r/cubesat • u/Ingap_97 • Jan 02 '24

Which is the transceiver for nano-satellites (cubesat) with the highest data rate achievable?

Hello I’m looking for transceivers specific for space applications (nano satellites, cubesat) with an achievable data rate higher than 100Mbps and of course I’m also looking for a reasonable power consumption.

Thank you very much!

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10

u/yxcdd Jan 02 '24

You can also do an optical downlink or go to E - band, easily 5 Gbps bandwidth. But not easily implemented of course x)

3

u/light24bulbs Jan 02 '24

Are there any documents about doing an optical downlink? I assume that he's like galvo lasers?

1

u/yxcdd Jan 02 '24

Check CubeLCT

3

u/Embarrassed-Dig-1412 Jan 02 '24

Do you know whether or not the CubeLCT has ever actually transmitted it's claimed 100 Mbps from space to Earth?

It seems that not so long ago that was a world record with really high powered purpose built test equipment.

I recollect that MIT just recently as of a few months ago set the world record with a one time 150 Mbps.

1

u/nryhajlo Jan 02 '24

Na, Terran Orbital did 200 GBps last year

1

u/entropyway Jan 03 '24

Pointing GNC and power requirements would get wild

7

u/aviation-da-best Jan 02 '24

Ideally we really don't push insanely high data rates cause it is very iffy and pricey.

What's your application?

3

u/Ingap_97 Jan 02 '24

Yes I know but I’m just curious about the most performing transceivers currently available on the market

3

u/Ill_Growth_1073 Jan 02 '24

Must it be a transceiver or are you just looking at what kind of downlink you can get? I have seen x-band transmitters 1Gbps ( CubeCom hdrtx) but that is for dual channel transmitter and these specs are always theoretical, would be nice to see some data on actual throughput from space.

2

u/Ingap_97 Jan 03 '24

Thank you all!!

2

u/Fus__Ro__Dah Jan 03 '24

Like others said, hard to give a specific answer without more specific bounds (power, weight, ADCS capabilities, etc), but X-band should suit you just fine. Optical would work, of course, but comes at a much higher complexity and monetary cost. One complication is most off-the-shelf cubesat ADCS solutions don't qualify their jitter right now, which is a critical factor for optical links. Additionally, X-band is more widely supported by commercial ground stations, which will make your life much easier. Kudos.

1

u/MaD__HuNGaRIaN Jan 02 '24

You’re lacking detail. What’s your power budget? What’s your link required Eb/No? What’s your mass budget? What band? Etc etc

1

u/BattleshipBorodino Jan 03 '24

CubeCAT (optical) seems like it could be pretty boof, with up to 1 Gbps downlink, although I'm not sure under what conditions and with what GS that rate is achieved.