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MSG image dissemination via C-Band satellites

Following the failure of one of MSG-1's SSPA's (detailed in a previous article) EUMETSAT decided to disseminate MSG-1 data via the EUMETCast service transmitted by EUTELSAT's Hot Bird-6. However the Hot Bird footprint is only receivable in Europe (see previous articles).
Owing to international meteorological data commitments, WMO agreements and a commitment to the EU PUMA agreement to supply the African countries with meteorological receiving equipment and data, EUMETSAT had to investigate other means to disseminate this data to a wider user base outside Europe.

There is a proposal to use C-band satellite transmissions for this wider coverage.
This looks certain to happen but needs to be agreed by the EUMETSAT council at their end of June Council meeting. The service provider and satellite to be used will be agreed upon at this meeting.
Some C-Band tests are expected to be undertaken prior to the June EUMETSAT Council meeting.

At this stage the likely transmission beam pattern/s has not been decided but it appears there is some interest in Europe in receiving the C-Band transmissions even though full MSG HRIT and LRIT dissemination will be available in Europe via Hot Bird-6.

Also, it has not yet been decided what transmission format the C-Band transmissions will adopt.

C-Band satellite services

C-Band covers the frequencies 3.70 GHz to 4.2 GHz.

Transmissions are circular polarisation - LHC or RHC.

Transmission patterns are usually Global, Hemispheric, Semi-Hemispheric or Zone Beams.

Owing to the above patterns, C-Band PFD's are lower than the Ku-Band Spot Beams we are used to.

MSG-1 data C-Band dissemination service

The EUMETSAT Council have decided to use EUTELSAT’s Atlantic Bird-3 satellite for the C-Band dissemination of MSG-1 data to Africa and Europe.
This satellite is stationed at 5 deg. West and is one of EUTELSAT’s ‘Atlantic Gate’ series of satellites.

The C-band beam to be used covers the whole of Europe and Africa.
All of Europe and Africa – apart from parts of Morocco, southern Algeria, Mali and Niger, lie within the 39 dBW contour of the footprint. [Much lower than the 53 dBW power level from Hot Bird-6’s footprint in SE England and central Europe.]

The format of the C-Band dissemination will be the same as for the Hot Bird-6 dissemination – DVB EUMETCast.
The data will be uplinked to Atlantic Bird-3 via the Fucino ground station in Italy and will be a re-broadcast of the Hot Bird EUMETCast service.

Tests were carried out during the first two weeks of June 03 using this satellite which were successful.
It will take 1 – 2 months to set up a trial transmission service similar to Hot Bird-6 and it is hoped to check out the PUMA systems already installed in African States during September.

EUMETSAT document EUM TD 15 will be updated in the next few weeks to include details of the C-band EUMETCast service.

EUTELSAT Atlantic Bird-3 C-Band downlink footprint contours

John Tellick : 30-06-03

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