A CubeSat-compliant C-band transponder from IMT that provides both TT&C and payload data communication in a new frequency band for nanosatellites.
C-Band Transponder
A CubeSat-compliant C-band transponder from IMT that provides both TT&C and payload data communication in a new frequency band for nanosatellites.
Description
The IMT C-Band Transponder is a CubeSat-compliant RF communication unit designed to give nanosatellite missions access to a new frequency band for both telemetry, tracking & command (TT&C) and payload data downlink. It operates with an uplink band of 5091-5150 MHz and a downlink band of 4500-4800 MHz, occupying less than 0.4U of volume with a compact 90 x 96 x 40 mm form factor and a mass of 400 g, making it suitable for integration into standard CubeSat structures. The unit is designed for a 3-year design lifetime and operates across a temperature range of -20°C to +60°C. It includes an onboard TCXO with 40 MHz output frequency (0V-3.3V) and ±20 ppm stability, connected via a RADIALL SMPM R201.423.110 connector, plus a SAMTEC SEAF-20-06-0-S-04-1-A-K data and power connector. Power is supplied at +5V (2.0A max) and -5V (0.1A), with power consumption of 3.5W in receive-only mode and 10W in combined RX & TX mode at 1W output power. The receiver section offers a carrier tracking signal range of -65 dBm to -115 dBm, a 3dB bandwidth of ≥500 KHz, a noise figure of 3 dB, and outputs to the digital section at 390 MHz with an RF output level of -5 dBm to 0 dBm via a RADIALL SMPM R201.423.110 connector. The transmitter section provides 1W output power at the antenna port, an 18 MHz 3dB bandwidth, and accepts an RF input from the digital section at 460 MHz with an input level of -5 dBm to 0 dBm, also via a RADIALL SMPM R201.423.110 connector.
Specifications
| Design lifetime | 3 years |
|---|---|
| Frequency bands (Uplink) | 5091 MHz -5150 MHz |
| Frequency bands (Downlink) | 4500 MHz - 4800 MHz |
| Volume | < 0,4U |
| Dimensions | 90 x 96 x 40 mm |
| Mass | 400 g |
| Form factor | CubeSat compliant |
| Tcxo output frequency | 40 MHz / 0 V-3.3 V |
| Tcxo stability | ± 20 ppm |
| Tcxo output connector | RADIALL SMPM R201.423.110 |
| Data and power connector | SAMTEC SEAF-20-06-0-S-04-1-A-K |
| Power supply | +5 V @ 2.0 A max -5 V @ 0.1 A |
| Power consumption | RX: 3.5 W RX & TX: 10 W @ 1 W Output Power |
| Operative temperature | -20°C + 60°C |
| Carrier tracking signal range | -65 dBm to -115 dBm |
| 3db bandwidth (Receiver) | ≥500 KHz |
| Noise figure | 3 dB |
| RF output connector (to DIGITAL) | RADIALL SMPM R201.423.110 |
| RF output frequency (to DIGITAL) | 390 MHz |
| RF output level (to DIGITAL) | -5 dBm to 0 dBm |
| Output power (Transmitter) | 1 W @ antenna port |
| 3db bandwidth (Transmitter) | 18 MHz |
| RF input connector (from DIGITAL) | RADIALL SMPM R201.423.110 |
| RF input frequency (from DIGITAL) | 460 MHz |
| RF input level (from DIGITAL) | -5 dBm to 0 dBm |
