A new approach to millimeter-wave communications
Abstract
An argument for the use of the millimeter wave band for military earth-satellite communications systems is given. Important advantages accruing from this use are larger bandwidths and narrower antenna beamwidths, which would reduce interference and ameliorate the frequency management problem while also improving covertness and resistance to jamming. However, millimeter waves are particularly susceptible to attenuation by rainfall. A new approach for designing around the rainfall problem is described and its benefits discussed. Outages caused by rainfall can be avoided by a variety of automatic switching schemes, by using techniques for increasing jam resistance, or by switching to a satellite in a different direction. The concept proposes switching only high-precedence traffic and only for the duration of the outage at the ground terminal.
- Publication:
-
Interim Report RAND Corp
- Pub Date:
- April 1977
- Bibcode:
- 1977rand.reptR....F
- Keywords:
-
- Millimeter Waves;
- Telecommunication;
- Attenuation;
- Communication Satellites;
- Frequency Assignment;
- Rain;
- Communications and Radar