American Antenna

You have probably heard of satellite television and satellite radio, but are you familiar with satellite earth stations? These Earth-based terminal stations are used to communicate with communications (or some other types of) satellites and provide telecommunications services to users. There are also other types of earth stations that communicate with space stations or space probes.One of the most common types of satellite earth stations is a telecommunications porta hub of antennas connecting a satellite network with a telecommunications network. This allows customers to use the satellite features they know and love, such as satellite internet. Some telecommunications ports, or teleports, also provide broadcasting services. These functions might include uploading programs to a computer or issuing commands via uplink to a satellite.Communications satellites may be in geostationary or low-Earth orbit. “Geostationary orbit is a geosynchronous orbit directly above the Earth’s equator (0 latitude), with a period equal to the Earth’s rotational period and an orbital eccentricity of approximately zero,” as we learn from Wikipedia. To the observer on Earth, a satellite in geosynchronous orbit appears to be at a fixed position in the sky, since it changes position as the Earth rotates. In contrast, low Earth orbit is one where the locus of the orbit extends from the surface of the Earth up to an altitude of 2,000 kilometers. These satellites revolve around the Earth approximately once every 90 minutes, and require less energy to put into orbit.The International Telecommunication Union, specifically the ITU Radiocommunication Sector, has issued international standards for earth stations, but each major satellite operator also has its own rules and regulations that stations must meet before they can link with the satellite. Intelsat’s Earth Station Standards (IESS) classify stations according to their parabolic antennas, while some models come preapproved. Eutelsat, a French-based satellite provider covering Europe, the Middle East, India, Africa, and parts of Asia and North and South America, publishes the Eutelsat Earth Station Standards (EESS).For those who rely daily on satellite communications, earth stations are what make it all possible.