MULTIPLE ACCESS TO A COMMUNICATION SATELLITE WITH A HARD-LIMITING REPEATER. VOLUME I. MODULATION TECHNIQUES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS,

Abstract : Discussed are four modulation techniques applicable to a wide-band non-linear repeater and their operational characteristics. Modulation techniques that depend entirely on a linear repeater characteristic are not treated. If it becomes possible to operate a satellite repeater as a linear device, even over a restricted dynamic range, the modulation techniques discussed here will remain applicable. Because it is important to accommodate stations with large and small receiving and transmitting capabilities in the same network, this report does not deal with modulation techniques that require equal sensitivities for all receiving stations (i.e., equal antenna size and equal receiver noise temperatures). The sections dealing with modulation techniques are preceded by a brief account of the main properties and constraints upon a communication satellite system; they are followed by three sections dealing with repeater bandwidth and power-sharing considerations, network timing, and operational doctrine. (Author)