Narrative

0544-EX-ST-2008 Text Documents

Panasonic Avionics Corporation

2008-09-30ELS_93664

                                                Panasonic Avionics Corporation

              EXPERIMENTAL APPLICATION
       NARRATIVE AND PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT
Panasonic Avionics Corporation (“PAC”) is seeking special temporary authority (“STA”)
for experimental operation of up to five (5) Aura LE Ku-band transmit/receive terminals
for testing and demonstration purposes associated with its planned eXConnect Ku-band
aeronautical mobile-satellite service (“AMSS”) system. Although this terminal is being
evaluated for use in the AMSS context, this application requests temporary authority for
ground testing only.1 The proposed experimental operations will be conducted at and
around specified test facilities for a very limited duration (e.g., several hours per test
session) scheduled intermittently over the next six (6) months.

Description of Antenna

The eXConnect system will employ the two-panel Aura LE aircraft earth station (“AES”)
manufactured by EMS Technologies, represented in Figure 1 (below).

                                Figure 1. Aura LE Antenna




The AES will transmit with EIRP density not to exceed 17.5 dBW/4kHz and with a
maximum EIRP level of 48 dBW. The data rates transmitted from the terminal will vary
from 128 kbps to 1 Mbps. The off-axis EIRP spectral density of the Aura LE is set forth
in the following figure.




1
    PAC expects to file a separate application for in-flight testing in the near term.


                                                               AURA-LE FCC Off-axis EIRP Density (dBW/4kHz)

                               20.0



                               10.0



                                0.0
     EIRP Density (dBW/4kHz)




                               -10.0
                                                                                                                      FCC
                                                                                                                      ITU
                                                                                                                      Skew= 0
                               -20.0
                                                                                                                      Skew=15
                                                                                                                      Skew=30
                                                                                                                      Skew=45
                               -30.0



                               -40.0



                               -50.0



                               -60.0
                                   -10.0     -8.0      -6.0     -4.0    -2.0      0.0     2.0    4.0      6.0   8.0
                                                                                Degrees


                                                    Figure 2. Aura LE Off-Axis EIRP Spectral Density

Due to its two-panel design and the effects of blockage from the front panel at lower
elevation angles, the gain of the Aura LE changes with elevation angle. See Figure 3,
below. This effect is fully taken into account in controlling the off-axis EIRP spectral
density of the Aura LE antenna. During the proposed experimental operations, the
elevation angle will never be less than 28 degrees.

                                                              EIRP & G/T vers. Elevation Angle

50                                                                                                                        15

48                                                                                                                        14

46                                                                                                                        13

44                                                                                                                        12

42                                                                                                                        11

40                                                                                                                        10
              0                        5   10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90

                                                                               EIRP       G/T

                                           Figure 3. EIRP and G/T versus Elevation Angle for Aura LE


The foregoing off-axis EIRP density figures include plots for various “skew angles”
between 0 and 45 degrees. “Skew angle” is the angular difference between the major
axis of the antenna and the geostationary arc when the antenna is pointed at the serving
satellite but located at a different longitudinal position than the satellite. Thus, at 0º skew
angle, antenna peformance is dictated solely by the azimuth gain pattern. As skew angle
increases, the elevation gain pattern contributes to overall antenna performance and the
combined pattern broadens to reflect this contribution. The skew angle will never exceed
45 degrees during the proposed experimental operations and the effect of skew angle is
fully taken into account in controlling off-axis EIRP density produced by eXConnect
terminals.

As a result, the terminals are fully compliant with the FCC’s two-degree spacing
requirements, and off-axis EIRP spectral density levels associated with routinely licensed
VSATs that have been applied to mobile Ku-band terminals in similar contexts (e.g.,
earth stations onboards vessels (ESVs) and Ku-band AMSS terminals).

Antenna pointing is accomplished via mechanical steering of the antenna and uses the
aircraft attitude data (i.e., yaw, roll, pitch and heading vector), together with absolute
navigation coordinates to calculate the command vectors. This data, available from the
ARINC 429 bus, is used in conjunction with the satellite coordinates to yield
continuously updated steering commands for the antenna elevation, azimuth, and
polarization. For purposes of on-ground testing, similar data regarding stationary three-
axis table position and movement, as well as vehicle position and movement, will be fed
to the antenna. A local inertial sensor package placed on the antenna plate itself provides
more accurate antenna attitude sensing and compensates for possible aircraft INS errors
caused by airframe deformation and data latency. The antenna based provides
continuous coverage over full 360º in the azimuth plane a with pointing accuracy better
than 0.2º RMS. Tracking velocity is 40º/sec (azimuth) and 25º/sec (elevation) with
acceleration of 40º/sec2 (azimuth) and 15º/sec2 (elevation).

