The ACTS propagation experiment at Vancouver, Canada

Introduces the ACTS propagation experiment in Vancouver, Canada, and presents initial observations and results. Vancouver is one of seven North American sites selected to receive a NASA-provided terminal for the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) propagation experiment. The purpose of the experiment is to investigate the feasibility of the Ka-band (30/20 GHz) spectrum for satellite communications, to collect much-needed propagation data for this maritime climate, and to investigate how accurately the rain-fade statistics and fade dynamics can be predicted. This is especially important for very small aperture terminal (VSAT) operation, where the fade margin is at a premium. The Vancouver terminal is installed at the Electrical Engineering Department of the University of British Columbia, Canada. The site is at 49 degrees 15' N latitude and 123 degrees 15' W longitude, 165 m above mean sea level. The elevation angle for the terminal is 29.40, with azimuth 150 degrees clockwise from true North. Vancouver is located in ITU-R rain climatic zone D, and is on the boundary between rain zones B1 and C in Crane's classification (Crane 1980). The long-term statistics for rain rate for Vancouver are given. Few propagation data, and no previous Ka-band data, are available for this climate.