The satellite and space sector was in the spotlight in 2023. With new constellations, satellites and companies all developing innovative products and services. Radio Frequency is the backbone of satellite communication and services. They are crucial for transmitting and receiving signals between ground stations, satellites, and other communication nodes. There has been a dramatic surge in the advancements made in satellite technology. Millions of people across the globe use services that are powered by satellites for a variety of purposes such as GNSS, IoT, telecommunication, broadband wireless, imaging and a number of other SATCOM-related applications.
Thousands of satellites operate on frequency bands such as Ku-band, L1/L2-band, etc, and use sophisticated technologies that work together to deliver state-of-the-art performance and provide resilient communication services in the presence of atmospheric effects such as rain, fog, dust, lightning and so on. In this regard, everything RF has compiled a list of the top satellite products on the website in 2023.
Low-Profile Ka-Band AESA SATCOM Terminals for Space/Air/Ground Platforms
The Ka-Band SATCOM Terminals from CesiumAstro operate from 17.7 to 21.2 GHz (Rx) and 27.5 to 31 GHz (Tx). These high throughput multi-beam antenna solutions deliver always-on connectivity to space, air, and ground platforms. They have flat-panel active phased array antennas (AESA) that provide reliable, high-speed throughput with no moving parts. These terminals utilize software-defined functions to enable seamless simultaneous connectivity to multiple constellations. They implement a make-before-break handover to maximize the quality of service and eliminate disruptions with seamless satellite-to-satellite handover between orbits and networks. Read more
Advanced Satellite Link Emulator with 1 to 4 Channels
The ACE9600 from dBm Corp is Satellite Link Emulator for simulating satellite to fixed/mobile ground stations, satellite-to-satellite RF link testing and Satellite Payload Emulation. It has an instantaneous bandwidth of up to 600 MHz and is based on a powerful hardware/DSP test platform that allows a variety of impairments to be inserted in real-time, enabling testing of a range of wireless receivers, UHF/VHF Radios, satellite payloads and satellite fixed & mobile ground and airborne transceivers in a controlled laboratory environment. Read more
Wideband Multi-Channel Satellite Link Simulator
The RLS-2100 from Square Peg Communications is a comprehensive satellite channel simulator with unparalleled impairment simulation, real-time multi-satellite orbit calculation, full-motion support and integrated GPS simulators. It can provide end-to-end or single link simulation of wideband terrestrial and satellite networks, satellite selection via open standard interfaces, and facilities to enable seamless integration into more complex test beds if required. It supports the highest bandwidth and has an intuitive, user-friendly interface. Read more
Ka-Band 1.0 m Fly-Away SATCOM Terminal for Military Applications
The GLOBETrekker™ 2.0 (GT100KAM004) from Norsat is a Fly-Away SATCOM Terminal that operates from 18.2 to 21.2 GHz (Rx) and 30 to 31 GHz (Tx). It has a 6-segment carbon fiber reflector with a diameter of 1.0 m and consists of a BUC, a universal LNB, and a 2-segment boom arm. This terminal can be completely assembled without tools in minutes and has a one-touch interface which enables rapid and easy deployment. It is built to military specifications, with a suite of integrated modems or video encoders, and is suitable for mission-critical communications worldwide. The terminal has a motorized azimuth adjustment range of ±160° and a motorized elevation adjustment range from 5° to 90° (in 0.1° resolution). Read more
Vehicle-Mounted Driveaway Terminal from 7.25 to 31 GHz
The CCT120-DA from DataPath is a Driveaway Terminal that operates from 7.25 to 21.2 GHz (Rx) and 7.9 to 31 GHz (Tx). It delivers an output power of 60 W (X band), has an EIRP of 54.2 dBW (X band) and a G/T (gain-to-noise-temperature) of 15.7 dB/K (X band). This terminal has an azimuth range of ±175° and an elevation range from 10° to 90°. It has multiple polarization options and can operate on multiple satellite networks and reduce sparing with shareable replaceable units. The terminal has SkyNET, Eutelsat, Intelsat, Telenor THOR 7, Inmarsat GX [Mil Ka- band), ARSTRAT (WGS) certified (X- and Ka-band), CD certified according to 1999/5/ EC R&TTE and 2006/42/EC machinery directives certifications. Read more
