ETSI TR 103 233 V1.1.1 (2016-04)

Satellite Earth Stations and Systems (SES); Technical Report on antenna performance characterization for GSO mobile applications

DTR/SES-00361

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 28-Apr-2016
• Technical Committee: SES MAR ESV - Maritime & Railways Satellite Earth Stations on Board Vessels & Trains
• Current Stage: 12 - Completion
• Due Date: 06-May-2016
• Completion Date: 29-Apr-2016

Standards Content (Sample)

ETSI TR 103 233 V1.1.1 (2016-04)






TECHNICAL REPORT
Satellite Earth Stations and Systems (SES);
Technical Report on antenna performance
characterization for GSO mobile applications

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2 ETSI TR 103 233 V1.1.1 (2016-04)



Reference
DTR/SES-00361
Keywords
antenna, GSO, mobile, performance, satellite
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3 ETSI TR 103 233 V1.1.1 (2016-04)
Contents
Intellectual Property Rights . 4
Foreword . 4
Modal verbs terminology . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 References . 6
2.1 Normative references . 6
2.2 Informative references . 6
3 Abbreviations . 7
4 General concepts . 8
5 Antenna Technologies for Mobile Platforms . 9
5.1 Mechanically Steered, Fixed Aperture . 9
5.1.1 Define the antenna . 9
5.1.2 Define the motivation of the special shape/characteristic . 10
5.1.3 Describe the specific non conformant issues . 10
5.2 Hybrid Steering, Variable Aperture. 16
5.2.1 Define the antenna . 16
5.2.2 Define the motivation of the special shape/characteristic . 17
5.2.3 Describe the specific non conformant issue . 18
5.3 Electrically Steered, Variable Aperture . 22
5.3.1 Define the antenna . 22
5.3.2 Define the motivation of the special shape/characteristic . 23
5.3.3 Describe the specific non conformant issues . 23
5.4 Conclusion . 30
6 Analysis Methods & Procedures . 30
6.1 Definition of the "non-conformance-areas" (NCA) method . 30
6.1.1 The NCA method for "free space" radiating pattern . 30
6.1.2 The NCA method for "in-situ" measurement . 34
6.1.2.1 Motion of the platform . 34
6.1.2.2 Installation of the antenna on the platform . 35
6.2 Implementing the NCA method . 36
6.2.1 The NCA method for MS-FA antenna . 36
6.2.2 The NCA method for HS-VA antenna . 37
6.2.3 The NCA method for ES-VA antenna . 39
6.2.4 Conclusion about the NCA method . 41
7 Sharing with Other Systems . 41
7.1 Current Regulatory Environment . 41
7.2 Pragmatic Sharing Approach . 43
7.2.1 General . 43
7.2.2 Terrestrial Systems . 45
7.2.3 Adjacent GSO Networks . 47
7.2.4 NGSO Systems . 49
7.2.4.1 MEO case . 49
7.2.4.2 LEO case . 54
8 Conclusions . 57
Annex A: Bibliography . 58
History . 59


ETSI

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4 ETSI TR 103 233 V1.1.1 (2016-04)
Intellectual Property Rights
IPRs essential or potentially essential to the present document may have been declared to ETSI. The information
pertaining to these essential IPRs, if any, is publicly available for ETSI members and non-members, and can be found
in ETSI SR 000 314: "Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs); Essential, or potentially Essential, IPRs notified to ETSI in
respect of ETSI standards", which is available from the ETSI Secretariat. Latest updates are available on the ETSI Web
server (https://ipr.etsi.org/).
Pursuant to the ETSI IPR Policy, no investigation, including IPR searches, has been carried out by ETSI. No guarantee
can be given as to the existence of other IPRs not referenced in ETSI SR 000 314 (or the updates on the ETSI Web
server) which are, or may be, or may become, essential to the present document.
Foreword
This Technical Report (TR) has been produced by ETSI Technical Committee Satellite Earth Stations and Systems
(SES).
Modal verbs terminology
In the present document "shall", "shall not", "should", "should not", "may", "need not", "will", "will not", "can" and
"cannot" are to be interpreted as described in clause 3.2 of the ETSI Drafting Rules (Verbal forms for the expression of
provisions).
"must" and "must not" are NOT allowed in ETSI deliverables except when used in direct citation.

