FODA/IBEA-TDMA: satellite access scheme for MIXED traffic at variable bit and coding rates. System description

This report describes the FODA system working at variable coding and bit rates (FODA/IBEA-TDMA) FODA/IBEA is the natural evolution of the FODA-TDMA satellite access scheme working at 2 Mbit/s fixed rate with data 1/2 coded or uncoded. FODA-TDMA was used in the European SATINE-II experiment [8]. We remind here that the term FODA/IBEA system is comprehensive of the FODA/IBEA-TDMA (1) satellite access scheme and of the hardware prototype realised by the Marconi R.C. (U.K.). Both of them come from the experience of the fixed rate phase, but they have been completely re-designed to work at variable coding and bit rates to cope with the fade of the signal due to bad atmospheric conditions when the system is working at frequencies above 10 GHz. In addition, up-link power control can also be operated from stations having sufficient power margin, to improve the possibility of the system to cope with fading. The system will be used on the Olympus satellite both in the Ku (12/14 GHz) and in the Ka (20/30 GHz) band.