Patent ID: 6233433
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A method of testing a multi-beam satellite from a single ground test station, comprising the steps of:transmitting position commands to said satellite from said ground test station,aligning a receive antenna on said satellite in accordance with said position commands,transmitting a test signal to said receive antenna on said satellite from said ground test station,converting said test signal to a plurality of downlink signals onboard said satellite,sampling said downlink signals between respective power amplifiers and transmit antennas using respective directional couplers;routing said sampled downlink signals into a single downlink test signal at the input of a test amplifier,amplifying said single downlink test signal by said test amplifier,transmitting said amplified downlink test signal from said satellite to said ground test station, andusing said received combined signal to verify the operation of said satellite.