Satellite Earth stations: What is the typical antenna diameter range (in metres) for standard fixed-satellite service (FSS) Earth stations?

Introduction / Context:
Earth station antenna size drives link budget performance (gain, G/T) and impacts site cost. Knowing typical diameters helps estimate coverage, EIRP, and regulatory compliance for FSS operations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• C-band and Ku-band FSS links to geostationary satellites.
• “Standard” fixed Earth stations rather than very small aperture terminals (VSATs).
• Clear-sky link budgets with typical rain margins.

Concept / Approach:

Antenna gain G ≈ (π D/λ)^2 η. At C/Ku bands, Earth stations commonly use dishes roughly 10–15 m for robust international trunking and telephony/TV uplinks; smaller VSATs (1–3.8 m) serve lower-throughput services. Very large 30–50 m dishes are deep-space or radio astronomy class, not standard FSS.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Historic INTELSAT/ITU documentation and industry practice list gateway dishes in the ~11–13 m range for C/Ku FSS with high availability.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• 5–10 m: more typical of smaller hubs or TVRO uplinks; not the classic standard gateway range.
• 27.5–30 or 30–50 m: exceptional cases (deep space/giant RTs), not standard FSS gateways.

Common Pitfalls:

• Confusing gateway-class dishes with VSAT terminal sizes (sub-3.8 m).

Final Answer:

10 to 15