Technology

Figure 1: Pulse response of an amplifier with thermal distortion memory In Part 1, we viewed nonlinear distortion as a level-dependent shift in modulation, amplitude and phase. Next, we use that technique to

[Via Satellite 02-21-2014] Smart Communications has selected Thuraya Telecommunications Company to provide mobile satellite handsets and airtime services to subscribers in the Philippines. This multiyear agreement will produce a combined voice services and handset offer called SmartSAT, an extension of Smart’s crew calling service Phone Pal. The package will include either Thuraya’s SatSleeve or the XT...

[Via Satellite 02-21-2014] ETL Systems is expanding its product range from radio frequency (RF) systems to fiber applications, and will introduce its new solution at SATELLITE 2014 in March. This new design will feature high-level RF specs and a design for high isolation applications, with full details being released at the show. The company will...

[Via Satellite 02-21-2014] Boeing has awarded Saft with five contracts to build Li-ion batteries for four of the company’s current GEO communication satellite programs. These new contracts make a total of 11 contracts Boeing holds with Saft, representing more than $20 million in satellite battery sales. There are currently 75 satellites in orbit using the...

[Via Satellite 02-20-2014] SES has contracted Airbus Defence and Space to manufacture its newest hybrid propulsion satellite, the SES 10. The spacecraft is the tenth satellite built on the Eurostar platform to use electric propulsion. SES 10 will have an electrical power of 13kW and its expected launch mass is approximately 5,300 kilograms. This investment...

[Via Satellite 02-18-2014] Kratos Defense & Security Solutions announced the release of quantumCMD, a portable Command and Control (C2) system designed for small satellite missions. These small satellites, known as microsats, CubeSats and nanosats, are compact alternatives to the costly larger satellite missions. Traditional satellite missions can cost anywhere from $300 million to $1 billion,...

[Via Satellite 02-18-2014] STMicroelectronics has released its Teseo 2 single-chip satellite-tracking IC to the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission Joint Research Center (JRC) for testing for eCall approval. The European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) has coordinated the testing campaign as part of its effort to accelerate Galileo’s adoption. The ESA and...

[Via Satellite 02-14-2014] Advantech Wireless has released a new Synthesized Frequency Converter Series that is fully compliant with the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) and European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) standards. The spectral purity, low phase noise and high stability meet requirements of WAAS and EGNOS international satellite network operators. The WE range of converters...

[Via Satellite 02-14-2014] Comtech Telecommunications has announced that its subsidiary Comtech Xicom Technology has been awarded a $1.4 million contract to supply a major system integrator with rack-mount, high-power amplifiers (HPAs). These HPAs will be used in an expansion of a system to relay military satellite communications around the world. These HPAs are designed for...

[Via Satellite 02-13-2014] Satellite connectivity solutions are expanding into less visible industries. Beyond wearable technology and expanded access to smartphones and personal devices, the need for remote monitoring technology is driving demand for solutions to exist where people are not overly present. SkyWave, an M2M service provider, sees companies using satellite to increase their presence...