A Small Power Margin and Bandwidth Expansion Allow Data Transmission During Rainfall Despite Large Attenuation: Application to GeoSurf Satellite Constellations at mm–Waves

Abstract

The traditional approach of considering the probability distribution of rain attenuation leads to overdesign the power margin of data channels. We have first recalled a method, proposed in 2016, which with a small power margin, bandwidth expansion and variable symbol rate avoids overdesign and can transfer the same data volume as if the link were in clear–sky conditions. It is charaterized only by the link mean efficiency 0≤η≤1, suitably defined. It is usefull only if: (a) data must be downloaded also when it is raining; (b) real–time communication is not strictly required. We have applied it to the links of GeoSurf satellite constellations by simulating rain attenuation time series at 80 GHz (mm–wave) with the Synthetic Storm Technique, from rain-rate time series recorded on–site, at sites located in different climatic regions. The power margin to be implemented ranges from 2.0 dB to 7.4 dB – well within the current technology – regardless the instantaneous rain attenuation. The clear–sky bandwidth is expanded 1.75 to 2.80 times, not large per se, but it may challenge current technology if the clear–sky bandwidth is already large.