Technical feasibility of satellite-aided land mobile radio

Application Technology Satellites (ATS) were used in satellite-aided land mobile radio experiments. The experiments confirmed the technical feasibility of voice bandwidth communications and vehicle position surveillance. It was found that satellites offer wider area coverage and less signal fading than terrestrially based mobile radio installations. The present investigation is concerned with three experiments which demonstrate the reliability and quality of voice communications, the feasibility and performance of position surveillance, and the likelihood that a high capacity, low data rate digital system could be implemented with current spacecraft technology. It is pointed out that satellites and terrestrial mobile communications appear to complement each other. Terrestrial installations may have advantages in densely populated areas, while satellites are better suited for thinly populated areas.