Link System Performance

The performance of the satellite link is dependent on a number of factors and on the configuration of the transmit and receive components. This chapter focuses on the performance of the single link, uplink or downlink. It introduces the important area of percent of time link performance specification, which is an essential element in defining satellite link design and performance requirements subject to transmission impairments in the atmosphere. Satellite link performance evaluation for an uplink includes additional considerations and parameters, even though the basic link performance applies to either the uplink or the downlink. The chapter considers the uplink performance for single carrier saturated output power operation and multiple carrier operation. The uplink uses the saturation flux density at the satellite receiver at a specified link performance quantity. The chapter represents the basic performance equations for the downlink.