X-Band Low Noise Block Downconverter from 7.75 to 8.50 GHz
The APT5-LNB-XBAND from AmpliTech is a Low Noise Block Downconverter that converts an input RF frequency from 7.75-8.50 GHz to output IF frequency from 800-1550 MHz. It provides over 56 dB of gain and has an output P1dB of more than 15 dBm. The LNB has a VSWR of less than 1.7:1, provides image rejection of above 30 dB, and has a phase noise density of -128 dBc for a 1 MHz frequency offset. Read more
Satellite Link Emulator from 950 to 1450 MHz for Closed-Loop Testing
The ASLE-L-200D from Polaris is a Satellite Link Emulator that operates in the L-Band from 950 to 1450 MHz (extendable up to 1950 MHz). It includes an L-band frequency converter, has a bandwidth of 200 MHz and provides a gain of up to 0 dB. This link emulator exhibits a time delay from 0 to 530 ms with a step size of 1 μs, a Doppler shift from -6 to +6 MHz with a step size of 1 Hz and an attenuation from 0 to 40 dB with a step size of 0.5 dB. It has spurious levels of less than -45 dBc (in-band) and a VSWR of less than 1.5:1. Read more
250 W Solid-State Power Amplifiers/Block Up-Converters from 13.75 to 14.5 GHz
The Genesis Series from Advantech Wireless Technologies are Solid-State Power Amplifiers (SSPA)/Block Up-Converters (SSPB) that convert an input frequency from 950 – 1700 MHz to an output frequency from 13.75 – 14.5 GHz. They deliver an output power of up to 250 W with an adjustable gain of more than 75 dB (0.1 dB steps). These SSPA/SSPB have a phase noise of -107 dBc/Hz (@1 MHz offset), spurious levels of -65 dBc, and harmonics of -50 dBc. They are soft-fail ready and include an internal/external reference with auto sense. Read more
Outdoor Block Downconverters for SATCOM Applications
The GS41 Series from GeoSync Microwave are Outdoor Block Downconverters that convert an input RF frequency of 10.7 - 31 GHz to an output frequency of 0.95-2.15 GHz. They provide more than 30 dB of gain with a P1dB of over 18 dBm and have a return loss of 18 dB. These downconverters have a noise figure of less than 14 dB and an image rejection of 70 dB. They have spurious levels of -75 dBc and maximum phase noise of -160 dBc/Hz. These downconverters can be controlled via RS422, RS485, and 10/100 Base-T Ethernet interfaces. Read more
25 W GaN Block Upconverter from 17.3 to 18.4 GHz
The ABE25UDBS from Actox is a DBS-Band Block Upconverter that converts input frequencies from 950 – 1700 MHz to output frequencies from 17.3 – 18.4 GHz. It has a 16.35 / 16.85 GHz dual LO that is electronically and manually switchable. This GaN BUC delivers an output power of 25 W (+44 dBm) with a gain of 68 dB. It has a phase noise of -95 dBc/Hz (at 100 kHz offset) and a noise power density of better than -66 dBm/Hz (Tx) and -157 dBm/Hz (Rx). It requires a DC supply from 15 to 60 V (auto-ranging) and consumes less than 136 W of power. Read more
Compact SATCOM On-The-Move (SOTM) Antennas from 7.25 to 31 GHz
The RaySat SR300-M from Gilat are Compact Satcom On-The-Move (SOTM) Antennas that operate from 7.25 to 21.2 GHz (Rx) and 7.9 to 31 GHz (Tx). They have a reliable, two-way antenna system that enables real-time broadband satellite communications, primarily for voice and data on-the-move or on-the-pause. These antennas feature an advanced flat panel array, which covers both the Rx and Tx bands and have multiple onboard tracking sensors, enabling accurate tracking, short initial acquisition, and instantaneous re-acquisition. Read more
325 W Antenna-Mount Power Amplifiers from 27 to 31 GHz
The XTD-750KaL from ComTech are Antenna-Mount High Power Amplifiers that operate from 27 to 31 GHz. They deliver a CW output power of 325 W (~55.1 dBm) with a small signal gain of more than 70 dB. These amplifiers have spurious levels and harmonics of -60 dBc. They are designed to offer compactness, low-cost installation, and a long life. These power amplifiers deliver a high efficiency, which enables a smaller and lighter design with the ability to operate over a temperature range of up to +60°C. They include proprietary features to improve performance and life, including an automatic bias control system to extend traveling wave tube (TWT) life by maintaining constant beam current over time. Read more
