G/T MEASUREMENTS

(Lecture Notes by A. Bhattacharya to CSSTEAP SATCOM course)

INTRODUCTION
A communication link is said to be perfect only when the information transmitted
from the source is received at the destination without any errors. In practice it is
rarely so. This is because the different sources of noise, form the modulator of the
transmitting end till the demodulator at the receiving end, reduce the Signal - to Noise ratio (S/.N). This most important criteria depends on a number of factors; the
Carrier-to-Noise ratio (C/N) of the RF or IF signal in the receiver, the type of the
modulation used to impress the base band signal onto the carriers, transmitter EIRP,
and the IF and base band channel bandwidths in the receiver.
Considering the limited EIRP available on board and having chosen modulation
scheme the S/N depends on C/N. The Carrier-to-Noise ratio for received signal is
given by

PG
t t
N
kB 4R

Where PtGt

[4R / ]
k
B
Gr
Ts

Gr
Ts

............. (1)

= transmitter EIRP
2

= path loss
= Boltzmann's constant
= bandwidth of the power measurement device in Hz
= Gain of the receiving Antenna
= System noise temperature of the receiver referred to its

input.
Thus, C/N Gr/Ts as all other terms are constant for a given satellite system. Gr/Ts is
usually shortened to G/Ratio, sometimes called ``Figure of Merit'' of the receiving
station as this factor determines quality of the signal received. G/T is defined as

Antenna power gain

G / T 10 log System noise temperature dB / k
METHOD OF MEASUREMENT
To allow comparison of signal qualities received at various stations it is must that
G/T ratio be measured with high accuracy. The measurement of G/T can be done by
number of methods. These are:
Direct Method
Indirect Method
- By measuring G &T separately
- Using satellites
Comparison Method
Direct Method
The G/T measurement of medium and large earth stations is done by Direct Method,
because the indirect method of G/T measurement of antenna is inconvenient and
does not model actual operating conditions, mismatch losses etc. Independent

measurement of gain for a high aperture antenna requires microwave source at boresite or on satellite, placed in geo-synchronous orbit.
The best and straightforward way is G/T measurement using radio stars. A suitable
radio star is the one, which is well calibrated for its noise flux density in the
measurement frequency range. The flux density variation of the noise source with
time should be minimum for better measurement accuracy. The celestial bodies such
as Cassiopeia A, Taurus A, Cygnus A, Virgo A, Moon and Sun are considered as
sources of noise for this purpose.
The choice of particular noise source depends upon the antenna size of the earth
station, because larger the ratio between antenna beam width and the angular
extension least correction factor required, as antenna will see the source only
through its peak
Theory
Antenna pointed at clear sky
Noise power output P1=kTsB
Ts = system noise temperature.
Antenna pointed at radio star
Noise power output P2= 0.5 F Ae B+ kTs B
F= Flux density of radio star.
Ae=effective aperture of antenna
0.5 is multiplied to take into consideration the random polarization.

1
FA B k Ts B
P2 2 e
1 FAe
Y

1
P1
k Ts B
2 kTs
1 FAe
Y 1
or 2 kTs

or

Y 1

1 G2 1
F 2 G
F

2 4 kTs 8k Ts

G (Y - 1)8k

F2
or Ts

(2)

Procedure
The receiving antenna is pointed alternately at selected noise source and the cold
sky to measure Y factor. The steps are given below.
1. Arrange the set up as shown in fig. 1. Disable AGC circuitry if any in the
measurement path.
Noise
source

Cold sky

MIXER

Antenna

NF Meter/
Precision
Receiver

LNA/
Receiver

Local
Oscillator

FIG - 1 G/T MEASUREMENT BY USING RADIO SOURCES

2.

Local oscillator is set 30 MHz higher to the frequency at which measurement

path are to be taken.

3.
4.

Antenna is pointed towards the cold sky (i.e. no noise source min the vicinity).
Input level to precision test receiver is so adjusted that minimum 10dB
attenuation is introduced and needle is aligned with some division.

5.
6.

Note the attenuator setting Ai(dB) and needle position.

Antenna is then pointed towards selected noise source and maximized for
reading on precision receiver with same position as it was in step 4.

7.

Note the attenuator setting Af(dB).

8.

Calculate Y factor and Y using following formula.

Y = Af - Ai
y = 10Y (in dB)/10

9.

Calculate G/T

10.

Repeat the experiment for other frequencies.

