scope:

This European Telecommunication Standard (ETS) provides specifications for the standardisation of the characteristics of receive-only Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) operating as part of a satellite network used for the distribution of data.

These VSATs have the following characteristics:

- operating in the shared part of the C band allocated to the Fixed Services (FS) and to the Fixed Satellite Services (FSS), 3,625 to 4,200 GHz (Space-Earth);

- in this frequency band circular polarisation is normally used and the system operates through satellites at 3° spacing;

- designed for unattended operation;

- limited to the reception of baseband digital signals;

- equipped with one or several terrestrial output ports;

- antenna diameter not exceeding normally 7,3 m, or equivalent corresponding aperture.

The equipment considered in this ETS comprises both the "outdoor unit", usually composed of the antenna subsystem with the associated Low Noise Block (LNB), and the "indoor unit" composed of the remaining part of the communication chain, including the cable between these two units.

This ETS does not contain any requirement, recommendation or information about the installation of the VSATs, nor is this ETS intended to apply to VSAT network hub stations.

This ETS deals with two types of specification:

- specifications defined in order to protect other users of the frequency spectrum, both satellite and terrestrial, from unacceptable interference. In addition, these specifications are specified for the purposes of electrical safety, structural safety and solar radiation protection as well as protection from harmful interference;

- specifications related to characteristics which contribute to the quality of reception by providing the VSAT with a minimum interference protection from other radio systems.