CPI Satcom:
Breaking New Ground in HPA Efficiency
While CPISatcom er SuperLinear TWTA. This tional 2.25-k W TWTAs; and
Division always C-band HPA achieves – 25 solid state power amplifiers
has had a repu- dBc intermod performance (SSPAs) ranging up to 1.5
tation for pro- while producing 1 kilowatt k W. In most applications,
ducing some of the most reliable (k W) of output power at the the output power level is
high-power amplifiers in the flange and consuming only backed off until high linear-
industry and for providing peer- 4500 watts of prime power, ity is achieved, usually – 25
less customer support, the com- making it the ideal HPA for dBc. The exception is the
pany has also been one of the multi-carrier applications. SuperLinear TWTA, which
most technologically innovative The amplifier utilizes a spe- is already optimized for this
in recent years. From the advent cial 2.25-k W TWT optimized linearity at full power, or
of the groundbreaking GEN IV for operation up to 1 k W. 1 k W. Traditional TWTAs
klystron power amplifier in This TWT was developed also achieve linearity at 1
1999, to significant improve- by CPI’s Microwave Power k W, but at 3 dB backoff. 1.5
ments in power supply technol- Products division concur- k W SSPAs typically provide
ogy leading to cooler operat- rently with Satcom division’s nearly 700 watts at – 25 dBc
IMD. All of this translates to
22 percent efficiency for the
SuperLinear TWTA, 15 per-
cent for traditional TWTAs
and 6 percent for the SSPAs.
In practical terms, Super-
Linear users can experience
several thousand dollars of
savings in prime power costs
per year per amplifier, depend-
ing on electricity costs, and
approximately $1000 more per
year in HVAC costs. Further,
only RF amplifiers utilizing
multi-depressed collector
tube technology are capable of
reduced power consumption
CPI Satcom’s new high power, SuperLinear, C-band TWTA breaks new when RF output is decreased. Superior
ground in HPA efficiency. Customer Support
ing temperatures, to one of the development of the amplifier. Smaller Size, CPI is among the industry
most efficient tri-band TWTAs Less Weight, Less leaders in supporting its
on the market today, Satcom Super Efficient Heat into the Room customers, with 15 service
Division has become an indus- There are now several types Because the SuperLinear centers worldwide, extensive
try leader in every respect. of C-band amplifiers on TWTA is so efficient in training programs, 24-hour
Now CPI has taken inno- the market for wideband, comparison to other HPAs, phone support and mainte-
vation a step further with the high power uplinking: the it presents one of the most nance programs tailored to
introduction of its high-pow- SuperLinear TWTA; tradi- attractive combination of individual requirements. ■
CPI Satcom’s technological focus throughout the years has been to
continuously improve performance and quality in order to provide the
lowest cost over the lifetime of the HPA.
Via Satellite Strategic Planning And Resource Guide 2007 17
product size and weight, at
only 15.75 inches high ( 9 RU)
and only 155 pounds — making it less than half the weight
and size of some comparable
SSPAs, and considerably
smaller, as well, than traditional TWTAs. In addition,
since the TWTA operates at
relatively cool temperatures,
reliability is improved so that
the lifetime of the tube and
most other electronic parts is
significantly increased.
GEN IV Commonality
The SuperLinear TWTA is
ideal for multi-carrier and
high bandwidth applications,
complementing the popular GEN IV klystron power
amplifier (KPA). CPI has
taken great care to ensure that
a high proportion of parts in
the SuperLinear TWTA are
common to the well-proven
and time-tested GEN IV. Of
particular advantage to users
is the large plasma screen
display, ethernet interface and
event log available in both
CPI products.