ETSI

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5 ETSI TR 103 233 V1.1.1 (2016-04)
1 Scope
The present document provides a characterization of antenna performances for earth stations on mobile platforms. It
identifies the technologies and antenna types used in such systems, which may not have the same performance
characteristics considered when developing the existing ETSI standards for VSATs.
Antennas used on mobile platforms are typically smaller and have radiation patterns that may have variable symmetry
and/or variable geographic skew angles toward the satellite. These types of antennas are typically used in low profile
antennas or other special applications. Their radiating patterns may show non-conformances with regard to the ETSI
off-axis EIRP density mask.
The present document proposes a method to cope with this non-conformances issue, called the "non-conformance-area"
(NCA) method. The method relies on a geometrical mathematical object, called a NCA, defined as follows:
• A "non-conformance-area" (NCA) is an area of preferably simple geometric shape defined on the antenna
radiating pattern that identifies the set of directions where the ETSI mask is exceeded, associated with an
indicative level of severity in the perspective of a further interference analysis.
As far as 3D geometry in space is concerned, the NCA method is an extension of the ETSI TR 102 375 [i.6] report that
"provides guidelines for determining the parts of the satellite earth station antenna radiation patterns concerned by the
geostationary satellite orbit protection".
The rationale underlying the NCA method is:
1) As long as there is no victim system in the directions of a NCA, there is no possible harmful interference
occurrence for that directions.
2) When a victim system happens to be in the directions of a NCA, a possible interference event occurs in the
scope of a non-conformance to the ETSI mask. This event is called a "hit".
3) A coarse level of severity is associated by analysis to each "hit".
4) Statistics are performed about the occurences of "hits" during operations, providing with a comprehensive
assessment of the hit occurences issue.
The NCA method may support a rationale as suggested by FCC 47 CFR 25.138 (b) [i.1] as stated hereafter:
• "(b) Each applicant for earth station license(s) that proposes levels in excess of those defined in paragraph (a)
of this section shall submit link budget analyses of the operations proposed along with a detailed written
explanation of how each uplink and each transmitted satellite carrier density figure is derived. Applicants
shall also submit a narrative summary which must indicate whether there are margin shortfalls in any of the
current baseline services as a result of the addition of the applicant's higher power service, and if so, how the
applicant intends to resolve those margin short falls. Applicants shall certify that all potentially affected
parties (i.e. those GSO FSS satellite networks that are 2, 4, and 6° apart) acknowledge and do not object to the
use of the applicant's higher power densities."
The NCA method may also support a rationale as suggested by FCC 47 CFR 25.227 (b)(2) [i.2].
ETSI

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6 ETSI TR 103 233 V1.1.1 (2016-04)
2 References
2.1 Normative references
References are either specific (identified by date of publication and/or edition number or version number) or
non-specific. For specific references, only the cited version applies. For non-specific references, the latest version of the
referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
Referenced documents which are not found to be publicly available in the expected location might be found at
https://docbox.etsi.org/Reference/.
NOTE: While any hyperlinks included in this clause were valid at the time of publication, ETSI cannot guarantee
their long term validity.
The following referenced documents are necessary for the application of the present document.
Not applicable.
2.2 Informative references
References are either specific (identified by date of publication and/or edition number or version number) or
non-specific. For specific references, only the cited version applies. For non-specific references, the latest version of the
referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
NOTE: While any hyperlinks included in this clause were valid at the time of publication, ETSI cannot guarantee
their long term validity.
The following referenced documents are not necessary for the application of the present document but they assist the
user with regard to a particular subject area.
Ka band
[i.1] FCC 47 CFR 25.138: "Blanket Licensing provision of GSO FSS Earth Station in the
19.3-18.8 GHz (space-to-Earth), 19.7-20.2 GHz (space-to-Earth), 28.35-28.6 (Earth-to-Space)
28.35-28.6 GHz (Earth-to-Space), and 29.25-30.0 GHz (Earth-to-Space) bands".
Ku band
[i.2] FCC ESAAS 47 CFR 25.227: "Blanket licensing provisions for Earth Stations Aboard Aircraft
(ESAAs) receiving in the 10.95-11.2 GHz (space-to-Earth), 11.45-11.7 GHz (space-to-Earth), and
11.7-12.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) frequency bands and transmitting in the 14.0-14.5 GHz
(Earth-to-space) frequency band, operating with Geostationary Satellites in the Fixed-Satellite
Service".
ITU
[i.3] Recommendation ITU-R S.524-9: "Maximum persissible levels of off-axis e.i.r.p density from
earth station in geostationary-satellite orbit networks operating in the fixed-satellite service
transmitting in the 6 Hz, 13 GHz, 14 GHz, and 30 GHz frequency bands".
[i.4] ITU Radio Regulations.
NOTE: Available at https://www.itu.int/pub/R-REG-RR.
ARINC
[i.5] ARINC 791 Mark 1 Aviation Ku-band and Ka-band satellite communication system Part 1 and
Part 2.
ETSI
[i.6] ETSI TR 102 375: "Satellite Earth Stations and Systems (SES); Guidelines for determining the
parts of satellite earth station antenna radiation patterns concerned by the geostationary satellite
orbit protection".
ETSI

