Satellite Frequencies

Satellite frequencies are chosen to support specific satellite communications applications. Satellite frequencies extend from P-band to Ka-band and further. The higher the satellite frequencies, the wider the bandwidth and the greater the capacity of the link. However, the higher the satellite frequencies, the greater the atmospheric attenuation and the more noise collected, requiring higher powers for the same carrier-to-noise ratio. Higher satellite frequencies also have higher gain for a given satellite dish antenna, although the antennas become harder to point since the beam is more directional at higher satellite frequencies.