Ruggedised satellite simulator
Comprised of two units, this Satellite Simulator (RSS Series) is portable thereby facilitating the testing and calibration of terminals off-satellite. The base control unit is a weatherised, portable instrument with the capability of both local and remote, ethernet control and this is connected to a mast mounted transponder via a power and data cable.
The Transponder communicates with the system under test (SUT) via appropriately polarised gain horns, receiving at the SUT transmit (Tx) frequency and transmitting at the SUT receive (Rx) frequency, thereby completing the loop-back without satellite involvement.
The local oscillator in the Transponder is synthesised over its frequency range by either front panel controls on the base unit or via ethernet with a GUI and input signal level is similarly controlled over a 60 dB range in 1.0 dB steps thus accommodating varying range distances from the SUT as well as a variety of Tx power levels.
In addition to the transmission of the Rx frequency direct to the SUT antenna, a sample of this is fed back via coaxial low loss cable to the base unit and is then made available at the front panel for connection to a spectrum analyser or other test equipment.
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