SATCOM TRAINING COURSES

Optimal Satcom offers intensive training in the areas of satellite transmission planning, advanced link-budget analysis, and satellite-based network/VSAT network design.

Our introductory (300-level) courses are intended for people starting out in the SATCOM industry, but require a technical background. Our intermediate (400-level) and advanced (500-level) courses are intended for practicing SATCOM engineers, planners, and managers with experience in link-budget analysis and design. Course materials are updated frequently to keep up with new technologies, industry practices, and changes in international regulations.

All courses make extensive use of computer and audiovisual techniques, and combine technical lectures which establish the concepts, and rigorous hands-on exercises based on real-world problems, which demostrate, apply, and reinforce them.

We are also able to customize the courses to suit your specific training needs. If you are a satellite operator or are in a SATCOM related industry, and want to train your employees with specific satellite systems, types of communications, and / or your company's operating procedures and business models, we will be happy to work with you to structure the course(s) to suit your requirements.

If you have a group of five or more people who wish to take the same course, please ask us about our group training options at your site.

For 2006, we have set up a limited number of courses at our site.

Please contact us to discuss your SATCOM training needs.

SC-301. Introduction to Satellite Communications (3 Days)

This course is intended for technical professionals and technical managers who are new to the SATCOM industry, and who want to have a clear understanding of basic satellite communications. It is an ideal first course in satellite communications for people with a technical background.

After you take this course, you will have a clear understanding of basic satellite communications - a history of communication via satellite; satellite flight dynamics and satellite orbits; the working of a typical satellite link; common types of satellites; transmit and receive terminals; different types of signals commonly used for satellite communications; and how the major satellite systems work - point-to-point links, satellite-based broadcasts, satellite TV, satellite radio, and pagers. You will become familiar with commonly used terminology and understand the basics of link budget analysis.

SC-401. Introduction to SATCOM Engineering and Link Budget Analysis (3 Days)

This course is intended for technical professionals who are familiar with the basics of satellite comminications, and are involved in the analysis and design of satellite communications links. It is an ideal course for SATCOM engineers who are starting to work with link budgets, and want to build a firm SATCOM engineering foundation to help them design well-engineered satellite links.

After you take this course, you will have a clear understanding of the process of link budget analysis and link design. You will be able to understand and analyze link budgets in any format, and even design a link budget spreadsheet program to meet your specific needs. You will understand the key parameters which influence various design decisions, learn how to engineer a link that will deliver the required quality of service without being overly conservative, and be able to recognize and avoid common link budgeting errors.

SC-501. Advanced Satellite Communications (5 Days)

This course is intended for engineers and technical professionals working in the SATCOM industry who are familiar with satellite communications, and basic link-budget analysis, but want to enhance their depth and breadth of knowledge of satellite communications. It is an ideal course for experienced SATCOM engineers and managers who are often faced with more complex SATCOM engineering problems, and challenging link design problems.

After you take this course, you will have a deeper understanding of satellite communications. You will become familiar with the satellite communications payload architectures, and the layout of transmit and receive earth stations. You will understand the sources of the the major link impairments - uplink and downlink thermal noise, various types of interference, and intermodulation - and the parameters that influence them. You will learn about the various propagation effects (rain, scintillation, gaseous absorption, etc.) which need to be considered in link design. You will become familiar with the various types of rain models, and their strengths and weaknesses. You will learn about the complexities involved in modeling the non-linear amplifier, and operating in the non-linear region - which is required to make optimal use of satellite capacity. You will understand the considerations involved in digital link design, and learn about various types of modems. You will also become familiar with certain international regulations which govern satellite communications, and regulate transmissions.

SC-502. Satellite Transmission Planning For Capacity Users (5 Days)

This course is intended for experienced engineers and technical professionals working in the SATCOM industry, as well as network planners and managers who are involved in the design of satellite-based networks. It is an ideal course for planners and managers who manage sizeable transponder capacity, e.g., one or more full transponders.

After you take this course, you will learn a systematic approach to designing satellite-based communications networks. You will understand how to design a complex satellite-based network with several or several-hundred links. You will understand how to systematically go from an initial design towards an optimal design through a process of recognizing, analyzing, and correcting problems. You will understand how to recognize the dominant impairments which may be wasting transponder power, and approaches for correcting them. Just as importantly, you will learn to consider and reject approaches which are unlikely to make a significant improvement, or which may require too many operational changes. You will learn how to diffferentiate between a true power-limited situation, and a poor design. You will learn about the classic tradeoffs - bandwidth vs. power; uplink vs. downlink; satellite vs. ground - that need to be made in designing a satellite network.

SC-503. Satellite Transmission Planning For Satellite Operators (5 Days)

This course is intended for experienced engineers and technical professionals working in the SATCOM industry, as well as network planners and managers who are involved in the management of satellite transponder capacity. It is an ideal course for satellite operators who manage multiple transponder capacity - a partial or whole satellite, or even an entire satellite fleet - and need to simultaneously design, manage, and coordinate between several independent satellite networks.

After you take this course, you will learn a systematic approach to designing and managing complex satellite-based networks. You will learn how to quickly analyze large networks, and identify potential problems and capacity bottle-necks. You will understand how to recognize the dominant impairments which may be wasting transponder power, and approaches for correcting them. Just as importantly, you will learn to consider and reject approaches which are unlikely to make a significant improvement, or which may require too many operational changes.  You will learn to operate under operational constraints and ensure adherence to international regulations. You will learn to plan for cross-transponder interference which need to be considered when managing cochannel transponders, and adjacent-satellite interference to mitigate inter-system interference. You will learn about the classic tradeoffs - bandwidth vs. power; uplink vs. downlink; satellite vs. ground - that need to be made in designing a satellite network.

SC-504. Introduction to ITU Frequency Coordination (5 Days)

This course is intended for engineers and technical professionals working in the SATCOM industry, as well as network planners and managers who are involved in the design of satellite-based networks and want to become familiar with the regulations and processes involved in inter-system coordination, which is required to ensure that transmissions of one system do not have a significant adverse affect on other systems that may be using the same frequency spectrum.

After you take this course, you will understand the issues involved in coordination between two systems - either two satellite systems, or between a satellite system and a terrestrial system - with regard to inter-system interference. You will become familiar with the ITU regulations and recommendations which are applicable to inter-system interference, and the procedures and guidelines for coordination. You will learn how to compute interference between adjacent satellite systems, and determine compliance with ITU regulations. You will also learn about the datatases, resources, and software that the ITU provides for purposes of facilitating coordination.

Please contact us to discuss your SATCOM training needs.