Commercial Satellite Services at a Prime Location
The ASF Enterprise provides reliable fiberoptic connectivity to the Lower 48. The ground station’s location (64.794, -147.536) is optimal for tracking polar-orbiting satellites. Its two X- and S-band antennas, providing 9-10 supports/day/spacecraft, are supported by ground station engineers with decades of experience.
Customer-Owned Equipment
ASF Enterprise maintains and hosts customer-owned equipment.
Secure and Convenient
Located near Fairbanks, Alaska, ASF provides a fenced, gated facility with 24/7 police and operator video monitoring, a state-of-the-art fire suppression system, and a generator power supply backup. Fairbanks has a commercial airport with direct flights to the lower 48, experienced local contractors, and nearby hotels and amenities. The climate is dry, and the winds are calm.
![ASF station mask](https://asf.alaska.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/station-mask-900-by-900-for-web-300x300.png)
The ASF Station Mask
Antenna Technical Information
![UAF1 antenna closeup](https://asf.alaska.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/uaf1-cande_carl_thompson_for_web-1.png)
UAF1 Antenna (7 meter)
Key Features
- ViaSat 3-axis antenna
- 7.3m parabolic reflector
- S, X, and Ka-band downlink
- S-Band uplink
- Cassegrain configuration
- 4 ind. Freq. channels in X-band
- 400 Mbs per X-band channel
- Dual polarization support in X-band
- Model 3420 Insulated Riser
- Model 3424 Azimuth/train pedestal
- Series 3880 ACU
- VHR-1200 high-rate receiver
- 100W uplink amplifier
UAF1 X-band Telemetry Characteristics
Characteristic | Value |
---|---|
Frequency | 8000 - 8500 MHz |
G/T | Theoretical = 32 dB/K Worst case A 5 deg El |
Polarization | RHC or LHC |
Antenna Beamwidth | 0.3 deg |
Modulation | BPSK, QPSK, OQPSK, 8PSK |
Data Rates
Modulation Format | Quad-Channel Mode 2x demodulators per IF channel | Dual-Channel Mode 1x demodulators per IF channel |
---|---|---|
Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) | 200 Mbps x 2 demods x 2 IF channels (800 Mbps total) | 400 Mbps x 2 IF channels (800 Mbps total) |
Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) | 400 Mbps x 2 demods x 2 IF channels (1600 Mbps total) | 800 Mbps x 2 IF channels (1600 Mbps total) |
Offset Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (OQPSK) | 400 Mbps x 2 demods x 2 IF channels (1600 Mbps total) | 800 Mbps x 2 IF channels (1600 Mbps total) |
9 Phase Shift Keying (8PSK) | 600 Mbps x 2 demods x 2 IF channels (2400 Mbps total) | 1200 Mbps x 2 IF channels (2400 Mbps total) |
UAF1 S-band Telemetry Characteristics
Characteristic | Value |
---|---|
Frequency | 2200-2300 MHz |
G/T | Theoretical = 23 deg C Worst case @ 0.5 deg El = 19 dB |
System Noise Temperature | 30 K |
Polarization | RHC or LHC |
Antenna Beamwidth | 1.2.deg |
Antenna Gain | 48 dB @ Noise 30 K |
Carrier Modulation | SC_AQPSK, BPSK, SGLS |
Carrier Data Rate | 8 kbps to 128 kbps |
Subcarrier Frequency | 1.024 MHz |
Subcarrier Modulation | BPSK |
Subcarrier Data Rate | 2 kbps to 128 kbps |
UAF1 S-band Command Characteristics
Characteristic | Value |
---|---|
Frequency | 2025-2120 MHz |
EIRP | 53 dBWi |
Polarization | RHC or LHC |
Antenna Beamwidth | 1.2.deg |
Antenna Gain | 48 dB |
Output Power | 100 W |
Carrier Modulation | SGLS |
Carrier Data Rate | 100 kbps to 1 Mbps |
Subcarrier Frequency | 1.024 MHz |
Subcarrier Modulation | FSK/AM |
Subcarrier Data Rate | 100 bps |
UAF2 Antenna (9 meter)
Key Features
- ViaSat 3-axis antenna
- 9.1m parabolic reflector
- X-band downlink
- RHC polarization downlinks only
- S-band uplink
- Cassegrain configuration
- Series 3880 ACU
- Model 3316 pedestal
- VHR-1200 high-rate receiver
- Deicing system
- 150W uplink amplifier
- installed 1995/upgraded 2014
![UAF2 antenna closeup UAF2 antenna closeup](https://asf.alaska.edu/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/UAF2.-closeup-crop-1-q3dlfs0bw6loefzebsc0h55jxedti99vf66wc6sz0o.jpg)
UAF2 X-band Telemetry Characteristics
Characteristic | Value |
---|---|
Frequency | 8000-8500 MHz |
G/T | Theoretical = 34 dB @ 23 C @ 5 deg EL |
System Noise Temperature | 92 K |
Polarization | RHC |
Antenna Beamwidth | 0.22 deg |
Antenna Gain | 55dBi @ 53 K |
UAF2 S-band Command Characteristics
Characteristic | Value |
---|---|
Frequency | 2042-2052 MHz |
EIRP | 38 dBWi |
Polarization | RHC |
Antenna Beamwidth | 1.1.deg |
Antenna Gain | 42.6 dBi |
Output Power | 50 W |
Carrier Modulation | Linear PM |
Modulation Index | PM: 1 Radian BPSK |
Subcarrier Frequency | 16 kHz |
Subcarrier Modulation | BPSK |
Subcarrier Data Rate | 2 kbps |