> Even the "Phase III" sat - as I understand it - would need
> to be accessed by an array capable of tracking it's path.
> This means MUCHO EXPENSE as far as equipment goes, not
> only for the steering on the dish but also the controller
> to aim it and keep it sync'd.
No, the highly elliptical orbit means that the sat will stay
in nearly the same spot for several hours at a time.
CY> There are already systems similar to what you describe
CY> that have been operating on Ku-band for many years.
Here we go again with the high co$t...  I don't know about you, but I don't
think the average person (incl myself) would be able obtain that type of
'cutting edge' hardware.
Well, a lot of people afford cell phones.  What I described is
basically cell phone via satellite.  I am sure that
the Ku systems do cost more than cell phones.  If there
was a mass market for the hardware, the price would probably
come down.  I would expect the cost to be less than the price
of a HF rig -- maybe a lot less.  Equipment
for the LEO's (low earth orbit) sats should cost much
less than that because it will use lower power and
tiny antennas.  I know you are not interested in that,
but somebody here might be :)
CY>  The uplinks require larger
CY> dishes than 10 feet on C-band.  What you are talking
CY> about would have to be done on Ku-band or higher.
> I don't understand...  When I was an uplink station
> 'shift operator', we transmitted on the C-Band to the
> sats and the dish we used was not much larger
> (maybe 15' dia) than what I have
> sitting behind the house now for C-Band recv.
> The main difference was that the transmit parabola we used
> at the radio network was solid fiberglass (not mesh).
Uplink reflectors must have a fairly narrow beam.  Perhaps
some 15' dishes can meet the requirements?  I think most
C-band uplinks are done with dishes in the 25' or larger
range.
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