On-orbit BDS signals and transmit antenna gain analysis for a geostationary satellite

Abstract

A Beidou navigation satellite system (BDS) receiver with high sensitivity is embarked in a geostationary orbit (GEO) spacecraft to demonstrate characteristics of BDS signals tracked. This receiver can be compatible with the regional (BDS-2) and global (BDS-3) systems, which have three orbit types: medium Earth orbit (MEO), inclined geostationary orbit (IGSO), and GEO. The on-orbit BDS signal characteristics, including observations quantity, availability, position dilution of precision (PDOP), and carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N0), are presented according to in-flight data. The observations and distribution of C/N0 with respect to nadir angles were analyzed. The average number of the BDS satellites tracked is 4.4, and the average PDOP is 12.0. PDOP improves when the BDS GEO and IGSO observations are involved. The maximum value of C/N0 of the BDS-3 MEO satellites is approximately 49 dB-Hz, which is roughly 2 dB higher than that of the BDS-2 MEO satellites. Most of the C/N0 of the BDS-3 MEO satellite at nadir angles beyond 26° is in the range of 27–34 dB-Hz. We reconstruct the transmit antenna gain for all observed BDS satellites using C/N0 measurements. Moreover, we investigate the main and side lobe characteristics of the BDS satellites in terms of different orbit types and satellite manufacturers. The side lobe signals of the BDS-3 MEO generally have 20–30 dB lower gain than the peak main lobe gain. The side lobe signal performance of the BDS-2 MEO is evidently better than that of the BDS-3 MEO. We give side lobe characteristics analysis of the BDS-3 MEO satellites from two different manufacturers based on the transmit antenna gain reconstructed.