THE STUDY OF SCINTILLATION ON C-BAND LOW ELEVATION ANGLE AT SRI-RACHA SATELLITE EARTH STATION

Tropospheric and ionospheric scintillation may impact on C-band satellite communication systems, particularly at lowmargin systems and low elevation angles. This paper presents the characteristics of C-Band scintillation at low elevation angle received and recorded the satellite signal from INTELSAT above the Pacific Ocean Region (POR) from January 2002 to December 2002 in the period of solar maximum. We received 3.9525 GHz beacon signal at Sri-Racha satellite earth station by the 32 meters in diameter antenna with 8 degrees of elevation. The analysis was found that the values of amplitude fluctuation is mostly about 0.5-0.6 dB peak to peak and $S_4$ = 0.03-0.04. The maximum amplitude fluctuation is about 9 dB peak to peak occurring in April. The occurrence numbers of scintillation is most frequently in April and minimum in November. The occurrence numbers of tropospheric scintillation are most frequently in April and October, and minimum in November. It relates to temperature and water vapor pressure variation in $N_{wet} $. The occurrence numbers of ionospheric scintillation are most frequently in April and September, and minimum in November. It varies corresponding to both equinoctial periods (vernal and autumnal equinox in March and September) and solstice periods (June and December) respectively.