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7 ETSI TR 103 233 V1.1.1 (2016-04)
[i.7] ETSI EN 302 186: "Satellite Earth Stations and Systems (SES); Harmonised Standard for satellite
mobile Aircraft Earth Stations (AESs) operating in the 11/12/14 GHz frequency bands covering
the essential requirements of article 3.2 of the Directive 2014/53/EU".
[i.8] ETSI EN 303 978: "Satellite Earth Stations and Systems (SES); Harmonised Standard for Earth
Stations on Mobile Platforms (ESOMP) transmitting towards satellites in geostationary orbit,
operating in the 27,5 GHz to 30,0 GHz frequency bands covering the essential requirements of
article 3.2 of the Directive 2014/53/EU".
ECC Report
[i.9] ECC Report 184: "The Use of Earth Stations on Mobile Platforms Operating with GSO Satellite
Networks in the Frequency Ranges 17.3-20.2 GHz and 27.5-30.0 GHz".
NOTE: Available at http://www.erodocdb.dk/docs/doc98/official/pdf/ECCRep184.pdf.
3 Abbreviations
For the purposes of the present document, the following abbreviations apply:
1D 1 Direction (phased array) or 1 Dimension (graph)
2D 2 Directions (phased array) or 2 Dimensions (graph)
3D 3 Dimensions (graph)
AES Aircraft Earth Station
ARINC Aeronautical Radio INCorporated.
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
ECC Electronic Communications Committee
EIPR Effective Isotropic Radiated Power
EIRP Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power
EN European Standard
ESAAS Earth Stations Aboard Aircraft
Escan Electric scan
ESOMP Earth Stations on Mobile Platforms
ESV Earth Stations on Vessels
ES-VA Electric Steered Variable Aperture
ETSI European Telecommunications Standards Institut
FCC Federal Communications Commissions
FSS Fixed-Satellite Service
GSO Geostationnary Satellite Orbit
HS-VA Hybrid Steered Variable Aperture
IMU Inertial Measurment Unit
IPR Intellectual Property Right
ITU International Telecommuncation Union
ITU-R International Telecommunications Union - Radiocommunications sector
LEO Low Earth Orbit
LMES Land Mobile satellite Earth Stations
LOS Line Of Sight
MEO Medium-Earth Orbit
MS-FA Mechanically Steered Fixed Aperture
MS-VA Mechanically Steered Variable Aperture
NCA Non Conformance Area (method)
NGSO Non-Geostationnary Satellite Orbit
PFD Power Flux Density
RMS Root Mean Square
VMES Vehicle-Mounted Earth Stations
ETSI