Description of Planned Experimental Operations

PAC seeks temporary authority at and near available test facilities for evaluation and
demonstration of the Aura LE antenna. The antenna will be tested in three modes: (i)
fully stationary; (ii) mounted on a three-axis motion platform that simulates aircraft
heading, pitch and roll; and (iii) on a ground vehicle rooftop for in-motion testing.
Experimental testing and demonstration will occur at the following locations.

     Lake Forest, CA                            38-39-55 N; 117-40-31 W
     Bothell, WA                                47-47-40 N; 122-11-46 W
     Herndon, VA                                38-57-08 N; 077-25-04 W
     Mountainside, MD                           39-36-06 N; 077-45-46 W
     Washington, DC                             38-56-32 N; 077-03-56 W
     Norcross, GA                               33-58-01 N; 084-13-45 W


Extensive receive-only tests will be conducted to verify antenna performance and
subsystem integration prior to any transmit operation. Two-way tests requiring transmit
operation will then be performed to evaluate, optimize and demonstrate return link
performance as well as the passenger experience with fixed, ground-based terminals.

With respect to vehicle-mounted tests, limited operations will occur within 100 miles of
the fixed locations identified above. For purposes of this experimental STA application,
PAC terminals will not operate within line-of-sight vicinity of Radio Astronomy Service
(RAS) sites or the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) for space research
conducted at White Sands, New Mexico and the US Naval Research Lab at Blossom
Point, Maryland.2 Additional coordination with RAS operations to avoid experimental
operations during period of RAS observations will further ensure that there is no potential
for interference from PAC’s planned experimentations.

PAC will operate the terminals with the following satellites:

        Intelsat G-16          99ºW
        Intelsat G-25          97ºW
        Intelsat G-26          93ºW

The terminals will communicate with licensed Intelsat hub antennas in Riverside, CA.
and Mountainside, MD. At all times, the hub antennas and satellites will operate
according to their licensed parameters.

For purposes of these experiments, the PAC terminals will be operated under PAC’s full
supervision and control. The point of contact for the planned experimental operations is:

       Paul Sarraffe
       Systems Engineering
       eXConnect
       Office: +1 (949) 672-2589
       Cell: +1 (760) 685-3273
       Fax: +1 (949) 462-7101
       Panasonic Avionics Corporation
       26200 Enterprise Way
       Lake Forest, CA 92630
       paul.sarraffe@panasonic.aero

This contact will have access to all network functions, and will have the ability and
authority to cease all transmissions from the terminals wherever they are located.


2
  PAC has contacted NASA and the National Science Foundation to initiate coordination
discussions for both on-ground and in-flight operations. PAC will accept technical
limitations imposed on other Ku-band land-mobile and AMSS operations necessary to
protect RAS and TDRSS operations.


Protection of Other Users in the 14.0–14.5 GHz Band

Protection of Fixed-Satellite Service. The FCC has not yet established service rules
applicable to VMES or AMSS terminal operations, but interference considerations are
analogous to those that currently apply to mobile ESVs set forth in 47 C.F.R. § 25.222.
As discussed above, PAC’s terminals will operate in such a manner that the off-axis
EIRP levels are no greater than the levels produced by routinely licensed VSAT earth
stations. This is consistent with past FCC licensing conditions in the LMSS context. To
the extent that any adjacent satellite operator experiences unacceptable interference from
PAC’s experimental operations, PAC will cease terminal transmissions immediately.

Protection of Potential NGSO FSS Systems. Panasonic acknowledges that non-
geostationary orbit (“NGSO”) systems are also permitted to operate in the Ku-band.
However, no such systems are currently authorized or plan to operate within the period
contemplated for the proposed experimental operations.

Protection of Terrestrial Radio Services. PAC has examined current spectrum use in
the 14.0-14.5 GHz band and has determined that there are no active FCC-licensed
terrestrial services in this band in North America with which its proposed operations
would potentially conflict.

Protection of the Radio Astronomy Service. For purposes of protecting radio
astronomy sites, consistent with Recommendation ITU-R M.1643, Part C, PAC will limit
aggregate power flux density (pfd) in the band of 14.47 GHz to 14.5 GHz as follows:

       -221 dBW/m2/Hz (for protection of Green Bank, Arecibo and Socorro)
       -189 dBW/m2/Hz (for protection all other Radio Astronomy sites)

For purposes of this experimental STA application, PAC terminals will not operate
within line-of-sight vicinity of Radio Astronomy sites and during observation periods.

Protection of Space Research Service. PAC recognizes the utilization of the frequency
band from 14.0-14.05 GHz and the possible use of the band from 14.05-14.2 GHz
allocated to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (“NASA”) Tracking and
Data Relay Satellite System (“TDRSS”) for space research conducted at White Sands,
New Mexico and Blossom Point, Maryland. For purposes of this experimental STA
application, PAC will avoid AES operation within line-of-sight vicinity of these earth
stations.

