Availability and bit error performance of dual-polarised digital PSK-satellite systems in Ka-band

The availability of dual-polarised satellite systems in the Ka-band with different PSK-modulated signals is estimated by making use of cumulative distributions of the bit error rate. These distributions are evaluated by using an approach which combines statistical data from three years of propagation measurements with the OLYMPUS satellite at 20 and 30 GHz, and an appropriate co-channel interference model. In contrast to analogue FM systems, system simulations with QPSK, DQPSK and 8-PSK indicate no significant impact of depolarisation on the bit error performance and system availability