E-Book Overview
Every facet of satellite technology is included in this concise reference guide to a fast developing field. The latest systems are included and the coverage is worldwide. Supplemented with tables, formulae and footprints for satellites, this pocket book is the first place for communications engineers, students, satellite industry personnel and enthusiasts to look for essential data. DBS and other enabling technologies for HDTV are covered, in this wide-ranging review of technologies used in Europe, America, the Middle East and Asia. Drawing on James Wood's extensive experience as an engineer in the international broadcasting industry and a technical broadcast journalist, this book will provide the essential details of satellite communications.
E-Book Content
Satellite Communications Pocket Book Revised Edition Eur Ing, James Wood, CEng, FIEE
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Newnes An imprint of Butterworth-Heinemann Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8DP A division of Reed Educational and Professional Publishing Ltd ^^
A member of the Reed Elsevier pic group
OXFORD BOSTON JOHANNESBURG MELBOURNE NEW DELHI SINGAPORE
First published 1994 Revised edition 1996 © James Wood 1994 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright holder except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London, England W1P 9HE. Application for the copyright holder's written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publishers
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Wood, James Satellite Communications Pocket Book I. Title 621.382 ISBN 0 7506 1749 7 Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data Wood, James, Satellite communications pocket book/James Wood. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0 7506 1749 7 1. Artificial satellites in telecommunication. I. Title. TK5104.W57 384.5*l-dc20 93-39894 CIP Printed in England by Clays Ltd, St Ives pic
Preface Technology is moving ahead at a breathless pace. Nowhere is this more in evidence than in satellite communications and television. In the next three years a communications revolution will sweep across America. It will be fuelled by the most powerful advances ever made since the birth of the satellite age; the merging of three stunning technologies, high power direct broadcast satellites, digital video compression and fibre optics. For the first time in 20 years here is a technological revolution not made in Japan. From a late start in introducing satellite television, America has bypassed Japanese and European technology and it is now a virtual certainty that these two regions of the world will adopt US technology and standards. This book though primarily dedicated to satellite communications describes development being made in related technologies which will eventually lead to better global communications and high definition television broadcast from satellites and over existing terrestrial UHF-TV transmitters. The book is written in a style which makes informative, yet easy reading and an invaluable source of information for communications engineers, students, enthusiasts and those working in the satellite TV industry.
Acknowledgements Acknowledgement is made to the following for the use of material: •
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Satellite companies Alpha Lyracom; Astra; Anik; Asiasat; Insat; AT&T; Italsat; Arabsat; Brazilsat; British Telecom; Brightstar; Eutelsat; France Telecom; GE Americom