Earth station uplink capacity factors The traffic-handling capacity (on the uplink) of an Earth station depends primarily on which of the following technical factors?

Introduction / Context:
Earth station uplink capacity (e.g., number of carriers, data throughput) is limited by the carrier-to-noise ratio at the satellite transponder input. This, in turn, depends on the station’s transmitted signal strength, the satellite receive antenna characteristics, and the overall noise performance of the space segment.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Fixed satellite service with bent-pipe transponders.
• Uplink budget includes Earth station EIRP, free-space loss, atmospheric loss, satellite receive G/T, and transponder constraints.
• Traffic capacity correlates with achievable C/N and intermodulation limits.

Concept / Approach:

Higher EIRP improves the received carrier level at the satellite. Greater satellite receive gain increases the effective signal at the low-noise amplifier input. Lower satellite noise temperature (higher G/T) improves the C/N for the same received carrier. All these factors influence how many carriers or how high a data rate can be supported within required link margins.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Link budget calculations show sensitivity of C/N to EIRP, satellite G/T, and path/noise parameters. Operators raise EIRP, use high-gain antennas, and choose satellites with better G/T to expand capacity.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Choosing only one factor ignores the multiplicative/ratio nature of link budgets; all listed factors jointly affect uplink capacity.

Common Pitfalls:

Overlooking intermodulation and back-off; ignoring weather and pointing losses which further affect capacity.

Final Answer:

All of the above