Network-Access Satellite Communication System

1 . A method for use in managing satellite communication signal strength, comprising:

receiving a beacon signal from an earth-based beacon, the received beacon signal having an amplitude;

monitoring the amplitude of the beacon signal; and

in response to monitoring the beacon signal, causing a transmitter located on a satellite to adjust the signal strength for a satellite communication.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

in response to detecting an increase in the amplitude of the beacon signal, causing the transmitter to adjust the signal strength for a satellite communication comprises decreasing the signal strength for the satellite communication; and

in response to detecting a decrease in the amplitude of the beacon signal, causing the transmitter to adjust the signal strength for a satellite communication comprises increasing the signal strength for the satellite communication.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

monitoring the received beacon signal comprises comparing the amplitude of the received beacon signal to one of a target amplitude level and an amplitude of a previously received beacon signal.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein:

in response to determining that the amplitude of the received beacon signal is greater than the target amplitude level, causing the transmitter to adjust the signal strength for a satellite communication comprises decreasing the signal strength for the satellite communication; and

in response to determining that the amplitude of the received beacon signal is less than the target amplitude level, causing the transmitter to adjust the signal strength for a satellite communication comprises increasing the signal strength for the satellite communication.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the target amplitude level comprises a discrete range of amplitudes.

6 . A satellite communications system, comprising software embodied in computer readable medium and, when executed, operable to:

monitor an amplitude of a received beacon signal; and

in response to monitoring the beacon signal, cause the signal strength for a satellite communication to be adjusted.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein causing the signal strength for a satellite communication to be adjusted comprises:

causing the signal strength for the satellite communication to decrease in response to detecting an increase in the amplitude of the beacon signal; and

causing the signal strength for the satellite communication to increase in response to detecting an decrease in the amplitude of the beacon signal.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein monitoring the amplitude of the received beacon signal comprises comparing the amplitude of the received beacon signal to one of a target amplitude level and an amplitude of a previously received beacon signal.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein causing the signal strength for a satellite communication to be adjusted comprises:

causing the signal strength for the satellite communication to decrease in response to determining that the amplitude of the received beacon signal is greater than the target amplitude level; and

causing the signal strength for the satellite communication to increase in response to determining that the amplitude of the received beacon signal is less than the target amplitude level.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the target amplitude level comprises a discrete range of amplitudes.

11 . A method for use in managing satellite communication signal strength, comprising:

receiving, at a gateway station, microwave communication signals from a substantially geostationary satellite;

monitoring for a performance change in a particular one of the received microwave communication signals; and

in response to detecting a performance change in the monitored signal, transmitting instructions to the satellite to increase the transmission power for the microwave communication signals.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the detected performance change is a propagation loss.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the detected performance change is a propagation loss.

14 . A method for use in managing satellite communication signal strength, comprising:

transmitting microwave communication signals from a substantially geostationary satellite to a gateway station;

receiving and monitoring, at the satellite, a signal from the gateway station for a performance change; and

in response to detecting a performance change in the monitored signal, increasing the transmission power for the microwave communication signals.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the detected performance change is a propagation loss.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the detected performance change is a propagation loss.

17 . A system for controlling satellite communication signal strength, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit microwave communications signals;

a first splitter configured to create a duplicate copy of at least a portion of the microwave communications signals transmitted by the transmitter;

a filter coupled to the first splitter and configured to isolate a particular portion of the signals created by the first splitter; and

a controller coupled to the filter and configured to:

receive the isolated portion of the signal from the filter; and

adjust the signal strength for the microwave communications signals in response to the isolated portion of the signal strength received from the filter.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the first splitter comprises a directional coupler.

19 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising:

a second splitter; and

a test signal source coupled to the second splitter;

wherein the test signal source is configured to transmit a test signal to the second splitter and the second splitter is configured to couple the test signal to an input signal for the transmitter.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein:

the test signal comprises two narrowband tones of approximately equal power; and

the particular portion of the signals isolated by the filter comprise an intermodulation product of the two narrowband tones of the test signal.

21 . A method for use in managing satellite communication signal strength, comprising:

using a transmitter on a satellite, transmitting microwave communications signals;

determining a distortion associated with at least a portion of the transmitted microwave communications signals; and

in response to the determination, causing the signal strength of the microwave communications signals transmitted by the transmitter to be adjusted.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein:

the microwave communications signals transmitted by the transmitter comprise two narrowband tones of approximately equal power; and

determining the distortion associated with at least a portion of the transmitted microwave communications signals comprises determining the intermodulation product of the two narrowband tones.

23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein causing the signal strength of the microwave communications signals transmitted by the transmitter to be adjusted comprises adjusting the gain for the transmitter.

24 . The method of claim 21 , wherein causing the signal strength of the microwave communications signals transmitted by the transmitter to be adjusted comprises transmitting instructions to adjust the gain for the transmitter.

25 . A method for use in managing satellite communication signal strength, comprising:

generating a test signal;

coupling the generated test signal to a communications signal;

amplifying the communications signal and the test signal at an initial gain level;

filtering the amplified signals to isolate distortion associated with the test signal; and

adjusting the gain level in response to the isolated distortion.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the isolated distortion has an amplitude and adjusting the gain level in response to the isolated distortion comprises:

comparing the amplitude of the isolated distortion to a target distortion level;

increasing the gain level in response to a determination that the amplitude of the isolated distortion is less than the target distortion level; and

decreasing the gain level in response to a determination that the amplitude of the isolated distortion is greater than the target distortion level.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the target distortion level comprises a range of amplitudes.

28 . A method for use in managing satellite communication signal strength, comprising:

receiving microwave communication signals from a substantially geostationary satellite;

monitoring at least two signals received from the geostationary satellite; and

in response to detecting a change in the interference between the at least two signals, instructing the satellite to adjust the transmission power for the microwave communication signals.

29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein instructing the satellite to adjust the transmission power for the microwave communications signals comprises:

in response to detecting a decrease in interference between the at least two signals, instructing the satellite to increase the transmission power for the microwave communication signals; and

in response to detecting an increase in interference between the at least two signals, instructing the satellite to decrease the transmission power for the microwave communications signals.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the decrease in interference is due to propagation loss associated with weather.