A communications satellite acts as a microwave relay station in space, linking ground stations separated by vast distances. It receives an uplink signal on one frequency band, amplifies it, and transmits it back down on a different downlink frequency to avoid interference. They are placed in geostationary or low Earth orbits to provide television broadcasting, global positioning, and remote internet access.
We lost the feed because the uplink dish lost alignment with the communications satellite.
Also heard as
- comsat
Related terms
Uplink
The communication path originating from a remote device and traveling toward the core network.
Downlink
The transmission path from a satellite, cell tower, or network core to the end-user device.
Spot beam
A highly concentrated satellite signal directed at a specific, limited geographic area on the ground.