Roger A. Dalke et al.

Abstract: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the European Space Agency, and the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites are designing a weather satellite system that will broadcast digital weather images at VHF. As a part of that effort, the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences has analyzed the VHF digital communications link. The results of the link analysis are described in this report. This analysis is based on published literature and models that describe propagation effects such as ionospheric scintillation and man-made noise, and are applicable to VHF digital communications. The analysis includes the estimation of the required link margins for coded binary and quaternary phase-shift modulation methods.

Keywords: man-made noise; VHF satellite communications; VHF digital communications; ionospheric scintillation; meteorological satellites; weather satellite images; low rate picture transmission (LRPT); automatic picture transmission (APT); television infrared observation satellite (TIROS)

Disclaimer: Certain commercial equipment, components, and software may be identified in this report to specify adequately the technical aspects of the reported results. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, nor does it imply that the equipment or software identified is necessarily the best available for the particular application or uses.

For questions or information on this or any other NTIA scientific publication, contact the ITS Publications Office at ITSinfo@ntia.gov or 303-497-3572.

Back to Search Results