Multi-Hop, Time-Varying Communications Link Analysis

Use Satellite Communications Toolbox to create a satellite scenario that models a multi-hop link with two satellites and two ground stations. Specify the satellite orbits using standard orbital elements such as semimajor axis, eccentricity, and inclination.

Model transmitters, receivers, and steerable gimbals for the satellites and ground stations. Populate the transmitters and receivers with gaussian antennas, whose patterns approximate those of parabolic reflectors. Visualize the placement of gimbals, transmitters, and receivers. Specify the pointing of each transmit and receive antenna to maximize the received power at each node in the link. Specify the output power of each transmitter and the minimum received Eb/No of each receiver.

Assume that each intermediate node in the link demodulates and remodulates its data. Use a free space path loss model to calculate the received Eb/No at each node in the link. Propagate the orbits for a day and calculate when the multi-hop link closes.

Show the link closures graphically with a three-dimensional view of the earth. Also show them textually, in a table that lists the beginning and end times of each link closure throughout the day. Use the satellite scenario viewer to play the scenario animation at any desired speed, rewind the animation, pause it, and jump to any point in the timeline.