Compute the equations caused by various factors during
uplink communication. (8)
6. BTL3 Apply
(ii) Demonstrate that how the satellites are inter linked
without need for intermediate ground stations. (8)
(i)Explain the operation of Horn antenna and reflector antenna
used for satellite communication. (10)
7. BTL2 Understand
(ii)Discuss how fade margin occur during uplink
communication. (6)
(i)Describe briefly which antenna is suitable for earth station
by its characteristics. (8)
8. BTL1 Remember
(ii) Summarize the concepts and operation of HPA & LPA in
satellite communication. (8)
(i)Examine about terrestrial interface with suitable diagrams.
9. 9
(10) BTL4 Analyze
.
(ii) Compare MATV & CATV. (6)
(i)Sketch the block diagram and explain the TVRO system.
10. 1
(8)
0 BTL3 Apply
(ii)Show any one test equipment for the measurement on
.
carrier-to-ratio. (8)
(i)Conclude that how the TWTA is used in satellite
BTL5
11. communication with a neat diagrams.(12) Evaluate
(ii)Formulate the expression for downlink fade margin. (4)

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(i)Derive the expression of output back-off, satellite TWTA

output for the downlink communication. (8)
12. (ii)Write a short notes on BTL2 Understand
a) polarization interleaving (4)
b) absorptive network (4)
(i)Calculate the carrier-to-ratio for the combined uplink and
downlink communication. (8)
13. (ii)Analyze the type of noise occur when multiple carriers pass BTL4 Analyze
through in any device with nonlinear characteristics and
explain it. (8)
(i)Outline the points that how the satellite communication are
getting disturbed by the effect of rain. (8)
14. BTL1 Remember
(ii) List the features of cassegrain antenna with suitable
diagrams. (8)

UNIT IV SATELLITE ACCESS

Modulation and Multiplexing: Voice, Data, Video, Analog – digital transmission system,
Digital video Broadcast, multiple access: FDMA, TDMA, CDMA, Assignment Methods, Spread
Spectrum communication, compression – encryption.
PART A
Q. Questions BT Level Competence
No
1. Distinguish centrally controlled random access for satellite
BTL4 Analyze
access from distributed control random access.
2. Television transmission may be classified as full-transponder
or half-transponder transmission. Justify your answer in BTL3 Apply
terms of transponder access.
3. Determine the limitations of CDMA. BTL5 Evaluate
4. How does the spread spectrum system differ from
BTL1 Remember
conventional communication system?
5. Compare single access and multiple access. BTL2 Understand
6. List the advantages of TDMA over FDMA? BTL1 Remember
7. Define multiplexing. BTL1 Remember
8. Write the two basic problems in satellite digital transmission. BTL2 Understand
9. When VSAT type terminals involved CDMA offers several
BTL1 Remember
advantages of satellite networking. What are they?
10. Evaluate the methods of multiple access techniques for
satellites. BTL5 Evaluate
11. Compare and Contrast between preassigned and demand
BTL2 Understand
assigned traffic?
12. Calculate the guard time of TDMA. BTL3 Apply

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13. State Carson’s rule. BTL1 Remember

14. Estimate the frame efficiency of TDMA. BTL6 Create
15. Express the processing gain of a satellite access. BTL2 Understand
16. Analyze the digital speech interpolation. BTL4 Analyze
17. Summarize the important feature of Intelsat SCPC system. BTL6 Create
18. Identify the limitations of FDMA satellite access. BTL1 Remember
19. Examine the pre-assigned TDMA satellite access. BTL4 Analyze
20. Derive the equation of BER for PSK modulation. BTL3 Apply
PART – B
(i) Describe the diagrammatic representation of a SPADE
communication system and explain how this is used on
1. Intelsat satellites. (8) BTL1 Remember
(ii) Outline the “frequency reuse” process and give the merits
of spread spectrum communication. (8)
Illustrate the features of various multiple access schemes
2. BTL3 Apply
deployed for satellite access and compare it. (16)
(i) Show the operation of FDMA and list how this differs from
FDM. (6)
3. BTL1 Remember
(ii)What are the ways in which demand assignment may be
carried out in FDMA network and explain it. (10)
(i) Point out the comment on pros and cons of satellite system
based on TDMA. (8)
4. BTL4 Analyze
(ii) Explain the TDMA frame format in detail with relevant
diagrams. (8)
(i) Express FDMA in detail and also enumerate the
interference in FDMA. (8)
5. BTL2 Understand
(ii) Explain direct sequence spread spectrum communication
in detail. (8)
(i) Demonstrate back off meaning and why is it necessary in
multiple access systems. (6)
6. BTL3 Apply
(ii)Show the digital video broadcasting operation in detail.
(10)
(i) Develop the schemes for compression and encryption are
implemented for satellite technology? (6) BTL5 Evaluate
7.
(ii) Explain in detail about the preassigned FDMA with
necessary diagrams. (10)
(i)State the reasons behind the wide acceptance of digital
transmission systems. (6)
8. BTL1 Remember
(ii) Summarize the digital transmission of ADM & ADPCM
techniques. (10)
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9. Discuss about analog voice transmission. (16) BTL2 Understand

