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Novella manufactures the UPC3000 uplink power controllers, with an embedded beacon receiver module based in Novella's established compact tracking receiver engine, to adjust transmitted power of an uplink station in accordance with beacon downlink loss at the same location.
These are very simple units with up to ten separate IF / gain amplifiers whose gains are adjusted by the DC output voltage provided by the beacon receiver as a measure of beacon level.
This is a very simple way of increasing the transmitted power to compensate for uplink fade which is assumed to be approximately the same as the downlink fade. Maximum depth of fade correction may be selected from 2 to 10dB, and it prevents saturation of the HPA.
Brief description
The UPC3000 contains 1 to 10 (defined at the time of order) variable gain amplifiers, to be inserted in the uplink signal path. They compensate the uplink power for changes in atmospheric path losses. The path loss is measured by the internal beacon receiver (engine is the same as in the B30 series of compact tracking receivers) whose DC output is conditioned to control the variable gain amplifiers.
The maximum level of compensation is adjustable in 2dB steps from 2 to 10dB. If beacon fade exceeds the preset value the amplifier gains are held to prevent overdriving of the HPA. A bypass switch allows the compensation to be removed, in this mode the gain of the unit is unitary, 0dB.
If the beacon signal is lost the UPC300 reverts to bypass mode.
Up to 10 variable gain amplifiers may be fitted internally. These may be rated at IF, 50 to 180 MHz, or Lband, 950 to 2,150 MHz, depending on earth station architecture.
The UPC3000 is usually fitted with an L-band tracking receiver, 940 to 1,750MHz or 940 to 2,150MHz. Versions with S, C, Ku or Ka-band interface are also available.
