The effects on CNR improvements are described for a

-band PCM-TDMA regenerative satellite relay system, using a multihorn antenna, whose horn powers are combined/divided with variable power combiners (VPCs)/dividers (VPDs). In conclusion, when the VPCs combination/VPDs division ratios are controlled according to the criterion maximizing the sum of uplink/downlink rain margins, both efficient on-board RF power utilization and regenerative effect enhancement can be accomplished remarkably.