Computer Modeling and Simulation of Communications Satellite Channels

Computer modeling of satellite communications channels is a valuable adjunct to analytical modeling and hardware simulation for predicting and verifying communications link performance. In the computer simulation approach, sampled signals are created in the computer and operated on by algorithms that simulate the effects of filtering, channel nonlinearities, interference, and noise. After passage through the simulated channel, the distorted signals are demodulated to determine the performance degradation introduced by the channel. This paper describes the approach used in simulating communications channels on the computer. Examples are given that apply to the communications satellite channel; however, the techniques described are applicable to general channel configurations.