Channel characterisation for highly elliptical orbits

A collaborative research programme has been set up by the European Space Agency (ESA-ESTEC), the UK Radiocommunications agency and the University of Bradford, to perform field measurements on the HEO satellite-mobile channel. No satellites having suitable orbits and beacons are available hence a light aircraft fitted with a CW transmitter at 2.6188 GHz has been used to simulate the high elevation satellite. On the ground, a mobile receiver records the varying signal strength at the vehicle antenna in time synchronism with a vehicle speed signal and position (navigation) information. At these frequencies propagation statistics are both elevation and environment dependent. CDFs for the channel at S-band in open rural, tree-shadowed, suburban and urban areas are reported.<>