Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer Using 1 MChip/S codes

Published

November 16, 2009

Author(s)

Victor S. Zhang, Thomas E. Parker, Demetrios Matsakis, Joseph Achkar, Daniele Rovera, Dirk Piester, Andreas Bauch, Luca Lorini

Abstract

The Ku-band transatlantic and Europe to Europe two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT) operations used the 2.5 MChip/s pseudo-random codes with 3.5 MHz bandwidth until the end of July, 2009. The cost of TWSTFT operation is associated with the bandwidth used on a geostationary satellite. The transatlantic and the Europe to Europe TWSTFT operations faced a steep cost increase for using the 3.5 MHz bandwidth on a new satellite. The use of the 1 MChip/s pseudo-random codes with 2.5 MHz bandwidth was one of the alternatives for continuing the TWSTFT operations without the cost increase. Two timing laboratories in the US and eight timing laboratories in Europe participated in an experiment from February to July of 2009 to study the 1 MChip/s TWSTFT performance. Based on the study results, the transatlantic and the Europe to Europe TWSTFT operations have switched to a new satellite using the 1 MChip/s codes with 2.5 MHz bandwidth since August 1, 2009. In this paper, we report the performance of 1 MChip/s TWSTFT for the transatlantic and the Europe to Europe links.

Proceedings Title

Proc. 2009 PTTI Mtg.

Conference Dates

November 16-19, 2009

Conference Location

Santa Ana Pueblo, NM

Pub Type

Conferences

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Keywords

two-way satellite time and frequency transfer

Citation

Zhang, V. , Parker, T. , Matsakis, D. , Achkar, J. , Rovera, D. , Piester, D. , Bauch, A. and Lorini, L. (2009), Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer Using 1 MChip/S codes, Proc. 2009 PTTI Mtg., Santa Ana Pueblo, NM, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=904297 (Accessed October 11, 2025)