Out of Band Emissions. The terminals comply with FCC 47 C.F.R. § 25.202, which
provides:

Emission limitations. The mean power of emissions shall be attenuated below the mean
output power of the transmitter in accordance with the following schedule:


1. In any 4 kHz band, the center frequency of which is removed from the assigned
   frequency by more than 50 percent up to and including 100 percent of the
   authorized bandwidth: 25 dB;
2. In any 4 kHz band, the center frequency of which is removed from the assigned
   frequency by more than 100 percent up to and including 250 percent of the
   authorized bandwidth: 35 dB;
3. In any 4 kHz band, the center frequency of which is removed from the assigned
   frequency by more than 250 percent of the authorized bandwidth: An amount
   equal to 43 dB plus 10 times the logarithm (to the base 10) of the transmitter
   power in watts.

        SUMMARY OF TECHNICAL PARAMETERS - AURA LE

           Antenna diameter        35 in x 6.5 in
           Type of Antenna         Dual panel waveguide fed phased
                                   array
           Peak Power (SSPA)       20 watts
           Transmit Bandwidth      2.56 MHz
           Transmit Gain           38 dBi
           EIRP                    48 dBW
           Transmit Data Rate      128 kbps to 1 Mbps
           Transmit Polarization   Horizontal or Vertical
           Transmit Max PSD        17.5
           (dBW/4kHz)
           Transmit Azimuth        1.5 degrees
           Beamwidth
           Transmit Elevation      4 degrees
           Beamwidth
           Receive G/T             11 dB, minimum
           Receive Bandwidth       500 MHz
           Receive Polarization    Dual LHCP and RHCP or
                                   Dual Vertical and Horizontal

                        Antenna Control Parameters

           Azimuth                  continuous coverage over full
                                    360º
           Elevation                0 to 90º antenna elevation

           Position accuracy        Static pointing error 0.15º RMS
                                    (AZ); 0.2º RMS (AZ) in-motion
           Dynamic Tracking         AZ velocity 40º/Sec, EL velocity
           capability               25º/Sec max
                                    AZ acceleration 40º/Sec2, EL
                                    acceleration 15º/Sec2 max


        PAC Terminal Transmit Modulation Parameters

                                      Spread          Eb/No (dB)       C/N
  Modulation          TPC FEC
                                      factor          BER=1E-08        (dB)
TDMA BPSK SF=1           0.793                 1               5.80     4.80
TDMA BPSK SF=1           0.660                 1               5.10     3.30
TDMA BPSK SF=1           0.533                 1               5.13     2.40
TDMA BPSK SF=1           0.431                 1               4.96     1.30

TDMA BPSK SF=2           0.660                 2               5.01      0.20
TDMA BPSK SF=2           0.533                 2               5.04     -0.70
TDMA BPSK SF=2           0.431                 2               5.07     -1.60

TDMA BPSK SF=4           0.660                 4               4.73     -3.10
TDMA BPSK SF=4           0.533                 4               4.75     -4.00
TDMA BPSK SF=4           0.431                 4               5.08     -4.60



         PAC Terminal Transmit Emission Designators


                        Spread           occupied          Emission
       BPSK kbps
                         factor       bandwidth (kHz)     Designator

                128               1                 160    1K60G7D
                256               1                 320    3K20G7D
                512               1                 640    6K40G7D
               1024               1                1280    1M28G7D

                128               2                 320    3K20G7D
                256               2                 640    6K40G7D
                512               2                1280    1M28G7D
               1024               2                2560    2M56G7D

                128               4                 640    6K40G7D
                256               4                1280    1M28G7D
                512               4                2560    2M56G7D


                                                             Additional Off-Axis EIRP Spectral Density Plots

                                                             AURA-LE FCC Off-axis EIRP Density (dBW/4kHz)

                          20.0



                          10.0



                           0.0
EIRP Density (dBW/4kHz)




                          -10.0                                                                                                                            FCC
                                                                                                                                                           ITU
                                                                                                                                                           Skew= 0
                          -20.0                                                                                                                            Skew=15
                                                                                                                                                           Skew=30
                                                                                                                                                           Skew=45
                          -30.0



                          -40.0



                          -50.0



                          -60.0
                              -90.0 -80.0 -70.0 -60.0 -50.0 -40.0 -30.0 -20.0 -10.0   0.0   10.0   20.0   30.0   40.0   50.0   60.0   70.0   80.0   90.0
                                                                                  Degrees



Document Created: 2008-09-30 18:15:20
Document Modified: 2008-09-30 18:15:20

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