A machine-implemented method for encoding a burst header of a burst to be transmitted on an inroute from a satellite terminal, the machine-implemented method comprising: generating, by an application specific integrated circuit of a satellite terminal, a burst header, the burst header having encoded therein, via a convolutional code, a plurality of information bits representing a modulation type for modulating a payload of the burst and a code rate for the payload, a number of the plurality of information bits being five; providing the burst, including the burst header and the payload to a modulator; modulating the burst header via a binary phase shift keying modulation; modulating the payload data via a modulation matching the modulation type encoded within the burst header; and transmitting the modulated burst header and the modulated payload data, the modulated payload data having a first code rate matching the code rate encoded within the burst header, wherein either: the generating the burst header comprises: encoding the plurality of information bits of the burst header using the convolution code having a code rate of 1/10 to produce a 50 bit codeword, wherein a plurality of generator polynomials for producing the 50 bit codeword comprise: g0 = (1 1 1 1 1), g1 = (1 0 1 1 1), g2 = (1 1 0 0 1), g3 = (1 1 0 1 1), g4 = (1 1 1 0 1), g5 = (1 1 0 1 1), g6 = (1 0 1 1 1), g7 = (1 0 1 0 1), g8 = (1 0 0 1 1), and g9 = (1 0 0 0 1), wherein: gi = (g i,0 g i,1 g i,2 g i,3 g i,4 g i,5), and i is an integer, and 0 < i < 9; or the generating the burst header comprises: encoding the plurality of information bits of the burst header using the convolutional code having a code rate of 1/5 to produce a 25 bit codeword which is repeated once, thereby producing 50 bits included in the encoded burst header, wherein a plurality of generator polynomials for producing the 25 bit codeword comprises: g0 = (1 0 1 0 1), g1 = (1 0 1 1 1), g2 = (1 1 0 1 1), g3 = (1 1 1 1 1), and g4 = (1 1 0 0 1),wherein: gi = (g i,0 g i,1 g i,2 g i,3 g i,4), and i is an integer, and 0 < i < 4. generating, by an application specific integrated circuit of a satellite terminal, a burst header, the burst header having encoded therein, via a convolutional code, a plurality of information bits representing a modulation type for modulating a payload of the burst and a code rate for the payload, a number of the plurality of information bits being five; providing the burst, including the burst header and the payload to a modulator; modulating the burst header via a binary phase shift keying modulation; modulating the payload data via a modulation matching the modulation type encoded within the burst header; and transmitting the modulated burst header and the modulated payload data, the modulated payload data having a first code rate matching the code rate encoded within the burst header, wherein either: the generating the burst header comprises: encoding the plurality of information bits of the burst header using the convolution code having a code rate of 1/10 to produce a 50 bit codeword, wherein a plurality of generator polynomials for producing the 50 bit codeword comprise: g0 = (1 1 1 1 1), g1 = (1 0 1 1 1), g2 = (1 1 0 0 1), g3 = (1 1 0 1 1), g4 = (1 1 1 0 1), g5 = (1 1 0 1 1), g6 = (1 0 1 1 1), g7 = (1 0 1 0 1), g8 = (1 0 0 1 1), and g9 = (1 0 0 0 1), wherein: gi = (g i,0 g i,1 g i,2 g i,3 g i,4 g i,5), and i is an integer, and 0 < i < 9; or the generating the burst header comprises: encoding the plurality of information bits of the burst header using the convolutional code having a code rate of 1/5 to produce a 25 bit codeword which is repeated once, thereby producing 50 bits included in the encoded burst header, wherein a plurality of generator polynomials for producing the 25 bit codeword comprises: g0 = (1 0 1 0 1), g1 = (1 0 1 1 1), g2 = (1 1 0 1 1), g3 = (1 1 1 1 1), and g4 = (1 1 0 0 1),wherein: gi = (g i,0 g i,1 g i,2 g i,3 g i,4), and i is an integer, and 0 < i < 4. encoding the plurality of information bits of the burst header using the convolution code having a code rate of 1/10 to produce a 50 bit codeword, wherein a plurality of generator polynomials for producing the 50 bit codeword comprise: g0 = (1 1 1 1 1), g1 = (1 0 1 1 1), g2 = (1 1 0 0 1), g3 = (1 1 0 1 1), g4 = (1 1 1 0 1), g5 = (1 1 0 1 1), g6 = (1 0 1 1 1), g7 = (1 0 1 0 1), g8 = (1 0 0 1 1), and g9 = (1 0 0 0 1), wherein: gi = (g i,0 g i,1 g i,2 g i,3 g i,4 g i,5), and i is an integer, and 0 < i < 9; or the generating the burst header comprises: g0 = (1 1 1 1 1), g1 = (1 0 1 1 1), g2 = (1 1 0 0 1), g3 = (1 1 0 1 1), g4 = (1 1 1 0 1), g5 = (1 1 0 1 1), g6 = (1 0 1 1 1), g7 = (1 0 1 0 1), g8 = (1 0 0 1 1), and g9 = (1 0 0 0 1), wherein: gi = (g i,0 g i,1 g i,2 g i,3 g i,4 g i,5), and i is an integer, and 0 < i < 9; encoding the plurality of information bits of the burst header using the convolutional code having a code rate of 1/5 to produce a 25 bit codeword which is repeated once, thereby producing 50 bits included in the encoded burst header, wherein a plurality of generator polynomials for producing the 25 bit codeword comprises: g0 = (1 0 1 0 1), g1 = (1 0 1 1 1), g2 = (1 1 0 1 1), g3 = (1 1 1 1 1), and g4 = (1 1 0 0 1),wherein: gi = (g i,0 g i,1 g i,2 g i,3 g i,4), and i is an integer, and 0 < i < 4. g0 = (1 0 1 0 1), g1 = (1 0 1 1 1), g2 = (1 1 0 1 1), g3 = (1 1 1 1 1), and g4 = (1 1 0 0 1),wherein: gi = (g i,0 g i,1 g i,2 g i,3 g i,4), and i is an integer, and 0 < i < 4.