FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) is also known as frequency shift modulation and frequency shift signaling. Frequency Shift Keying is a data signal converted into a specific frequency or tone in order to transmit it over wire, cable, optical fiber or wireless media to a destination point. The history of FSK dates back to the early 1900s, when this technique was discovered and then used to work alongside teleprinters to transmit messages by radio (RTTY). But FSK, with some modifications, is still effective in many instances including the digital world where Read More

The major types of satellite dishes include motor-driven dishes, multi-satellites, VSAT, and ad hoc satellites. Other types include DTH, SMATV, CABD, automatic tracking satellite dishes, and big ugly dishes. A motor-driven satellite dish is mounted on a pole which rotates around an axis to detect and receive various satellite signals in the sky. It is driven by a stepper motor, which can also be controlled to face any satellite position in the sky. It’s standards, DiSEqC, USALs, and 36v positioners are supported by many receivers. DiSEqC stands for Digital Satellite Read More

SCPC stands for Single Channel Per Carrier. SCPC is a form of satellite transmission where each channel is transmitted on a dedicated single carrier. The alternative to SCPC is MCPC (Multiple Channel Per Carrier). MCPC is more efficient than SCPC, but SCPC is still utilized for some satellite feeds. By using SCPC, satellite users are able to uplink to the same transponder from multiple locations.

  Round Trip Time, or RTT, also known as “round-trip delay time” is the time it takes for a signal to be sent from a transmitter to a receiver plus the time it takes to verify that the signal has been received; therefore, Round Trip Time is the time it takes for a signal to be sent from one location to another and back again. RTT almost always relates to telecommunication, but may refer to the Internet, satellite communications, or radar systems.   How Round Trip Time Works Round Trip Time Read More

Weather satellites are now operated by the United States, Japan, Europe, Russia, India, and China. These weather satellites provide invaluable information to meterologists and climatologists. In addition, individuals all over the globe enjoy these fascinating pictures of the Earth from outer space. Free Weather Satellite Images on the Web The NOAA's Geostationary Satellite Server provides visibile light, infrared, and water vapor images of the Continental United States, Puerto Rico, and Alaska and the Pacific, Gulf Atlantic, Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and East Coast. These images are created by NOAA's GEOS Read More

A retrograde orbit is an orbit where the satellite travels in an East to West direction instead of the common West to East orbit. The normal West to East orbits are known as prograde orbits. Retrograde orbits are uncommon due to the much higher velocities necessary for successful launch and the associated higher costs. During a prograde launch, rotational velocity of the Earth is added to the velocity of the launch rocket. In a retrograde launch, the rotational velocity of the Earth is subtracted from the velocity of the launch Read More

GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It is used by individuals, commercial entities and the military for navigational purposes. GPS uses 24 satellites that orbit the earth and send radio signals. The GPS satellites work with a GPS receiver which today can be found in individual handheld units, car navigational systems, boat navigational systems, highly precise commercial products and a wide range of military equipment. Operation of GPS GPS operates using triangulation. Triangulation is a method in which three separate points are measured to calculate location. For instance, in a Read More

A satellite phone is a mobile telephone which communicates using satellites instead of using cell towers. Three major satellite phone networks are currently in operation: Iridium Globalstar Thuraya Iridium The Iridium network uses 66 low earth orbit satellites in polar orbits 485 miles above sea level. The use of low earth orbit satellites helps minimize round-trip-time, which greatly improves the perceived quality of the phone call. The Iridum network is able to provide complete global coverage. There is no spot on the Earth where you will not be able to Read More

VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) is basically a two-way satellite ground station with a less than 3 meters tall (most of them are about 0.75 m to 1.2 m tall) dish antenna stationed. The transmission rates of VSATs are usually from very low up to 4 Mbit/s. These VSATs’ primary job is to access the satellites in the geosynchronous orbit and relay data from terminals on earth to other terminals and hubs. They often transmit narrow-band data such as credit card transactions, polling, RFID (radio frequency identification) data, and SCADA Read More

Rainfade refers to a phenomenon that occurs during strong rain or snowfall in which satellite signals are prevented from reaching their destination. Rainfade may also refer to extensive cloud cover, strong winds, or any other environmental effect that distorts a satellite broadcast, but is most often observed during rainfall. Rainfade may also refer to the slow speeds of WiFi and other wireless data transmissions during storms or other undesirable weather conditions that are caused by the same effects. Rainfade can be an irritating and troublesome effect if a satellite company Read More