TEST RESULTS
Frequency

Ai

Af

By measuring the ratio, y (procedure for the measuring the ratio is given in
section), of the noise powers at the receiver output, the ratio G/T can be determined
using the formula (2):
Correction factors and assessment of errors
The corrected value of G/T is given by
G/Tc= G/T + C1 + C2 + C3 + C4 .........(3)
C1 is correction due to atmospheric absorption, for the angle of elevation
above 5o, is given by,
C1 = 0.036/ sin dB where is the angle of elevation
If the angular extension of the radio star in the sky is significant compared
with antenna beam width, a correction must be applied. This correction factor
has to be calculated on the basis that the shape of the antenna beam. This is
C2 = beam correction factor
C3 is correction due to variation in flux with time. Cassiopeia A is subjected to
reduction of flux with time. This is given by
C3 = 0.989n where n is the number of years from January, 1968
C4 is correction due to variation in flux with frequency. see Table-1.

Radio star

Table 1
Flux density at 4 GHz Flux density at f Angular
f(4) (Wm-2 Hz-1)
GHz f(f) for 3.7-4.2 Diameter
band

Cassiopea A

1065
x
10-26
January 1968

Taurus A

717 s 10-26

(4) (f / 4)-0.25

3' x 4.5'

Cygnus A

488 x 10-26

(4) (f / 4) -1.19

each < 0.7'

Moon

Varies with time and

phase

0.257o

Sun

Varies
cycle

0.267o

with

for (4) (f / 4)-0.75

sun-spot

4'

Polarization effect
Taurus A is elliptically polarized and it is necessary to use the mean of two readings
taken in two orthogonal directions. These precautions are not necessary for
measurements using Cassiopea A and Cygnus A.

Indirect Method
G/T measurement of Small/mobile earth station is not possible by Direct method
because of the inaccuracy in the measurement of Y factor. In such cases, indirect
method is adopted to evaluate the G/T of the earth stations. In This case, the gain of
the antenna and receive system noise temperature are measured separately. The
gain of the antenna is measured in Anechoic Chamber or Test Range facility and the
system noise temperature is measured as follows :
PROCEDURE
*
Arrange the set up as shown in fig. 2.

Antenna

Noise
Source

LNA/
Receiver

NF Meter/
Precision
Receiver

Dummy
Load

FIG - 2. RECEIVE SYSTEM NOISE TEMPERATURE & G/T MEASUREMENT

Measurement should be done in open environment.

Disable any AGC circuitry and tune the receiver to receive the signal.

Connect the antenna to the receiver and measure the noise power Pa.

Connect the noise source to the antenna port of the receiver and measure the
noise power Pn.

Disconnect noise source and connect the ambient load (termination) at the
antenna port and measure the noise)

Calculate the Y factor according to the formula :

Pn = k(Tn + Tr)B, Pa =k(Ta + Tr)B,
Y1 = Pn / Pa =

Tn T r
Ta T r

Y2 = Po / Pa =

To Tr
Ta T r

Y3 = Po / Pn =

To Tr
Tn T r

Tr
; gives

Po = k(To +Tr)B

To Tn Y3
Y3 1

where,
Tn = Temperature of noise source
To = Ambient temperature
Ta = Antenna noise temperature
Tr = Receiver noise temperature
*

From the above equations

Y2 Y1

To Tn
Ta Tr

or

T Tn
Ta Tr 0
Y2 Y1
*

System noise temperature TS is given by

TS = Ta + Tr

T0 Tn
Y2 Y1

Repeat the measurement at other frequencies of interest

TEST RESULTS
Frequenc
y

Pa

Pn

Po

Y1

Y2

Y3

Tr

Ta

Ts

The ratio of antenna gain, G dBi and system noise temperature, T S gives the G/T of
the earth station.

G/T MEASUREMENT USING SATELLITE

If EIRP of the satellite is precisely known the G/T can be calculated from the received
C/NO of the beacon signal. The results are fairly correct.

TEST PROCEDURE

Track the beacon signal of the satellite and optimize it by moving antenna in

Az/El axis.

Measure the C/No at IF level.

G/T of the earth station can be calculated by using the equation :

G/T = C/NO - Satellite EIRP + Path Loss + Modulation Loss + k (Boltzmann's

constant) + Measuring device's noise bandwidth correction factor.+ other losses

G/ T MEASUREMENT BY COMPARISON METHOD

The G/T of small or medium class earth stations can be computed by comparison
method. In this method the G/T of the reference earth station must be precisely
known. The satellite beacon signal is simultaneously received and the C/No
measurement is done at the earth station under test and at the reference earth
station, whose G/T is known. The G/T value of the earth station under test is
computed from the difference of the C/No values received at these earth stations.
G/Tt = G/Tr - C/N
C/N =(C/N0) r (C/N0) t

REFERENCES
1.

Recommended Test Procedure for the Type Approval of INMARSAT - C Ship

Earth Stations

2.

G/T Measurement Using Moon As A Noise Source INSAT - 1 SSPO-TR - 0183 By V K Garg, D B Rauthan