Satmaster Satellite Link Budget & Sun Outage Software

Satmaster Pro Mk10.x Series

Overview: Satmaster Pro, is a tool mainly used for preparing satellite link budgets and predicting sun outage events. A demo version, with some limitations is available to download for evaluation.

Revisions to Date, Implemented in the Mk10.x Series.

The Mk10.x series has progressively grown in size due to the increased resolution of ITU-R digital mapping associated with rain attenuation and site topography recommendations. Below are the main differences currently implemented with respect to previous integer series versions.

The original 'Batch Link Budget (GEO bent pipe)' module has been scrapped and replaced by a portable command line program, 'Satmaster.exe', which by default is installed in the folder, 'C:\Satmaster'. The 'readme.txt' file in the aforementioned folder has details on usage. Please note that 'Satmaster.exe' is not included with the DEMO package.
Added option in Satmaster Pro to export input parameters from a *.glb file to the expected input format for 'Satmaster.exe'. There is context sensitive Help included for more detail.
Added a facility to also run the CLI program, Satmaster.exe, from within the Satmaster Pro menu system.
Added a facility to remember the main window size between sessions.
Removed legacy code to read obsolete *.brd files which have been unused for about 20 years.
The alternative single page 'summary' button display, a relic from the fax era, has been scrapped due to being cramped and impractical to maintain.
Added the latest, 50 year, R0.01% rain rate data (ITU-R P.837-7) with the large 0.125 x 0.125 degree grid (about 28MB of data). Due to the vastly improved digital mapping resolution, results may differ significantly from the superseded P-837-6 rain-rate data in some regions.
Added newer data associated with P.1510-1, P.1511-2, P.839-4, P.840-8 and P.453-14.
Added option to export GEO(bent pipe) link budget output to a file which mimics the format of a 'DISA template' (excluded in DEMO VERSION).
Added P.1511-2 support with the large 0.08333 x 0.08333 degree global altitude grid (about 47MB of data).
Updated the geo-magnetic data for the 2020 to 2025 era.
Removed legacy Crane rain models and associated data.
Added a Close All option to the File menu.

Link Budget Calculators and Other Features.

Full up-down link budget calculators with input provision for uplink power control (UPC), ALC, various interferences and multiple carriers. Finds HPA size, uplink power requirements, bandwidth and power usage per carrier. Calculates atmospheric losses and rain fade margins for a desired availability. Modcod selectors for 1 bit/symbol (eg BPSK), QPSK, M-PSK/M-APSK or M-QAM for DVBS, DVBS2, DVBS2-X, NS3, NS4 or manual modcods. Determines power or bandwidth limited modes and calculates the power equivalent bandwidth, if appropriate.

Modcod selectors for NS3, NS4, DVBS and DVBS2 (including DVBS2X extensions).
Option to optimize the split of total availability between uplink and downlink.
Ability to translate some excess margins to increased availability.
Option to calculate carrier EIRP(beam peak) and PSD(beam peak) values.
Support for ITU-R recommendations, P.618-13, P.837-7, P.676-12, P.836-6, P.839-4, P.840-8 and P.1511-2.
Choice between C/I or Csat/Io interference inputs.
Option to force clear sky calculations for uplink and/or downlink for ACM or aircraft.
Calculates atmospheric absorption, rain/cloud attenuation and tropospheric scintillation.
Supports L,S,C,X,Ku,Ka and K band.
Produces link budgets for LEO, MEO, HEO and GEO satellites.
Support for UPC, ALC and spread spectrum.
Modules for 1/2 link budgets for regenerative transponders or TVRO antenna sizing.
Separate bandwidth calculator for NS3, NS4. DVBS, DVBS2 and DVBS2X.
Sun outage prediction (single site and satellite).
Sun outage batch file handling (multiple sites or multiple satellites).
Antenna aiming.
Dual/multi feed positioning.
Dish sizing.
Polar mount alignment.
Automatic site altitude calculation using ITU-R P.1511-2 topography data (0.08333 x 0.08333 degree grid) but keep in mind that interpolation has limitations when it comes to mountain summits. For steep mountainous regions such as the Alps. Andes or Himalayas manual input is probably better.
Automatic magnetic variation calculation.
Solar transit times.
Off-axis gains.
Loads and displays decoded two line element (TLE) files (SGP4/SDP4 models) with sort options.
Separate command line program for batch processing of GEO link budgets (full version only).
L-band Ionospheric scintillation estimator.
Optional four satellite, ASI calculator within GEO 'bent pipe' link budget module.
Automatic antenna noise calculation option.
Tabulation of R0.01% values and rain attenuation for a selected country.
Key link budget results are highlighted.
Non-reflector gains and effective apertures accepted.
Generates numerous graphs and tables.
Numerous satellite based calculation tools such as G/T, off axis antenna gains and bandwidth.
Option to assist completing a 'DISA template' (excluded from DEMO version).
Includes thousands of list selectable town/city coordinates in over 100 country files.
Country and satellite list files are user editable within the program.

Usage and System Requirements: Satmaster Pro, written in C/C++, includes all data so an internet connection is not needed. The portable CLI program 'satmaster.exe' is installed, by default, in the folder C:\Satmaster which can simply be deleted if not required.

Once licensed, there are no extra update charges for an entire integer series release (e.g. 10.0, 10.1, 10.2 ... 10.x) delivered by web download. A single user license allows installation and use on 2 computers (eg desktop and laptop) provided there is no shared usage with other persons. There are reduced upgrade prices for previous integer series users (eg 8.x or 9.x). Minimum system requirements are x86 or x86-64 CPU, 2GB RAM and 200MB of free disk space.