The NoiseCom Satellite Channel Simulator is a real-time instrument that emulates signal impairments encountered in satellite communication links. It replicates fading, time delay, and noise to enable engineers to test and optimize satellite systems under realistic operating conditions. The simulator delivers physics-compliant, phase-continuous Doppler shift, range delay and attenuation simulation, and precise AWGN injection across multiple frequency bands.
Technical Specifications
Frequency Coverage
• 100 Hz to 1.0 GHz (NC6109 model)
• 1.5 GHz option available (NC6110 model)
• UHF, L, S, C, X, and Ku band support via upconverters and downconverters
Channel Bandwidth
• Up to 250 MHz supported
Signal-to-Noise Ratio Control
• Programmable AWGN with control range up to 40 dB
• Precision E_b/N_0 generation with accurate ratio maintenance between user-supplied carrier and internally generated noise
Time Delay Simulation
• Delay profile time increments: 1 ms minimum
• Delay control range: 0.1 ms minimum
• Delay increment: 0.1 ns nominal
• Delay change rate: ±100 µs/s maximum
Doppler Shift
• Dynamic, phase-continuous, physics-compliant signal and carrier Doppler shift supporting realistic LEO and dynamic channel modeling
Signal Generation
• Up to eight independent signals with adjustable frequency offset, modulation type, data rate, PRN code, trigger delay, amplitude, and filtering
• Configurable for nominal test signals, worst-case receiver testing, diversity combiner evaluation, and jammer rejection assessment
– Key Features
• Rayleigh and Ricean fading simulation
• Troposphere effects, refraction, fog, rain, and cloud attenuation modeling
• Finite ray multi-path and body shielding emulation
• IMUX and OMUX filter response mimicry via digital filters
• Receive signal level, noise power, and SNR precision control
• Multiple test and interference signal generation
– Typical Applications
• Satellite transceiver and modem validation under realistic channel conditions
• Link budget and performance analysis across diverse propagation scenarios
• Receiver robustness testing in fading and multipath environments
• Interference rejection and diversity combiner performance evaluation
• LEO satellite pass simulation and Doppler compensation verification
– Compatibility & Integration
The simulator operates with user-supplied test signals and carrier inputs, accepting external signal sources for comprehensive end-to-end system evaluation.