Ku-Band Transceivers from 10.95 to 14.50 GHz for VSAT Networks
The AM-9446 Series from Amplus Communication are high performance Ku-band Transceivers designed for use in SCPC, DAMA and TDMA VSAT satellite earth stations. They operate from 13.75 to 14.50 GHz (Tx) and 10.95 to 12.75 GHz (Rx). In the Tx mode, they provide an output power (P1dB) of 100 W with a gain of 70 dB and gain adjustment of 25 dB in 0.5 dB steps. In Rx mode (with LNB), they provide a gain of 60 dB and have a noise temperature of 75K (at 25°C). Read more
Ka-Band SATCOM Transceiver Module
The DRC 3500 from Skyware Technologies is a Ka-Band SATCOM Transceiver that has a Tx frequency from 29 to 31 GHz and Rx frequency from 19.2 to 21.2 GHz. This device provides an output power of more than 37 dBm at the Tx with a gain of 58 dB. It has an integrated antenna feed chain with polarizer, a true 5 Watt BUC (10 W version available in H1 2015), a wide-band PLL LNB and an OpenBMIP Monitoring and Control facility – all in a single, IP67 rated, enclosure. Read more
50 W GaN Solid-State Power Blockup Converter from 13.75 to 14.5 GHz
The CPKOG1430SOTM from Communications & Power Industries is a Solid-State Power Blockup Converter (SSPB) that converts an input frequency (IF) from 950-1700 MHz to an output frequency (RF) from 13.75-14.50 GHz. It delivers an output power of 50 W (~ +47 dBm) with a gain of more than 53 dB. This SSPB has a phase noise (LO) of -78 dBc/Hz (at 1 kHz offset) and spurious emissions and harmonics of better than -60 dBc. It integrates an L-band block upconverter (BUC) and a GaN-based solid-state power amplifier (SSPA) to deliver the desired output power over the extended Ku-band satellite uplink band. Read more
Ku-Band Block-up Converters from 12.75 to 14.5 GHz
The ASKU (S, L, D) Series from Amkom Inc. are Ku-Band Block-up Converters that convert an input IF frequency from 950 - 1450 MHz or 950 - 1700 MHz to an output RF frequency from 12.75-14.5 GHz with 11.80 GHz, 13.05 GHz or 12.80 GHz local oscillators. These BUCs deliver a saturated output power of 20 W (43 dBm) and a linear power of 16 W (42 dBm) with a gain of 70 dB. They have a group delay of less than 1 ns (ripple, point-to-point) and a phase noise of less than -95 dBc/Hz. These BUCs have an in-out-band spurious of less than -55 dBc and a spectral regrowth of -30 dBc. They have an AM/PM conversion of less than 1.0°/dB and a noise power density of -85 dBm/Hz (Tx) & -155 dBm/Hz (Rx). Read more
X-Band Earth Observation Low Noise Block from 7.75 to 8.5 GHz
The LNBX-EO from Orbital Research is an X-Band Earth Observation Low Noise Block (LNB) Downconverter that converts an input RF frequency of 7.75 - 8.5 GHz to an IF frequency of 950 - 1700 MHz. It has a 6.8 GHz local oscillator (external reference). This LNB provides 60 dB of gain with a noise figure of 0.8 dB and has a P1dB of 15 dBm. It requires a DC supply of 12-28 V and consumes 3.8 W of power. This LNB is available in an IP67-rated Aluminium sealed enclosure that measures 145 x 70 x 55 mm and has a WR-112 connector (input) & N Connector (output). Read more
Low Noise Amplifier from 17.7 to 22.2 GHz
The ACLNA-Ka-E45-V1 from Acorde is a Low Noise Amplifier that operates in the Ka-Band from 17.7 to 22.2 GHz. It provides a gain of more than 50 dB with a noise figure of less than 1.8 dB and has a P1dB of 20 dBm. The amplifier uses the latest technology to obtain the best noise figure, phase noise, gain stability and return losses according to MIL-STD-188-164C. It requires a DC supply from 12 to 28 V and consumes 200 mA of current. The LNA is available in an enclosure that measures 95 x 50 x 32 mm with WR42 grooved input interface and an SMA-female output connector. It is designed for use in the most challenging Ka-band professional & military satellite communication systems (ground, SOTP, SOTM, maritime, etc.). Read more
Q/V–Band Switchable LO LNB from 37.5 to 42.5 GHz
