FOURTH POST GRADUATION COURSE ON SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
R.K.Gupta, Course Director
S. Ramdass, Course Coordinator
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Introduction |
The fourth postgraduate Course on Satellite Communications of CSSTEAP, commenced on the August 1, 2003 at the New SAC Campus, Bopal, of Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad. The course was inaugurated on August 8, 2003 by Padmashri. K. Narayana, Director, Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Shri Hari Kota. Shri K. Narayana in his inaugural address gave a presentation on launch vehicles used for satellite communication satellites. Dr. K.N Shankara Director SAC welcomed the Chief Guest and the participants of the course and Dr. Karl Harmsen, Director CSSTEAP gave a brief introduction of CSSTEAP, its activities and achievements. Mr. S.K. Sharma, Controller SAC and Programme coordinator, CSSTEAP gave a brief about the facilities and the arrangements at the New SAC Campus, Bopal. Mr. R.K. Gupta, Course Director gave the details of the course.
Fifteen participants from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Mongolia, Nepal and Uzbekistan participated in the SATCOM IV course.
A detailed syllabus on the basis of Grenada and Frascati documents of UN-OOSA was adopted for the SATCOM IV course. The course curriculum was divided into ten modules covering different aspects of Satellite Communications and Pilot project. In order to familiarize the participants an orientation course (Module #0) was also included. Where in the participants were given a brief introduction on the geography, social customs, and the festivals of India. The participants were also introduced to some commonly spoken Hindi words and their usage. A three-day workshop on Communication skills was also organized as a part of the orientation course. Participants were also required to make presentations periodically on relevant topics given to them time to time, this considerably improved their presentation skills.
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Faculty |
Faculty for the SATCOM IV course was selected mainly from engineers working at different centres of Indian Space Research Organisation leading institutions in India and abroad such as IITs, IISc, DOT and INMARSAT - UK. Faculty members from different institutions of India, experts from Indian SATCOM industries, Departments of Govt. of India and Non-Government organizations also delivered invited lectures.
Lecture notes and reading materials were distributed well in advance to the participants to help easy assimilation of the subject in the class and for future reading. Library facilities of SAC, computers and Internet facilities were available to the participants. Laboratories and earth station facilities of SAC were used extensively for hands on experience on working with different communication systems.
Special English language classes were also conducted in the evenings for three months for those participants who needed assistance in improving their English language.
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Technical Visits |
A number of Study tours to different part of the country were organized as a part of the course, to give the participants a chance of visiting different SATCOM establishments. The places visited include:
- Satish Dhawan Space Centre Shri Hari Kota
- ISRO Satellite Centre Bangalore
- ISTRAC Bangalore
- Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre Mahendragiri
- Master Control Facility Hassan
- Delhi Earth Station/SAC New Delhi
- DoT's NOCC New Delhi
- Essel Shyam New Delhi
- IIRS Dehradun
- GNFC VSAT Hub station Baruch
- RESCO Gandhinagar
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Tests and Evaluations |
Examinations were held at periodic intervals after each module to evaluate the participants and to get the feedback about the effectiveness of the course. The engineers involved in the experiments and demonstrators for different modules did evaluations of the practical abilities. Tutorials were also held for different modules to assess the problem solving abilities.
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Pilot Projects |
The topics for the one year project were identified after several sessions of of discussions with the participants. The fields of interest of the participants, the needs of the sponsoring agencies and the facilities available in countries of participants for supporting the project work were taken into account while deciding about the projects. Project guides from SAC have been identified for providing technical guidance. As a part of the Pilot project each of the participant submitted the Pilot project report on the selected topic of the project along with a synopsis of the One-year project.
It has been possible to conduct the fourth postgraduate course on Satellite Communications at Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad, due to sincere efforts put in by a large number of dedicated staff at SAC. We would particularly thank all faculty members, Focal points and Project guides who in spite of their busy schedules delivered lectures, organized practical sessions, conducted examinations and tutorials and also provided guidance to their project related activities. We also express our sincere gratitude to UN-ESCAP and TCS Colombo Plan for sponsoring the travel of selected candidates. We thank Director, SAC for his guidance and support in organizing this course satisfactorily fulfilling the commitments of SAC in conducting the course on SATCOM on behalf of CSSTEAP. We sincerely thank Director, CSSTEAP for his keen interest and support in making this course a great success.
