Statistics of available/unavailable time due to attenuation on satellite paths

The effect of the current CCITT SG XVIII Rec G821 definition of availability on propagation related outage times on a satellite link is examined. The definition commensurate with G821 defines periods of unavailability based on a change of status from available to unavailable. A possible change of status is dependent on the samples during the following ten seconds. Each sample during this period must show an attenuation either exceeding or not exceeding the threshold, dependent on the direction of the change of status. A simple procedure is used to extend the authors unavailability statistics to compare the bit error ratio (BER) obtained using each definition. Calculations similar to those of Fukuchi and Otsu (1987) were also undertaken. Comparison is made between the two sets of results.<
>