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8 ETSI TR 103 233 V1.1.1 (2016-04)
4 General concepts
Fore the purpose of the present document, the satcom antenna technologies for Mobile Platforms are partitioned as
follows:
1) The radiating panel generates a fixed beam, typically in the boresigth direction of its radiating surface. It is
mechanically aimed toward the satellite. For the purpose of the present document, this antenna type is called
MS-FA for Mechanically Steered - Fixed Aperture.
2) The radiating panel has an electric beam steering capacity either 1D or 2D (for 1 and 2 Directions) from its
boresight. In case of a partial electric beam steering (a complementary mechanical beam steering is
implemented), the antenna type is called HS-VA for Hybrid Steered - Variable Aperture.
3) The radiating panel has an electric beam steering capacity either 1D or 2D (for 1 and 2 Directions). In case of
full electric beam steering (no complementary mechanical beam steering is required), the antenna is called
ES-VA for Electric Steered -Variable Aperture.
For ease of understanding, each antenna type is matched to a particular antenna technology:
1) Mechanically Steered Fixed Aperture (MS-FA): a rectangular radiating panel mounted on a mechanical
Elevation over Azimuth positioner. The antenna is housed under a "low profile" radome mounted flat on the
platform body (for instance the fuselage of an aircraft).
2) Hybrid Steered Variable Aperture (HS-VA): a MS-FA antenna where the antenna radiating panel performs an
electric cross-elevation axis. The overall physical shape is kept unchanged with regard to MS-FA type. The
antenna is housed the under a "low profile" radome the same way.
3) Electric Steered Variable Aperture: a thin radiating panel mounted flat on the platform's body (for instance the
aircraft fuselage), and performing a 2D electric beam-steering from its boresight. It is sometimes referred to as
a conformal antenna.
The rationale linking the antenna types to the antenna technologies is:
1) Only asymmetrical (e.g. "low profile") antennas are considered in the scope of this study. Hence, the
cross-elevation axis, if any, is bound to be electric. A mechanical cross-elevation axis rotation has its range
limited by the radiating panel bumping into the radome and into its floor.
2) If the elevation axis is mechanical, the antenna type is either MS-FA or HS-VA depending on the existence of
one cross-elevation axis or not.
3) If the elevation axis is electric, the antenna type is either MS-FA (if the radiating panel surface is typically
inclined from the platform horizontal around 45°) or ES-VA (if the radiating panel is mounted flat/horizontal
on the platform body).
Several other technologies such as multipanel antennas, 3 axis mechanical antennas, etc., are eligible that can take place
between the classic Elevation over Azimuth (e.g. MS-FA) and the full 2D phased array conformal antenna
(e.g. ES-VA). But the objective of this technical report is not to compare antenna technologies or to discuss about their
feasability. The objective of this technical report is to work out a method (the NCA method) to address
non-conformances with regard to the ETSI off-axis EIRP density mask on a generic basis. The three antenna types
above have been retained to illustrate this method.
One should note that the three antenna types above can also be related to the typical maps shown on Figure 1 (satcom
on-axis EIRP density maps):
1) The MS-FA antenna on-axis EIRP density is restricted by its poor directivity when operated on the equator
(the so called "equator effect" according to the Arinc 791 standard [i.5]). Furthermore, the antenna cannot be
operated at the satellite nadir because of the positioner azimuth gimbal lock (the black spot at the satellite
nadir).
2) The HS-VA antenna on-axis EIRP density is lower at the far East/West to the target GSO satellite nadir
because of the electronic cross-elevation axis scan range being limited.
3) The ES-VA antenna performances decrease when the target GSO satellite elevation is low because of the 2D
phased array limited scan range.
ETSI

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9 ETSI TR 103 233 V1.1.1 (2016-04)
MS-FA HS-VA ES-VA

NOTE: The Earth as viewed by a GSO satellite. The target satellite nadir is at the center . The colored
black/red/white mask provides an indication of the terminal maximum allowable on-axis EIRP density (The
clearer the higher the EIRP density).

Figure 1: EIRP density maps depending on the Earth terminal location
The key point is the EIRP density to be reduced in given situations, down to switching off the transmission, to prevent
harmful interferences to adjacent systems.
The objective of the following chapter is to provide further analysis and clarification about this issue. The analysis will
be threefold for each antenna type:
1) Define the antenna.
2) Describe the motivation for the special shape/characteristics.
3) Describe the specific non conformant issues with regard to spatially symmetric antenna (as the circular
parabolic reflector) related ETSI standards.
5 Antenna Technologies for Mobile Platforms
5.1 Mechanically Steered, Fixed Aperture
5.1.1 Define the antenna
A MS-FA antenna is shown on Figure 2. The radiating panel (yellow) is typically of rectangular shape and is mounted
on an Elevation over Azimuth mechanical gimbal. The antenna beam follows the radiating panel boresight direction.
• The Z rotational axis is the electromechanical Azimuth axis. Its movement is n × 360° with an unlimited
number of turns.
• The Y rotational axis represents the electromechanical Elevation axis. Its movement ranges typically 0° to 90°
from the horizontal.
• The XY plane follows the radiating panel rectangular surface. In the scope of this study, the radiating panel is
smaller in the X direction (Height) than in the Y direction (Width) because the antenna is low profile.
ETSI