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Course Modules and Focal Ponits |
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SATCOM IV Course Curriculum |
MODULE #0:
Orientation Course
(Duration: 1 Week)
Introduction to activities of CSSTEAP, SAC and Course, Communication Skills (Oral, Written, Presentation, Group Discussion etc), Introduction to the Local environment Geographic Perspectives of India with Special reference to Gujarat & Ahmedabad, Social Systems, Customs & Festivals of India and Hindi Language.
MODULE #1:
Communication System and Digital Signal Processing
Communication System PART-I (Duration: 3 Weeks)
Lectures: Principle of Communications and Networking, Telecommunications Overview, Personal Communication Services, Principle of Information Theory & Mathematical Tools, Probability Theory & Basic Statistics, Information Theory, Spherical Geometry, Linear Algebra, MATLAB Mathematical Tools, Principle of Modulation & Coding, Analog & Digital Communications System and Modulation & Coding
Microwave Theory and Techniques, Applications of Microwave Technology, Optical communications, Principles of Networking and Protocols, Data Networking, ISDN, Packet Switching Fundamentals, Broadband An Overview and Protocol
Introduction to Computer, Computer Architecture, I/O Devices, Operating Systems, Standard Operating Systems, DOS, UNIX and Linux, Windows / NT
Laboratory Sessions: Computer, MATLAB, Microwave Measurements, Analog and Digital Modems and Fiber Optics
Communication System PART-II
Digital Signal Processing
Duration: 2 Weeks)
Lectures: Discrete Time Signals and Systems, Sampling of Continuous Time Signals, Z-Transform, Discrete Fourier Transform, Computation of Discrete Fourier Transform Structure for Discrete Time Systems, Filter Design Techniques, Wavelet Transforms Examples of DSP based subsystems for Satellite Communications
Laboratory Sessions / Tutorial: MATLAB Based Exercises, Familiarization and Implementation on Evaluation Board.
MODULE #2:
SATELLITE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
(Duration: 5 Weeks)
Introduction to Satellite Communications, Satellite Orbits, Launch Vehicles and Launching of Satellites, Satellite Communication Links, Frequency Bands for Satellite Communications, Propagation Effects on Satellite Communication Links, Satellite Configurations, Space Environment, Satellite Bus Sub-Systems, Communication Transponder, Communication Transponder Sub-Systems, Advanced Communication Transponders, On-Board Processing, Integration and Testing of Communication Transponder, Integration and Testing of Satellite, In-Orbit Check-Out of Communication Satellite, Reliability and Space Qualification, Reliability of Satellite Communication Payload, EMI, EMC and RFI, Electrostatic Discharge Hazards in SatCom Electronics, Life of a Satellite, Satellite Communications (Video CBT and Tutorials)
Experiments / Demonstrations: Familiarization of Measuring Instruments, Determination of Satellite Look Angles & Optimization of Earth Station Antenna, Measurement of Satellite Link Parameters, Familiarization & Measurement of Satellite Transponder Characteristics (Comm. Simulator) and Testing of Communication Transponder Subsystems.
Visits: Communication Payload R & D Labs, Communications Techniques Labs, Payload Fabrication Facility, Environmental Test Facility, Communication Systems Lab and Remote Sensing Laboratories.
MODULE #3:
EARTH STATION TECHNOLOGY
(Duration: 3 Weeks)
Lectures: Satellite Communications Earth Station An Overview, Technology of Earth Station Sub-Systems, Earth Station Design Considerations, Earth Station Standards Checkout of Earth Station, Operations & Maintenance of Fixed & Transportable Earth Station and Fabrication Techniques
Visits: DOT Earth Station, Software Technology Park (DOE), Antenna Test Facility (SAC) MIC Facility (SAC), Electronics Fabrication Facility (SAC) and Mechanical Fabrication Facility (SAC)
Experiments / Demonstrations: Familiarization of Earth Station Subsystem and Testing of Earth Station Subsystems
MODULE #4:
TRANSMISSION, MULTIPLEXING & MULTIPLE ACCESS
Duration: 2 Weeks)
Lectures: Analog and Digital Modulation and Demodulation Techniques(AM/ FM/ PM/ M-PSK/ MSK/ Hybrid), Transmission Impairments, Coding of Video & Audio signals, Forward-error correction coding (Block/ Convolution), Multiplexing /De-multiplexing, Spread Spectrum Techniques and Multiple Access Techniques
Experiments / Demonstrations: Familiarization and of Operation of SCPC, SSMA & TDMA Equipment and Measurement of Video S/N Vs C/N & Video Threshold
Measurement of S/N Vs FM Deviation: Determination of Transponder Operating Points for Single Carrier per Transponder, Multi Carrier per Transponder and MATLAB Simulations.
