Low-fade-margin system: propagation considerations and implementation approaches

Smaller antenna sizes significantly reduce the cost of earth stations. Tracking requirements can be relaxed or eliminated, and real estate and system power requirements may be substantially reduced. However, the available propagation margins are limited, particularly at frequencies above 10 GHz. Since VSAT operational success is very sensitive to costs and to user perceptions of service, the need for accurate propagation prediction models for the appropriate time percentages is urgent. The paper reviews propagation considerations and some implementation approaches for low-fade-margin systems