Communication receivers for satellites - A review

This paper reports the development of all solid-state low-noise wideband receivers for use in communication and direct-broadcast satellites operating in the 5.9- to 6.4-GHz, 14.0- to 14.5-GHz, and 17.3- to 17.8-GHz uplink frequency bands. The receivers provide low-noise and spurious free down conversion of the uplink frequency bands to the downlink frequency bands of 3.7 to 4.2 GHz, 11.7 to 12.2 GHz, and 12.2 to 12.7 GHz, respectively, with excellent frequency stability. The receivers incorporate state-of-the-art GaAs FET devices and microwave integrated-circuit technologies. Details of the design and measured performance of receivers are given.