Predicting method for the noise immunity of P-band satellite communications based on the GPS-monitoring results

Abstract

A method for prediction of the noise immunity of a P-band satellite communication system under conditions of small-scale ionospheric disturbances is developed based on the results of GPS-monitoring of small-scale fluctuations in the total electronic content of the ionosphere at arbitrary elevation angles of satellite communication and navigation routes. The novelty of the proposed method and the hardware and software system for its implementation is that the prediction of changes in the noise immunity of the P-band satellite communication system is carried out for a satellite radio link with an arbitrary angle of inclination relative to the GPS radio line for monitoring of small-scale fluctuations in the total electronic content of the ionosphere and in a time mode close to real time. As a result, it was found that when small-scale ionospheric disturbances are formed within 4 min, accompanied by an increase in the scintillation index of the signal in the P-band satellite communication system (406 MHz) to an average level of 0.55, the probability of erroneous reception of signals will be 3 times higher than the permissible value (10-3). Moreover, within 20 s, when the scintillation index is reached 0.85, the probability of erroneous reception of signals may exceed the permissible value by 30 times.