MODULE #5:
BROADCASTING USING COMMUNICATION SATELLITES
(Duration: 2 Weeks)
Lectures: Analog & Digital Broadcasting Systems Standards, Digital Television, Satellite TV and Access Systems, Internet Protocol (IP) broadcasting, Selected Applications, Satellite News Gathering (SNG) for Radio and TV, Radio Networking, Digital Audio Broadcasting, TV Studio and its Operations/ Outdoor Broadcasting Van, TV Coverage of Sports , Multicasting, Video Conferencing via Satellite, Multimedia and Video On-Demand.
Laboratory Experiments / Demonstrations: Measurement of TV Signal Parameters using Waveform Monitor, Vectorscope and Automated Test Equipment, Familiarization of Radio Networking Terminal, Demonstration of Operation of SNG Terminal, Setting up of a TV Direct Reception System, Digital Audio & Data Broadcasting (DSDB System) Internet Protocol terminals and Multimedia Broadcasting / Multicasting.
Visits: TV Broadcasting Station of Doordarshan, Radio Networking System of AIR and TV Studio (DECU).
MODULE #6:
APPLICATIONS AND TRENDS IN SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
(Duration: 3 Weeks)
Lecture: Satellite Communications Services and Applications, Rural/ Remote Area Communication, VSAT Network for Voice, Data and Fax, Elements for VSAT Network, Meteorological Data Reception System (NOAA, INSAT), News and Meteorological Data Dissemination System, Data Collection System, Disaster Management Using Satellite Communications, Search and Rescue System, Warning Dissemination System, Telemedicine, Time and Frequency Transmission System, Mobile and Personal communications Services (IMT-2000,4G etc.), Strategic Satellite Communication System, Satellite Navigation System, Satellite-based Internet System, Multimedia Broadband Satellite Systems, Future Trends in Satellite Communications, Video CBT and Tutorials
Laboratory Experiments / Demonstrations: NOAA / VHRR Data Reception, News and Meteorological Data Dissemination System, Search and Rescue Beacon, Operations of GPS Receiver and INSAT Reporting System, VSAT Terminal and Network, Data and Sound Broadcasting System
Visits: PTI, IMD, Airport and NICNET.
MODULE #7:
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION SATELLITE SYSTEMS
(Duration: 1 Week)
Lecture: Overview of Operational Satellite Communications Systems, (B-MBS) Operational Communication Satellite Systems, International Satellite Communication Systems, Regional and Domestic Satellite Communications Systems, International Telecommunications Union (ITU) & Other Standardization Organisations (ISO, APT, ETSI) and International Regulations.
MODULE #8:
NETWORK PLANNING / MANAGEMENT / OPERATIONAL ISSUES OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS
(Duration: 1 Week)
Lectures: Technical Considerations for Network Planning, Planning for Space Segment Planning for Ground Segment, Network Operations and Control, Management of Communication Satellite Operations, Intra-system/ Inter-system Interference Coordination Space Law and Financial Aspects of Satellite Communication.
MODULE #9:
SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING
(Duration: 2 Weeks)
Lectures: Satellite Communications for Development Education and Training An Overview, Indian Experience with SITE, KCP, TDCC, JDCP and UGC, Local Broadcasting (TV, Radio, Cable Network), Planning for Satellite Communications for Development, Satellite Technology for Development, Education and Training, Operational, Technological and Legal Issues in Trans-border Channels for Development, Teleconferencing, Experience of users for Rural Development and Disaster Management.
Demonstrations: Demonstration of Talk Back System (JDCP and TDCC), Direct Reception System (Analog and Digital) and Two-Way Video Conference (SpaceNet)
Field Visits
MODULE PILOT PROJECT
(Duration: 10 Weeks)
Project Definition: Needs of the Participant's Country or topic of Interest of the Participant,
Suggested Topics for the Project: Earth Station Subsystems, Systems Analysis for Communication Satellite, Spacecraft Design, Antenna Foot Print Design, Communication Systems Design, Network Planning and Relevant Software Development, Applications of TV and Radio for Development Communications, Economics of Satellite Communications Domestic System Definition and Policy Research
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