3 ms·
Ah, was actually wondering about the duplex situation as well, thanks for answering a bonus question :) Re: multiple beams I'm thinking about the ability to sp
by jcims 6y ago
Ah, was actually wondering about the duplex situation as well, thanks for answering a bonus question :)
Re: multiple beams I'm thinking about the ability to split the array up into 'subarrays' with independent beamforming capability. Probably doesn't work for reasons above my head but I was just trying to think about the mechanics of the transition between satellites. Having a chameleon mode with one eye pointed at one satellite and another pointed at the next seems like one way to ensure a seamless transfer. But realistically the dish probably knows where to steer next within an approximation of its beamwidth, so it probably just flips like a channel.
Thanks for the answers!
- matmatmatmat 6y agoAh, OK, I understand better. Yes, in theory, a terminal with a phased array antenna can be built to emit more than one beam simultaneously and steer them independently. Doing so is currently still costly in terms of research, electronics, and power, so it's unlikely that the SL terminal can do it. It would also require there to be a second PHY chip somewhere in the terminal, which would also drive up cost. Also, it's not really necessary. Satcom already requires nanosecond-level timing accuracy, so I would think their terminal can probably steer its beams with at most ms lag.