Skip to main content

Satellite Communication - Transponders

The subsystem, which provides the connecting link between transmitting and receiving antennas of a satellite is known as Transponder. It is one of the most important subsystem of space segment subsystems.
Transponder performs the functions of both transmitter and receiver (Responder) in a satellite. Hence, the word ‘Transponder’ is obtained by the combining few letters of two words, Transmitter (Trans) and Responder (ponder).

Block diagram of Transponder

Transponder performs mainly two functions. Those are amplifying the received input signal and translates the frequency of it. In general, different frequency values are chosen for both uplink and down link in order to avoid the interference between the transmitted and received signals.
The block diagram of transponder is shown in below figure.
We can easily understand the operation of Transponder from the block diagram itself. The function of each block is mentioned below.
  • Duplexer is a two-way microwave gate. It receives uplink signal from the satellite antenna and transmits downlink signal to the satellite antenna.
  • Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) amplifies the weak received signal.
  • Carrier Processor performs the frequency down conversion of received signal (uplink). This block determines the type of transponder.
  • Power Amplifier amplifies the power of frequency down converted signal (down link) to the required level.

Types of Transponders

Basically, there are two types of transponders. Those are Bent pipe transponders and Regenerative transponders.

Bent Pipe Transponders

Bent pipe transponder receives microwave frequency signal. It converts the frequency of input signal to RF frequency and then amplifies it.
Bent pipe transponder is also called as repeater and conventional transponder. It is suitable for both analog and digital signals.

Regenerative Transponders

Regenerative transponder performs the functions of Bent pipe transponder. i.e., frequency translation and amplification. In addition to these two functions, Regenerative transponder also performs the demodulation of RF carrier to baseband, regeneration of signals and modulation.
Regenerative transponder is also called as Processing transponder. It is suitable only for digital signals. The main advantages of Regenerative transponders are improvement in Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and have more flexibility in implementation.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Application Engineer- Prototyping at Siemens India

  Hello, Dear Readers, Siemens India has a vacancy for the Application Engineer role. Siemens EDA is a global technology leader in Electronic Design Automation software. Our software tools enable companies around the world to develop highly innovative electronic products faster and more cost-effectively. Our customers use our tools to push the boundaries of technology and physics to deliver better products in the increasingly complex world of chip, board, and system design. This role is based in Bengaluru. But you’ll also get to visit other locations in India and globe, so you’ll need to go where this job takes you. In return, you’ll get the chance to work with teams impacting entire cities, countries, and the shape of things to come We make real what matters! This is your role: Deploy Siemens EDA ProFPGA prototyping software and hardware solutions at customers and guide the customers to successful design bring-up Work closely with R&D to solve problems, review product spe...

Tutorial on EasyEDA desktop software for PCB and schematic design

In this article, I am going to write a tutorial on how to use EasyEDA desktop application for creating a schematic and for PCB design. One of best advantage of this software is that you can create design offline and can automatically synchronize your design with your online EasyEDA account.  It can be used for circuits simulation, PCB deign and electronics circuits design. You can download EasyEDA desktop application by clicking on following link and it will work on windows 7 or its greater version. They are also releasing soon offline application OSX and Linux users. So keep visiting their website for more information.                                                    https://easyeda.com/page/download So let’s start and see how to design a schematic and PCB using EasyEDA offline desktop application. So first of all lets see how to create a schema...

CMOS OPAMP Design Using LTspice

  Hello Dear Reader, Here in this post, I will give an idea about how CMOS OPAMP designing using 180nm technology node and using LTspice. from that opamp I have design switched capacitor integrator. Design Specifications: Here Design specification may be changed according to the application here my target is to design an active lowpass filter so I have chosen an opamp integrator so in the below I have explained how to design an opamp as well as an integrator in a 180nm technology node in LTspice. So let's start design First, we need a technology parameter file so that the file we can insert in the LTspice, in my example it is 180nm so mostly it is available from the  http://ptm.asu.edu/latest.html  and you make one text file using notepad or whatever is fit on your own. Then go to the LTspice and new schematic and then you see .op on the right most upper side click on it and give your text file path after .include  as shown in the below images.  Now first of all...