Estimates of Path Loss and Radiated Power for UHF Mobile-Satellite Systems

Abstract

This paper examines the satellite power requirements for land‐mobile satellite systems, taking into account both shadow and multipath fading. Depending upon reliability objectives, present‐day satellite capabilities will permit from 20 to 200 “(Advanced Mobile Phone Service) AMPS‐like” circuits. Since satellite systems cost hundreds of millions of dollars, mobile‐satellite telephony in a conventional sense would be expensive. Techniques are examined that in the far‐term may permit a factor of 10 increase in capacity while still using moderate‐size satellites.