The development of three SATCOM on-the-move (SOTM) terminals designed to operate on the Wideband InterNetworking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite is discussed. All three terminals were able to achieve a tracking error of less than 0.2° and uplink data rate of at least 9 Mbps when operated under worst-case motion. Key design choices and improvements between the earliest and later designs are presented.

Chapter Contents:

• 5.1 Introduction
• 5.2 Methodology
• 5.2.1 Monopulse tracking
• 5.2.2 Linear polarization
• 5.2.3 Heat and power consumption reduction
• 5.3 Results
• 5.3.1 Monopulse tracking
• 5.3.2 Linear polarization
• 5.3.3 Power consumption and heat transfer
• 5.3.4 Terminal operation results
• 5.4 Conclusion
• Acknowledgments
• References

Inspec keywords: broadband networks; internetworking; satellite communication; marine communication

Other keywords: land broadband communications; SOTM terminals; tracking error; demonstration satellite; uplink data rate; SATCOM on-the-move terminals; wideband internetworking engineering testing; Ka-band on-the-move terminal evolution; maritime broadband communications

Subjects: Computer communications; Satellite communication systems; Computer networks and techniques; Acoustic and other telecommunication systems and equipment