A monitoring apparatus for monitoring a coaxial cable for control signal collisions comprises an input port configured to couple the monitoring apparatus to the coaxial cable for detecting control signals that are transmitted on the coaxial cable, and a data interface configured to couple the monitoring apparatus to a data network and configured to output the detected control signals. Further, an electronic device for receiving satellite signals via a coaxial cable comprises a signal interface configured to couple the electronic device to the coaxial cable, a data interface configured to couple the electronic device to a monitoring apparatus, and a device control unit configured to transmit control signals via the signal interface on the coaxial cable and to query the monitoring apparatus via the data interface for presence of respective control signals on the coaxial cable. In addition, a single cable satellite system and a monitoring method are also provided.

An outdoor satellite receiving unit (ODU) receives several independent satellite signals, selects two signals with a switch matrix, downconverts the two signals to a bandstacked signal with a high and a low band signal, and outputs the bandstacked signal on the same cable to receiver units. Several satellite signals can be selected in groups of two or more and output to independent receiver units. Signal selecting is performed at the received radio frequency (RF) and bandstacking is performed with a single downconversion step to an intermediate frequency (IF). Channel stacking on the same cable of more than two channels from several satellites can be achieved by using frequency agile downconverters and bandpass filters prior to combining at the IF output. A slow transitioning switch minimizes signal disturbances when switching and maintains input impedance at a constant value.

An outdoor satellite receiving unit (ODU) receives several independent satellite signals, selects two signals with a switch matrix, downconverts the two signals to a bandstacked signal with a high and a low band signal, and outputs the bandstacked signal on the same cable to receiver units. Several satellite signals can be selected in groups of two or more and output to independent receiver units. Signal selecting is performed at the received radio frequency (RF) and bandstacking is performed with a single downconversion step to an intermediate frequency (IF). Channel stacking on the same cable of more than two channels from several satellites can be achieved by using frequency agile downconverters and bandpass filters prior to combining at the IF output. A slow transitioning switch minimizes signal disturbances when switching and maintains input impedance at a constant value.

Methods and systems are provided for increasing bandwidth efficiency in satellite communications. In some embodiments, a satellite communications method is provided that comprises receiving, at a satellite and from a plurality of user ground terminals, a plurality of source signals, wherein each of the source signals are modulated according to at least one source modulation method, and further receiving, at a satellite and from a plurality of user ground terminals, a plurality of information signals corresponding to the plurality of source signals. The method further includes combining, at the satellite, the plurality of source signals into a combined source signal with an overlapping bandwidth, wherein each of the source signals are further modulated according to at least one predetermined modulation method before they are combined, and transmitting, by a downlink transmission from the satellite to a gateway ground station, the combined source signal.

In some embodiments, a first receiver in a plurality of receivers receives a signal via a unicable line from a satellite transmission. The unicable line connects the plurality of receivers to an interface that receives multiple inputs from a satellite reflector dish. The first receiver generates a first unicable message for delivery on the unicable line and detects a characteristic on the unicable line to determine whether a second unicable message from a second receiver in the plurality of receivers is being sent on the unicable line. When the second unicable message is detected, the first receiver delays transmission of the first unicable message by a time period. When the second unicable message is not detected, the first receiver transmits the first unicable message on the unicable line.

In some embodiments, a first receiver in a plurality of receivers receives a signal via a unicable line from a satellite transmission. The unicable line connects the plurality of receivers to an interface that receives multiple inputs from a satellite reflector dish. The first receiver generates a first unicable message for delivery on the unicable line and detects a characteristic on the unicable line to determine whether a second unicable message from a second receiver in the plurality of receivers is being sent on the unicable line. When the second unicable message is detected, the first receiver delays transmission of the first unicable message by a time period. When the second unicable message is not detected, the first receiver transmits the first unicable message on the unicable line.

Systems and processes are provided for a micro ATSC transmitter including a satellite signal decoder configured to decode a satellite broadcast signal to generate a received audio video program, a data decoder configured to decoding a data signal from an ATSC broadcaster, a video processor configured to generate an altered audio video program in response to the received audio video program and the data signal, an ATSC encoder configured to encode the altered audio video program to generate an ATSC broadcast signal, and an ATSC transmitter configured to transmit the ATSC broadcast signal.

Systems and methods for operating a multi-band satellite terminal are disclosed. One aspect disclosed features a method, comprising: controlling a multi-band satellite terminal capable of receiving signals on a plurality of frequency bands to receive a signal transmitted by a satellite on a first frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands; determining link conditions of the first frequency band based on the received signal; generating an estimate of link conditions of a second frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands, wherein the estimate is generated based on the link conditions of the first frequency band; selecting the second frequency band based on the estimate of the link conditions of the second frequency band; and controlling the multi-band satellite ground terminal to receive the signal transmitted by the satellite on the second frequency band.

Systems and methods for operating a multi-band satellite terminal are disclosed. One aspect disclosed features a method, comprising: controlling a multi-band satellite terminal capable of receiving signals on a plurality of frequency bands to receive a signal transmitted by a satellite on a first frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands; determining link conditions of the first frequency band based on the received signal; generating an estimate of link conditions of a second frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands, wherein the estimate is generated based on the link conditions of the first frequency band; selecting the second frequency band based on the estimate of the link conditions of the second frequency band; and controlling the multi-band satellite ground terminal to receive the signal transmitted by the satellite on the second frequency band.

Methods and systems are provided for increasing bandwidth efficiency in satellite communications. In some embodiments, a satellite communications method is provided that comprises receiving, at a satellite and from a plurality of user ground terminals, a plurality of source signals, wherein each of the source signals are modulated according to at least one source modulation method, and further receiving, at a satellite and from a plurality of user ground terminals, a plurality of information signals corresponding to the plurality of source signals. The method further includes combining, at the satellite, the plurality of source signals into a combined source signal with an overlapping bandwidth, wherein each of the source signals are further modulated according to at least one predetermined modulation method before they are combined, and transmitting, by a downlink transmission from the satellite to a gateway ground station, the combined source signal.