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earth station
(redirected from tracking station)

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A transmitting/receiving station for satellite communications. It uses a dish-shaped antenna for microwave transmission. An earth station is generally made up of a multiplexor, modem, up and downconverters, a high power amplifier (HPA) and a low noise amplifier (LNA).

For digital data transmission to a satellite, data streams are combined in a multiplexing device, whose output goes to a modem for modulation onto a carrier frequency in the 50 to 180 MHz range. An upconverter bumps the carrier up into the gigahertz range, and the output goes to the HPA and dish.

For receiving, the LNA boost the signals to the downconverter, which lowers the frequency and sends it to the modem. The modem demodulates the carrier, and the digital output goes to the demultiplexing device and then to its destinations. See base station.

Earth Station
The earth station is no longer only the domain of commercial enterprises, now that millions of homes use small dishes to receive TV signals.



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