Code of Federal Regulations (alpha)

CFR /  Title 47  /  Part 25  /  Sec. 25.209 Earth station antenna performance standards.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, the gain of any antenna to be employed in transmission from an earth station in the Fixed-Satellite Service shall lie below the relevant envelope defined in paragraphs (a)(1) through (4) of this section:

(1) In the plane of the geostationary satellite orbit as it appears at the particular earth station location, for earth stations not operating in the 20/30 GHz band or conventional Ku-band: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------29-25log10[thetas]................. dBi................... For................... 1.5[deg] <=[thetas]

<=7[deg]8.................................. dBi................... For................... 7[deg] <[thetas] <=9.2[deg]32-25log10[thetas]................. dBi................... For................... 9.2[deg] <[thetas]

<=48[deg]-10................................ dBi................... For................... 48[deg] <[thetas]

<=180[deg]---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- where [thetas] is the angle in degrees from the axis of the main lobe, and dBi refers to dB relative to an isotropic radiator. For the purposes of this section, the peak gain of an individual sidelobe may not exceed the envelope defined above for [thetas] between 1.5 and 7.0 degrees. For [thetas] greater than 7.0 degrees, the envelope may be exceeded by no more than 10% of the sidelobes, provided no individual sidelobe exceeds the gain envelope given above by more than 3 dB.

(2) In the plane of the geostationary satellite orbit as it appears at the particular earth station location, for earth stations operating in the 20/30 GHz band or conventional Ku-band: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------29-25log10[thetas]................. dBi................... For................... 1.5[deg] <=[thetas]

<=7[deg]8.................................. dBi................... For................... 7[deg] <[thetas] <=9.2[deg]32-25log10[thetas]................. dBi................... For................... 9.2[deg] <[thetas]

<=48[deg]-10................................ dBi................... For................... 48[deg] <[thetas] <=85[deg]0.................................. dBi................... For................... 85[deg] <[thetas]

<=180[deg]----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(3) In all other directions, or in the plane of the horizon including any out-of-plane potential terrestrial interference paths, for all earth stations not operating in the 20/30 GHz band or conventional Ku-band:

Outside the main beam, the gain of the antenna shall lie below the envelope defined by: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------32-25log10[thetas]................. dBi................... For................... 3[deg] <[thetas] <=48[deg]-10................................ dBi................... For................... 48[deg] <[thetas]

<=180[deg]---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- where [thetas] and dBi are defined above. For the purposes of this section, the envelope may be exceeded by no more than 10% of the sidelobes provided no individual sidelobe exceeds the gain envelope given above by more than 6 dB. The region of the main reflector spillover energy is to be interpreted as a single lobe and shall not exceed the envelope by more than 6 dB.

(4) In all other directions, or in the plane of the horizon including any out-of-plane potential terrestrial interference paths, for all earth stations operating in the 20/30 GHz band or conventional Ku-band:

Outside the main beam, the gain of the antenna shall lie below the envelope defined by: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------32-25log10[thetas].................... dBi...................... For..................... 3[deg] <[thetas]

<=48[deg]-10................................... dBi...................... For..................... 48[deg] <[thetas]

<=85[deg]0..................................... dBi...................... For..................... 85[deg] <[thetas]

<=180[deg]---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- where [thetas] and dBi are defined above. For the purposes of this section, the envelope may be exceeded by no more than 10% of the sidelobes provided no individual sidelobe exceeds the gain envelope given above by more than 6 dB. The region of the main reflector spillover energy is to be interpreted as a single lobe and shall not exceed the envelope by more than 6 dB.

(5) Elliptical earth station antennas may be operated only when the major axis of the antenna is aligned with the plane of the geostationary satellite orbit as it appears at the particular earth station location.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, the off-axis cross-polarization gain of any antenna to be employed in transmission from an earth station to a space station in the Fixed-Satellite Service shall be defined as follows:

(1) In the plane of the geostationary satellite orbit as it appears at the particular earth station location: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------19-25log10[thetas].................... dBi...................... For..................... 1.8[deg] <[thetas]

<=7[deg]-2.................................... dBi...................... For..................... 7[deg] <[thetas]

<=9.2[deg]---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- where [thetas] is the angle in degrees from the axis of the main lobe, and dBi refers to dB relative to an isotropic radiator.

(2) In all other directions, or in the plane of the horizon including any out-of-plane potential terrestrial interference paths: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------19-25log10[thetas].................... dBi...................... For..................... 3[deg] <[thetas]

<=7[deg]-2.................................... dBi...................... For..................... 7[deg] <[thetas]

<=9.2[deg]---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- where [thetas] and dBi are defined above.