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10 ETSI TR 103 233 V1.1.1 (2016-04)
Z
Azimuth
Beam direction
X
Y
Elevation

Figure 2: MS-FA antenna overview
5.1.2 Define the motivation of the special shape/characteristic
The motivation for a MS-FA antenna is its capability to be housed under a low profile radome while being able to target
low elevation satellites. The rectangular shape of the radiating panel maximizes the ratio between the radiating panel
surface and the antenna sweep volume, and thus minimizes the height of the radome.
There are many implementations for the radiating panel : elliptic parabolic, multiparabolic, lenses arrays, waveguides
arrays, patches, horn boxes, etc. The requirements are stringent on the radiating diagram: dual polarization switched or
driven, dual band or wideband, environmental conditions, low cost, etc.
The Elevation over Azimuth gimbal is classic. The key point is the aiming accuracy - down to ±0,2° is required by the
FCC - to be achieved on a mobile platform. The requirements are stringent on motor torques, frictions forces, axis
alignment, axis coders accuracy, IMU, conscan tracking … A well-known weakness is the inability to track a satellite
located in the vicinity of the azimuth axis direction (the so called "azimuth gimbal lock" effect), the gimbal behaving as
a spinning top around its Azimuth axis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimbal lock). The aiming accuracy is impaired
when the antenna is aimed at high elevations satellites.
5.1.3 Describe the specific non conformant issues
A 40 × 10 cm Ka band rectangular radiating panel is considered for the analysis.
The analysis is performed for an average 25 dBW/40 kHz on axis EIRP density at 30 GHz.
Figure 3 provides a simulated radiating pattern (left) and compares it to the ETSI mask (right) (areas in excess in white),
assuming the satcom located on the same longitude as the satellite. Figure 4 provides a 3D view of the radiating pattern.
The horizontal and vertical cuts of the radiating pattern are provided on Figure 5 and Figure 6.
The radiating pattern is cross-shaped. The ETSI mask is strongly exceeded in the up/down direction.
ETSI

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11 ETSI TR 103 233 V1.1.1 (2016-04)
60x60°° 60x60°
10x10° 10x10°
±3°
±2°
±2°
Radiating pattern Excess to the ETSI mask

NOTE: The ±3° limits along the vertical axis indicates the GSO arc assuming the satcom is located on the satellite
meridian, with its azimuth axis vertical. The ±2° limits along the horizontal axis indicates the frontier with
the adjacent GSO satellites. The 3 dB relaxation on the ETSI mask is taken into account where applies.
Assumptions: 40 × 10 cm panel, uniform aperture, 25 dBW/40 kHz on axis EIRP, 30 GHz, no radome.

Figure 3: MS-FA radiating pattern 2D view
25 dBW/40 kHz
-50 dBW/40 kHz

Figure 4: MS-FA radiating pattern 3D view
ETSI

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12 ETSI TR 103 233 V1.1.1 (2016-04)

NOTE: ETSI mask (in red): no relaxation. ±0,2° margin included for the aiming accuracy. Assumptions: 40 ×
10 cm panel, uniform aperture, 25 dBW/40 kHz on axis EIRP density, 30 GHz, no radome.

Figure 5: MS-FA radiating pattern horizontal cut (e.g. following radiating panel broadside)

NOTE: ETSI mask (in red) with no relaxation. ±0,2° margin taken for the aiming accuracy. Assumptions: 40 ×
10 cm panel, uniform aperture, 25 dBW/40 kHz on axis EIRP density, 30 GHz, no radome.

Figure 6: MS-FA radiating pattern vertical cut (following radiating panel narrow side)
Figure 7 and Figure 8 provide a theoretical radiating pattern of a 12' (30 cm) dish antenna to compare with. The dish
antenna looks cleaner than its rectangular counterpart, reflecting the ETSI mask favouring round shaped symmetric
antennas. But neither antenna rectangular or circular is permitted to operate at a 25 dBW/40 kHz EIRP density
according to the ETSI rules. Moreover the Figure 5 shows that the rectangular aperture complies better to the ETSI
mask as far as the GSO arc is considered.
ETSI

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13 ETSI TR 103 233 V1.1.1 (2016-04)
60x60°
60x60°
10x10° 10x10°
±3°
±2°
±2°
Radiating pattern Excess to the ETSI mask

Figure 7: Radiating patter
...