Thales Ka Exp License Modification Request

0072-EX-CM-2017 Text Documents

Thales Avionics Inc.

2017-03-09ELS_188811

Thales Avionics, Inc.
Ka-band ESAA - Thales Modular Connectivity Terminal (MCT)
Experimental License Modification Request
File No. 0072-EX-CM-2017; Call Sign WI2XNE

Introduction
Thales Avionics, Inc. seeks to modify its active experimental license (File Number 0542-EX-PL-
2016 granted October 10, 2016; Call Sign WI2XNE), by adding a second Modular Connectivity
Terminal (MCT) Ka antenna to be tested at Thales’s Irvine, CA facility. In addition, Thales seeks
to modify the antenna’s transmit gain and EIRP values to reflect performance improvements
that have been confirmed in ongoing experimental testing at Thales’s Melbourne, FL facility
since October 2016 under the active license.

The antenna testing in Irvine will be static only, and will use Ka capacity on SES’s AMC-15
satellite (Call Sign S2180) at orbital location 105.05° W.L. beginning April 24, 2017. When
operating over AMC-15, the MCT will operate in the Ka-bands 28.438 - 28.563 GHz and 29.5 -
30.0 GHz (transmit); and 18.638 - 18.763 GHz and 19.7 – 20.2 GHz (receive). Note that during
experimental testing the MCT will not transmit in the 29.1 - 29.25 GHz spectrum, to preclude
any potential for interference with LMDS or NGSO operations.

The MCT to be tested in Irvine is technically identical to the unit already under test in
Melbourne, FL under the active experimental license. Melbourne testing has shown slight
improvements in antenna performance. Specifically, the transmit gain has increased from 38.4
dBi to 38.9 dBi (at 29.5 GHz), and the peak transmit EIRP has increased from 45.0 dBW to 45.5
dBW. These changes have been captured in the FCC Form 442 submitted with this modification
request. New antenna EIRP density plots and link budgets are also provided in this narrative, to
replace and add to those provided in Thales’s original experimental license filing.

As in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems evolve they are more reliant on inflight connectivity
(IFC). Experimental MCT testing in Irvine will allow Thales’s IFC service to be co-located with
and connected to Thales’s IFE system that is developed in Irvine. This setup will allow thorough
performance testing and verification of the IFC-based applications and services offered to
airline passengers through the IFE system.

Figure 1 below shows the configuration of the MCT system on the rooftop of the Thales
building at 51 Discovery in Irvine, CA 92618.

Thales Avionics, Inc. Ka-band ESAA – Modular Connectivity Terminal (MCT)
Experimental License Modification Request
File Number 0072-EX-CM-2017
1

Modulation FEC Rate Spread Factor
SS-OQPSK 1/2 2
SS-OQPSK 2/3 2
SS-OQPSK 4/5 2
SS-OQPSK 9/10 2
OQPSK 1/2 1
OQPSK 2/3 1
OQPSK 4/5 1
OQPSK 9/10 1
Table 1: Range of Possible MODCODs for Inbound Carriers

Irvine Testing (new)
The new Irvine, CA static test location coordinates are 33.6°N, 117.8°W. The skew angle to
AMC-15 is 18.3°, or approximately 20°.

Table 2 below provides a representative summary of the inbound carriers and parameters
expected during MCT testing in Irvine. The worst-case EIRP spectral density of 45.4 dBW/MHz is
2.4 dB below the 47.8 dBW/MHz density limit shown in the 20° skew plots that follow Table 2.

Terminal Power SD
location in Symbol Info Occupied @antenna Transmit
AMC-15 Rate Rate BW flange EIRP SD
beam 3B Modcod (Msps) (Mbps) (MHz) (dBW/MHz) (dBW/MHz)
Inbound
G/T=13.0 OQPSK
Carrier 1.0 1.6 1.28 6.5 45.4*
dB/K .8
1
Inbound
G/T=13.0 OQPSK
Carrier 2.0 2.7 2.56 3.5 42.4
dB/K 2/3
2
Inbound
G/T=13.0 OQPSK
Carrier 4.1 4.1 5.12 0.5 39.4
dB/K 1/2
3
* worst-case transmit EIRP spectral density during Irvine experimental testing

Table 2: Representative Inbound Carrier Parameters – Irvine MCT

On the following pages, measured EIRP spectral density plots are provided for a skew angle of
20°, at 29.5 GHz. The antenna performance is fully compliant with the requirements in FCC 47
CFR §25.138(a) (FCC masks shown as red dashed line).

Thales Avionics, Inc. Ka-band ESAA – Modular Connectivity Terminal (MCT)
Experimental License Modification Request
File Number 0072-EX-CM-2017
3

Terminal Power SD
location in Symbol Info Occupied @antenna Transmit
AMC-15 Rate Rate BW flange EIRP SD
beam 2A Modcod (Msps) (Mbps) (MHz) (dBW/MHz) (dBW/MHz)
Inbound
G/T=14.0 OQPSK
Carrier 1.0 1.6 1.28 6.5 45.4*
dB/K .8
1
Inbound
G/T=14.0 OQPSK
Carrier 2.0 2.7 2.56 3.5 42.4
dB/K 2/3
2
Inbound
G/T=14.0 OQPSK
Carrier 4.1 4.1 5.12 0.5 39.4
dB/K 1/2
3
* worst-case transmit EIRP spectral density during Melbourne experimental testing

Table 3: Representative Inbound Carrier Parameters – Melbourne MCT Testing

On the following pages, measured EIRP spectral density plots are provided for skew angles of
40° and 25° at 29.5 GHz, approximating the skew angles from Melbourne to AMC-15 and AMC-
16, respectively. These plots replace those provided in Thales’s original experimental license
filing. The antenna performance is fully compliant with the requirements in FCC 47 CFR
§25.138(a) (FCC masks shown as red dashed line).

Thales Avionics, Inc. Ka-band ESAA – Modular Connectivity Terminal (MCT)
Experimental License Modification Request
File Number 0072-EX-CM-2017
9

Document Created: 2017-03-09 16:22:48
Document Modified: 2017-03-09 16:22:48

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