Propagation parameters for the availability design of low-margin earth terminals

The authors analyze the space-time features of light rains and cloud cover which are the main factors of impairment for those low-cost earth terminals for satellite communications which are not likely to satisfy the classical CCIR availability requirements. The average yearly probability of occurrence of both phenomena is extracted from data measured in Italy at some 20 locations over many years, together with year-to-year and site-to-site variability. The statistical characteristics of the duration of both rain and cloud occurrence are also analyzed to derive indications for the appropriate dimensioning of such systems.<
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