Applying radar data to predict the performance of Ka-band spot beam systems in the presence of rain

The emergence of satellites operating in the 20-30 GHz region of the spectrum (Ka-band) presents new challenges in the design and operation of fixed satellite service systems. The primary challenge is the increased signal attenuation due to environmental conditions (e.g., rain) compared to lower frequencies typically used by existing systems. Most of these Ka-band systems will use spot beams to serve subscribers in a limited geographical region. Because of these two reasons, it is important to understand the impact of rain over a regional geographic area. This paper outlines a method for using widely available radar data to predict fading effects over regional areas. By converting radar data to fade estimates, the performance of the system across the entire spot beam can be assessed. This information can be used to assess the performance of candidate system designs including fading mitigation techniques.