Equalization and Predistortion for Mitigation of VSAT Channel Impairments

In recent years, the satellite communications industry has seen various improvements in VSAT system efficiency and coding schemes through a number of Digital Video Broadcasting Standard extensions. However, the benefits of these improvements and extensions are not yet completely clear where linear and nonlinear impairments impact end-to-end link performance. These impairments must be taken into careful consideration since they limit the achievable spectral efficiency for a given system architecture and link budget. Hughes has implemented an equalization scheme in the JUPITER™ System to tackle distortions caused by impairments in VSAT channels.