Illustrate in detail about pre assigned & demand assigned
10. BTL4 Analyze
TDMA. (16)
Explain the principle behind the spectrum spreading and
11. dispreading and how this is used to minimize interference in a BTL2 Understand
CDMA system. (16)
(i)Discriminate the operation of ON board signal processing
12. for FDMA/TDMA operation with suitable diagrams. (10) BTL4 Analyze
(ii) Outline the techniques of PCM CODEC. (6)
(i) Estimate the pre-assigned traffic for FDMA. (6)
13. (ii) Summarize the important feature of Intelsat SCPC system. BTL6 Create
(10)
(i)Identify the band limited and power limited TWT amplifier
operation. (10)
14. BTL1 Remember
(ii) Explain the operation of digital TASI in TDMA operation.
(6)

UNIT V SATELLITE APPLICATIONS

INTELSAT Series, INSAT, VSAT, Mobile satellite services: GSM, GPS, INMARSAT,
LEO, MEO, Satellite Navigational System. Direct Broadcast satellites (DBS)- Direct to home
Broadcast (DTH), Digital audio broadcast (DAB)- Worldspace services, Business TV(BTV),
GRAMSAT, Specialized services – E –mail, Video conferencing, Internet.
PART A
Q. No Questions BT Level Competence
1. State the principle behind DTH & GPS? BTL1 Remember
2. Discuss how an intelligent VSAT permits the maximum
BTL2 Understand
utilization of the satellite capacity.
3. Write the applications supported by INTELSAT & INSAT
BTL1 Remember
series?
4. Give the main idea of World space receivers. BTL2 Understand
5. Choose the services provided by GSM. BTL1 Remember
6. Evaluate the features of LEO. BTL 5 Evaluate

7. What do you infer about GRAMSAT? BTL2 Understand

8. Classify the two areas of satellite communications which are
gaining major thrust from leading satellite industries and
BTL 4 Analyze
organizations in recent years.
9. Justify when there is available bandwidth of 500MHz and how BTL6 Create
many transponder each of bandwidth 24MHz can be
accommodated.

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10. State congestion and slow start with reference to Internet

BTL1 Remember
traffic?
11. Indicate the services rendered by DTH. BTL2 Understand
12. Identify how the satellite used for video conferencing? BTL1 Remember
13. Categorize the types of satellite services. BTL 5 Evaluate

14. Summarize the satellite mobile services. BTL 4 Analyze

15. Demonstrate the different types of applications for satellite

BTL3 Apply
systems.
16. Outline the three regions to allocate the frequency for satellite BTL 4 Analyze
services.
17. Illustrate the functions of DBS. BTL3 Apply
18. Elaborate the regions covered by INMARSAT. BTL6 Create

19. Define BTV. BTL1 Remember

20. Identify the concept of DAB. BTL3 Apply
PART – B

Describe briefly the types of INTELSAT satellites with

1. respect to basic space craft characteristics and vehicle types. BTL1 Remember
(16)
(i) Distinguish the block diagram of an indoor & outdoor unit
for a DBS home receiver. (8)
2. BTL 4 Analyze
(ii) Analyze the DTH system with the help of neat block
diagrams. (8)
Discuss how GSM & GPS deploying satellites have improved
3. BTL2 Understand
the mobility of the customers. (16)
Identify how the specialized services like video conferencing,
e-mail and internet have revolutionized the present day
4. BTL1 Remember
communication scenario along with their working principle
respectively. (16)
(i)Identify how DTH operation is carried out with a neat BTL 4 Analyze
5. diagrams. (8)
(ii)Point out some recently launched satellites by ISRO (8)
Illustrate elaborately on the various mobile satellite services,
6. its associated challenges and its impact on services, when BTL3 Apply
delivered by satellites. (16)
(i) Extend the operation of GPS in detail with necessary
diagrams. (8)
7. BTL2 Understand
(ii) Review the concepts of VSAT system in detail with neat
diagrams. (8)

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Discuss about
(i) INTELSAT (4)
8. (ii) E-mail (4) BTL3 Apply
(iii) BTV (4)
(iv) DTH (4)
Explain about
9. (a)INMARSAT (8) BTL2 Understand
(b) GRAMSAT. (8)
10. Summarize the details about INSAT. (16) BTL1 Remember
Elaborate the main features and services offered by mobile BTL6 Create
11.
satellite systems. (16)
(i)Illustrate about LEO & MEO. (8) BTL 4 Analyze
12.
(ii)Examine the operation of DAB with neat diagrams. (8)
Summarize the main features and services offered by the BTL 5 Evaluate
13.
orbcomm satellite system. (16)
(i)Show how the demand assigned multiple access and various
14. configuration used on VSAT (8) BTL1 Remember
(ii)Write a short notes on RADARSAT. (8)

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