(c)(1) Earth station antennas licensed for reception of radio transmissions from a space station in the Fixed-Satellite Service are protected from radio interference caused by other space stations only to the degree to which harmful interference would not be expected to be caused to an earth station employing an antenna conforming to the referenced patterns defined in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, and protected from radio interference caused by terrestrial radio transmitters identified by the frequency coordination process only to the degree to which harmful interference would not be expected to be caused to an earth station conforming to the reference pattern defined in paragraphs (a)(3) and (4) of this section.

(1) Earth station antennas licensed for reception of radio transmissions from a space station in the Fixed-Satellite Service are protected from radio interference caused by other space stations only to the degree to which harmful interference would not be expected to be caused to an earth station employing an antenna conforming to the referenced patterns defined in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, and protected from radio interference caused by terrestrial radio transmitters identified by the frequency coordination process only to the degree to which harmful interference would not be expected to be caused to an earth station conforming to the reference pattern defined in paragraphs (a)(3) and (4) of this section.

(2) 17/24 GHz BSS telemetry earth stations are protected from harmful interference caused by other space stations to the extent set forth in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. Receive-only earth stations in the 17/24 GHz BSS are protected from harmful interference caused by other space stations to the extent set forth in Sec. 25.224 of this part.

(d) [Reserved]

(e) The operations of any earth station with an antenna not conforming to the standards of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section shall impose no limitations upon the operation, location or design of any terrestrial station, any other earth station, or any space station beyond those limitations that would be expected to be imposed by an earth station employing an antenna conforming to the reference patterns defined in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section.

(f) An earth station with an antenna not conforming to relevant standards in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section will be authorized only if the applicant demonstrates that the antenna will not cause unacceptable interference. For ESVs in the C-band, this demonstration must comply with the procedures set forth in Sec. 25.221. For ESVs in the Ku-band, this demonstration must comply with the procedures set forth in Sec. 25.222. For VMES, this demonstration shall comply with the procedures set forth in Sec. 25.226. For ESAAs, this demonstration shall comply with the procedures set forth in Sec. 25.227. For feeder-link earth stations in the 17/24 GHz BSS, this demonstration must comply with the procedures set forth in Sec. 25.223. For other FSS earth stations, this demonstration must comply with the requirements in Sec. 25.138, Sec. 25.218, or Sec. 25.220. In any case, the Commission will impose appropriate terms and conditions in its authorization of such facilities and operations.

(g) [Reserved]

(h)(1) The gain of any transmitting gateway earth station antenna operating in the 10.7-11.7 GHz, 12.75-13.15 GHz, 13.2125-13.25 GHz, 13.8-14.0 GHz, and 14.4-14.5 GHz bands and communicating with NGSO FSS satellites must lie below the envelope defined as follows: 29-25log10([theta]) dBi for 1[deg] <= [theta] <= 36[deg]-10 dBi for 36[deg] < [theta] <= 180[deg] Where: [theta] is the angle in degrees from the axis of the main lobe, and dBi

(1) The gain of any transmitting gateway earth station antenna operating in the 10.7-11.7 GHz, 12.75-13.15 GHz, 13.2125-13.25 GHz, 13.8-14.0 GHz, and 14.4-14.5 GHz bands and communicating with NGSO FSS satellites must lie below the envelope defined as follows: 29-25log10([theta]) dBi for 1[deg] <= [theta] <= 36[deg]-10 dBi for 36[deg] < [theta] <= 180[deg] Where: [theta] is the angle in degrees from the axis of the main lobe, and dBi

means dB relative to an isotropic radiator.

(2) For the purposes of this section, the peak gain of an individual sidelobe may not exceed the envelope defined in paragraph (h)(1) of this section. [48 FR 40255, Sept. 6, 1983, as amended at 50 FR 2675, Jan. 18, 1985; 50 FR 39004, Sept. 26, 1985; 58 FR 13420, Mar. 11, 1993; 66 FR 10630, Feb. 16, 2001; 70 FR 32255, June 2, 2005; 72 FR 50029, Aug. 29, 2007; 73 FR 70901, Nov. 24, 2008; 74 FR 57099, Nov. 4, 2009; 78 FR 8427, Feb. 6, 2013; 78 FR 14927, Mar. 8, 2013; 79 FR 8322, Feb. 12, 2014]