SYSTEM PERFORMANCE OF THE ACTS MARITIME TERMINAL

Abstract

The Advanced Communication Technology Satellite (ACTS) Mobile Terminal (AMT) has been deployed aboard the USS Princeton (CG 59) in an experiment to test the viability of K and Ka band technology in military communication applications. Pilot tone data recorded on-board the USS Princeton (CG 59) show that most variations in the received power level result from antenna tracking errors and did not appear to be caused by obstructions from the ship superstructure. The data also showed that multipath interference was negligible. The data studied in this paper were gathered during ship maneuvers in the Caribbean (13E 33’ N, 76E 16’ W) in late May 1997 and in the Eastern Pacific (6E 34’ N, 79E 40’ W) in early June 1997. The relationship between pitch/yaw/roll and received power levels is studied. Plots showing received power (time series) are presented to aid in link budget calculations.