Abstract: | This paper analyses the performance of a coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (COFDM) based system for digital audio broadcasting using a highly inclined orbit satellite constellation. The sources of performance degradation considered are non-linear amplification in the satellite transponder and multipath propagation for mobile reception. Despite its strong peak-to-mean amplitude variation, COFDM has been found to be very robust against non-linear amplification. In the multipath channel, practical cases demonstrate low performance losses even in highly populated areas when highly inclined elliptical orbits (HEO) are used. |