Satellite Communications (1984) by Robert M. Gagliardi

This book provides a systems-level, engineering-focused overview of satellite communication principles, emphasizing both theoretical background and real-world application. Designed for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and practicing engineers, the text integrates digital communication theory with practical satellite system design.

Topics include:

• Modulation and demodulation techniques

• Signal propagation through space and the Earth's atmosphere

• Satellite transponder and ground terminal characteristics

• Multiple access techniques (FDMA, TDMA, CDMA)

• Spread-spectrum systems, including frequency-hopping

• Onboard signal processing

• Mobile and VSAT communications

• Inter-satellite links and ranging techniques

Rather than delving deeply into abstract mathematics in the main text, the book delegates such material to appendices, focusing the body on block diagrams, system functions, and key performance trade-offs in satellite link design.

📄 Chapter List – 1984 Edition

1. Satellite Systems
   Overview of satellite communication systems, orbital mechanics, frequency bands, and historical development.

2. Modulation, Encoding, and Decoding
   Basics of analog and digital modulation, error-correcting codes, and signal recovery techniques.

3. The Satellite Channel
   Analysis of signal propagation, noise sources, atmospheric effects, and link budgeting.

4. The Satellite Electronics (Transponder)
   Describes the role of the satellite transponder including amplifiers, converters, and filtering.

5. Frequency-Division Multiple Access (FDMA)
   Methodologies for assigning and sharing bandwidth among users using different carrier frequencies.

6. Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA)
   Principles of time-based user separation, including frame structures and synchronization.

7. Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA)
   Spread-spectrum techniques for simultaneous access using code separation.

8. Phase Coherency In Satellite Systems

9. Optical Satellite Communications

📚 Appendices

• A. Review of Digital Communication Fundamentals

• B. Carrier Recovery and Bit Timing

• C. Satellite Ranging Systems

• D. Correlation Properties of Nonlinear Devices