Channel simulation of FH-SATCOM links in the 20/30 GHz frequency range

The development of SATCOM (satellite communication) systems, especially in higher frequency ranges (e.g. 20/30 GHz), requires the preparation of link simulation models. Since such models should cover a wide variety of future applications, they must be built up from functional blocks, that can be combined and completed (by adding new blocks) to form an adapted model for a specific application. The construction of such models, based on the development tool COSSAP of SYNOPSIS, is described. The most important practical result of the investigations discussed is the specification of a computationally efficient simulation strategy for FH (frequency hopping) SATCOM links, that not only considers the impairments of propagation physics (antenna misalignment, various loss effects, Doppler shift, clock jitter, etc.), but also takes into account the effects caused by adjacent channel and inband interferers as well as jammers.