Projects/MidasBeaconReceiver/MidasBeaconReceiver/BeaconReference

Beacon Receiver Project Reference Material

Introductory Talks

• Overview of the Ionosphere and Satellite Beacons by AJC

• Overview of Receiver Engineering by JRM

• Overview of Distributed Software Radio Systems by FDL

• Overview of Beacon Signal Processing by PJE

• Overview of Scientific Databases and Visualization by WJR

Papers

• Bernhardt, P., Siefring, C., New satellite-based systems for ionospheric tomography and scintillation region imaging, Radio Science, Vol 41, RS5S23, doi:10.1029/2005RS003360, 2006.

• Grydeland, T., Lind, F. D., Erickson, P. J., and Holt, J. M., Software Radar signal processing

Coding conventions

• Python

HDF5 File Format

• Upload new attachment "end_hdf5_spec_080507.pdf"

Haystack Information

• Haystack Observatory

• Latitude = +42° 37' 6.81" from Wikipedia

• Longitude = -71° 29' 29.10" from Wikipedia

• Latitude (decimal degrees) = 42.61866 (from calc) == 42.618557 (from Google maps)

• Longitude (decimal degrees) = -71.49142 (from calc) == -71.491417 (from Google maps)

• Elevation = 103-105m approximate from link

MISC Tools

• Degrees, Minutes, Seconds to Decimal Degrees calculator found at link

• Coverting EST to GMT via link

Satellite Tracking/TLE Data

• COSMIC 1/FORMOSAT 3A: http://n2yo.com/?s=29047

• COSMIC 2/FORMOSAT 3B: http://n2yo.com/?s=29048

• COSMIC 3/FORMOSAT 3C: http://n2yo.com/?s=29049

• COSMIC 4/FORMOSAT 3D: http://n2yo.com/?s=29050

• COSMIC 5/FORMOSAT 3E: http://n2yo.com/?s=29051

• COSMIC 6/FORMOSAT 3F: http://n2yo.com/?s=29052

Antenna Data

• Discone

  • Gain: 2dBi

  • Polarization: Vertical linear polarization

• Helical SatCom Antenna

  • Gain: 9dBi

  • Polarization: Left Hand Circular Polarization (LHCP)

• Cross Polarized Yahi

  • Gain: 12dBi for circular polarization and 9 dBi for a single polarization

  • Polarization: circular or single

• Turnstile

  • Gain: 5dBi when properly placed at least 1/2 wavelength above the ground plane

  • Polarization: Circular polarization

Beacon Data

• CERTO on COSMIC:

  • Frequencies: 150.012/400.032/1066.752 MHz

  • Downlink TX strength: 1W

  • Satellite TX polarization: Right Hand Circular Polarization (RHCP)

  • Gain: 4dB

  • Orientation: nadir

• CERTO on DMSP/F15:

  • Frequencies: 150.012/400.032/1066.752 MHz

  • Downlink TX strength: 2W

  • Satellite TX polarization: Linear polarization

  • Gain: 1dB

  • Orientation: monopole antenna facing the ram direction of the orbit

• RADCAL: 150.012/400.032 MHz

• SATCOM on Skynet 4D:

  • Frequencies: 253.950, 254.050, 254.150, 257.450, 257.550, and 257.650MHz

• TRANSIT on OSCAR:

  • Frequencies: most powerful signals at 149.988 and 399.968 MHz

  • Downlink TX strength:

  • Satellite TX polarization: Quadrafilar helix

  • Gain: more gain toward the horizon

  • Orientation: nadir

Satellite Data

• Satellite Name	Country	TLE	Orbital Type	Inclination	Onboard Beacons
  Formosat 3A	USA/Taiwan	http://n2yo.com/satellite.php?s=29047	LEO	72 deg	CERTO
  Formosat 3B	USA/Taiwan	http://n2yo.com/satellite.php?s=29048	LEO	72 deg	CERTO
  Formosat 3C	USA/Taiwan	http://n2yo.com/satellite.php?s=29049	LEO	72 deg	CERTO
  Formosat 3D	USA/Taiwan	http://n2yo.com/satellite.php?s=29050	LEO	72 deg	CERTO
  Formosat 3E	USA/Taiwan	http://n2yo.com/satellite.php?s=29051	LEO	72 deg	CERTO
  Formosat 3F	USA/Taiwan	http://n2yo.com/satellite.php?s=29052	LEO	72 deg	CERTO
  RADCAL	USA	CelesTrak	LEO	90 deg	RADCAL
  Skynet 4D	UK	http://n2yo.com/satellite.php?s=25134	GEO	3.8 deg	SATCOM

Estimating Noise Power

• A separate page on Estimating Noise Power contains useful information.

Hardware Manufacturer Websites

• MiniCircuits: http://www.minicircuits.com

• Watkins-Johson: http://www.wj.com

• Avago(old Agilent): http://www.avagotech.com

• Synergy Microwave: http://www.synergymwave.com

• Hittite Microwave http://www.hittite.com

• Tyco-MA/COM: http:www.macom.com

A TechNote on Antenna Polarization

• Antenna Polarization