Why Do We Use Microwaves For Satellite Communications

The ers 1 satellite sends out wavelengths about 5 7 cm long c band this image shows sea ice breaking off the shores of alaska center.

Why do we use microwaves for satellite communications. To be clear the microwave antenna isn t the only antenna used for satellite communication. Per martin beckett another reason is that microwave frequencies allow high bandwidth which means high data transmission. Frequency of microwave bands extends from about one gigahertz to three hundred gigahertz. Microwaves and radio waves are used to communicate with satellites.

Microwave radio transmission is commonly used in point to point communication systems on the surface of the earth in satellite communications and in deep space radio communications other parts of the microwave radio band are used for radars radio navigation systems sensor systems and radio astronomy. 3 microwaves can be readily formed into a directional beam which facilitates long distance communication with a minimum of power. The longest frequencies are used in telescopes while the shortest frequencies are used in gps and cellular phones. Systems which use microwave frequencies are radar mobile radio satellite communications terrestrial line of sight and troposphere links.

Microwaves pass straight through the atmosphere and are suitable for communicating with distant geostationary satellites while radio waves are suitable for communicating with sat. These satellites make use of different radio and microwave frequencies to transmit and receive data. This is a radar image acquired from the space shuttle it also used awavelengthin the l band of the microwave spectrum. This large frequency bandwidth can carry huge information through different band.

An essential property of microwaves is that they travel in straight lines through the atmosphere are not affected by the ionized layers. The jers satellite uses wavelengths about 20 cm in length l band this is an image of the amazon river in brazil right. Microwaves in satellite communication. Why do we use microwaves for satellite communications.

This article concerns the latter and why it is used for satellite communications.