EMC and RFI problems and solutions on the SUNSAT micro-satellite

Author

Milne, Garth W. ; Jansen, E. ; Roux, Jacques J. ; Koekemoer, Jan-Albert ; Kotzé, Pieter P A

Author_Institution

Stellenbosch Univ., South Africa

fYear

1998

fDate

7-8 Sep 1998

Firstpage

293

Lastpage

298

Abstract

The 63 kg SUNSAT micro-satellite includes VHF (144-146 MHz) narrowband FM (NBFM) radio receivers for amateur radio service. Significant radio frequency interference (RFI) from data buses was a problem, but was successfully screened from antennas using aluminium plates. The harmonics and noise of from the 650 kHz switching regulators drifted through receiver channels causing unpredictable sensitivity losses of up to 20 dB. Without shielding, the regulators generated signals at VHF of -85 dBm in a quarter wave antenna at 0.5 m range. This is 34 dB above the noise floor of a 2 dB NF 18 kHz BW VHF receiver. Test results, solution methods, measurement techniques, and lessons learned are reported in this paper

Keywords

artificial satellites; electromagnetic compatibility; electromagnetic shielding; frequency modulation; radio receivers; radiofrequency interference; satellite antennas; satellite communication; system buses; 144 to 146 MHz; 18 kHz; 63 kg; 650 kHz; EMC problems; RFI problems; SUNSAT micro-satellite; VHF narrowband FM radio receivers; amateur radio service; data buses; measurement techniques; noise floor; quarter wave antenna; radio frequency interference; receiver channels; sensitivity losses; switching regulators; Aluminum; Data buses; Electromagnetic compatibility; Ham radios; Narrowband; Noise measurement; Radiofrequency interference; Receivers; Regulators; Signal generators;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Communications and Signal Processing, 1998. COMSIG '98. Proceedings of the 1998 South African Symposium on

Conference_Location

Rondebosch

Print_ISBN

0-7803-5054-5

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/COMSIG.1998.736967

Filename

736967