Tactical satellite communications (TACSATCOM) terminal single versus multicarrier operation investigation

This paper highlights the differences in network connectivity, terminal equipment, and communications performance for both single carrier and multicarrier operation of TACSATCOM terminals. Multicarrier operation reflects a significant departure from the operating profile of existing TACSATCOM terminals used in tactical applications by the US military forces. Traditionally, TACSATCOM terminals have only supported single carrier operation. The term multicarrier applies to the simultaneous transmission by the terminal of two or more user communications carriers. Multicarrier operation uses the single channel per carrier (SCPC) approach, one carrier for each link. Single carrier operation requires the multiplexing of all the baseband data streams into a single modulated carrier. Factors affecting the choice between single and multicarrier operation include: operation flexibility, transponder power efficiency, active intermodulation (IM) effects, passive intermodulation (PIM) effects, terminal operating points, transmit reject filter design, etc