Optical ISL tracking considerations in meeting ISDN requirements

Abstract

AbstractBurst errors in an optical intersatellite link (ISL) are short term (of the order of a millisecond) degradations of the link due to antenna mistracking. These errors degrade the average bit error rate (BER), decrease coding gain, complicate calculations of tracking accuracy, and give rise to concern about the quality of the link for carrying digital signals. After reviewing previous work on these topics, the digital performance of the link is examined in terms of how these considerations affect the ability of an optical ISL to meet ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) criteria for an ISL. A link with on‐board regeneration is assumed. Since no allocation has yet been made for an ISL, an allocation of 25 per cent of the degradation permitted for the satellite link by CCITT Rec. G.821 and CCIR Rec. 614 is assumed here. It is found (1) that if the requirement derived from Rec. 614 is met, the requirements derived from Rec. G.821 are also met and (2) that an optical ISL should have little difficulty in meeting these requirements.