High Power Output Multiplexer for First U.S. DBS Application

A high-power output multiplexing network suitable for direct broadcast satellite (DBS) applications was designed, manufactured, and tested to full space qualification requirements. Extensive tradeoff studies of the multiplexer electrical characteristics and thermal/mechanical performance were conducted to achieve the design objectives of minimum insertion loss, low weight and volume, and thermal control. Based on these tradeoffs, an optimal 3-channel output multiplexer with a total input power of 1 kW was designed, built, and tested for all of the required environmental conditions. This paper presents the basic design, product development, and electrical/environmental testing methods that are needed to optimize and verify high-power output multiplexer performance. The results represent the state of the art in high-power multiplexer design, and will likely form the basis for the design of future multiplexing networks for DBS applications.