Implementation of Satellite Communication Systems Using Surface Acoustic Waves

Current performance of surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) devices offers several advantages in the construction of digital communication networks. Experimental examples of delay lines, filters, oscillators, etc., used for the modulation, the frequency conversion, and the demodulation of n-phase-shift-keyed (PSK) digital signals are described and present results are reported. These devices, especially designed for satellite communication systems, operate in the range 70 MHz to 1 GHz where the surface wave technology allows reduction in size and weight combined with ruggedness and reliability.