Bit Error Rate Comparison of Repeater and Regenerative Communication Satellites

We evaluate and compare bit error rates for conventional (linear and nonlinear) repeater satellites and regenerative satellites. This work is based on a new formulation for error rates using the generalized moment technique for numerical evaluation of error rates. Both coherent MPSK and noncoherent MFSK modulations are considered with regenerative satellites. The results show that regenerative satellites are especially effective against uplink CW interference when on-board despreading of spread spectrum signals is included as part of the satellite processing.