The Q/V–Band LNB from Swedish Microwave is a Low-Noise Block (LNB) that converts input frequencies from 37.5 – 42.5 GHz to output frequencies from 950 – 3450 MHz. It has a switchable LO from 36.55 to 40.55 GHz, provides a programmable gain from 40 to 55 dB, and image rejection of more than 30 dB. This LNB has a phase noise of -93 dBc/Hz (@100 kHz offset), a noise figure of less than 3.2 dB, and spurious levels of better than -60 dBc. It has alarm functions for LNA failure, total current, LO lock, signal power (high/low), and low supply voltage. This LNB requires a DC supply from 11 to 26 V and consumes less than 5 W of power. Read more
Portable, Low-SWaP SATCOM Terminal from 17.5 to 31 GHz
The NANO SAT H from GET SAT is a SATCOM Terminal that operates from 27.5 to 31 GHz (Tx) and 17.5 to 21.2 GHz (Rx). This compact terminal has been optimized for on-the-move, man-carried portability, and mobility applications. It is designed for the Ka-band and supports the O3B MEO constellation. The terminal consists of a modem, antenna control unit (ACU), block upconverter (BUC), tracking sensors, low noise block (LNB) downconverter, and a complete RF front-end. It enables low size, weight, and power (SWaP) and high performance for on-the-move maritime and aviation platforms with cost-effective adoption. This terminal requires a DC supply from 24 to 36 V, consuming 20 W of power in Rx mode and 70 W in Tx mode. Read more
Low Noise Block from 18.2 to 20.2 GHz for SATCOM Applications
The TTI-LNB-Ka-1820 from TTI is a Low Noise Block (LNB) that converts an input frequency from 18.2 – 20.2 GHz to an output frequency from 1 – 2 GHz. It has a 17.2/18.2 GHz local oscillator. This LNB provides 60 dB of gain, image rejection of more than 30 dB, and a noise figure of less than 1.5 dB. It has spurious levels of -60 dBc and an SSB phase noise of -93 dBc (@ 100 kHz offset). The LNB requires a DC supply of 13/18 V and consumes less than 5 W of power. It is available in an enclosure that measures 150 x 60 x 40 mm with a WR-42 waveguide interface for input and N-type (female) connectors for output. It is ideal for satellite communications applications. Read more
Low Noise Block from 17.7 to 21.2 GHz
The ERZ-LNB-1770-2120-75-1.5 from ERZIA is a Ka-Band Low Noise Block that converts input frequency from 17.7 – 21.2 GHz to output frequency 0.95 – 1.95 GHz. It provides a gain of up to 75 dB which can be adjusted in 0.5 dB steps and has a noise figure of less than 1.5 dB. This LNB comes with an inbuilt PLL for high reliability and dedicated screening of the LNB performance. It has a phase noise of -110 dBc/Hz (@ 1 MHz offset), spurious levels of -60 dBc, and provides an image rejection of 40 dB. The LNB requires a DC supply of 15 V and consumes 12 W of power. Read more
SATCOM Terminal from 17.7 to 31 GHz for Manned/Unmanned Aircraft
The GAT-5510 from Viasat is a SATCOM Terminal that operates from 17.7 to 21.2 GHz (Rx) and 27.5 to 31.0 GHz (Tx). It is designed for large-cabin aircraft and enables broadband in-flight connectivity services for business jets and government users on Viasat’s high-capacity satellite network. This terminal has a parabolic reflector. Each terminal is made up of a 2-axis steerable 2-way Ka-band antenna with an integrated ACU, an antenna power supply unit, and a modem. This terminal can be easily integrated into an aircraft with a tail, fuselage, or hatch-mounted antenna and onboard modem for a wide variety of in-flight applications and missions. Read more
C/X/Ku-Band Rugged and Transportable SATCOM Terminal
The MTT 2400 from ND SatCom is a Multi-Band SATCOM Terminal that operates in the C-Band, X-Band, and Ku-Band. It has a Tx frequency range from 5.850 – 6.425 GHz, 7.90 – 8.40 GHz, 13.75 – 14.50 GHz, and an Rx frequency range from 3.625 – 4.2 GHz, 7.25 – 7.75 GHz, 10.95 – 12.75 GHz. This terminal is based on an ultra-compact platform and is designed for easy transportation and set-up. It consists of multi-polarized 2/4-port feeds and delivers a transmit power of up to 380 W with an antenna gain (Tx/Rx) of up to 48 dB. The terminal has a fast band-switching capability and provides excellent versatility and flexibility to meet almost all network requirements. Read more
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