SATCOM Shifts Reference Frequency from 10 to 100 MHz – A System Perspective

Over the last decade, the satellite communications (SATCOM) industry has been evolving to support both wider channel bandwidths (BWs) and higher-order modulations such as higher-order quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). While wider BW naturally enables more data throughput, higher-order QAM packs more bits into each symbol while utilizing the same BW. A wider BW will introduce more noise and consequently degrade system bit error rate (BER) performance by degrading the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The increasing constellation density of higher-order QAM raises its sensitivity to phase jitter, which will also degrade the system BER if lower system phase noise is not first achieved. To achieve higher data throughput by correspondingly reducing system phase noise, many in the SATCOM industry have been moving the reference frequency of their distribution clocks and subsystem timing architectures away from the long-standing 10 MHz reference and toward higher-frequency references such as 100 MHz. Mini-Circuits supports this migration path with our line of bias-tee/diplexers that are ideal for SATCOM installations. Case in point, the Z4BT-2R15GW+ affords the ability to inject a 100 MHz reference and includes a bias-tee as well as wideband RF throughput.

Hi-Rel Components for Space Applications

The extreme operating conditions of the space environment combined with lack of access for repairs and zero tolerance for failure necessitate intensive qualification of electronic parts used in space missions. Mini-Circuits has a successful track record of screening components for space applications, and our experience in this area has led to robust testing and qualification programs for the parts we supply for these systems.