Apparatus and method for transmitting terrestrial signals on a common frequency with satellite transmissions

A method for simultaneously providing terrestrial signals on a common frequency with satellite signals transmitted from a satellite, where the satellite is transmitting at a first frequency along a satellite transmission axis extending from the satellite to a terrestrial user location, the method comprising the step of:

• (a) transmitting terrestrial signals at the first frequency in a limited azimuth range from a terrestrial transmitter, the terrestrial transmitter being located with respect to the user location so as to transmit to the user location along a transmission route which is outside of a satellite directional reception range about the user location, wherein the satellite directional reception range comprises a limited directional range substantially centered on the satellite transmission axis.

An apparatus for facilitating the use of terrestrial transmitted signals which are transmitted on a common frequency simultaneously with satellite signals transmitted from a satellite, the satellite transmitting satellite signals at a first frequency to a terrestrial user location along a satellite transmission axis, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a terrestrial transmitter for transmitting terrestrial signals at the frequency to the user location, the terrestrial transmitter being location with respect to the user location such that the terrestrial transmitter transmits to the user location along a route which is outside of a satellite directional reception range about the user location, wherein the satellite directional reception range comprises a limited directional range substantially centered on the satellite transmission axis;
• and
• (b) a terrestrial receiving antenna at the user location for receiving signals at the first frequency only within a terrestrial directional reception range about a centerline of the terrestrial antenna, the terrestrial antenna being aligned to receive signals transmitted at the first frequency from the terrestrial transmitter location, and being aligned so that the satellite transmission axis is outside of the terrestrial directional reception range.

An apparatus for simultaneously transmitting terrestrial signals on a common frequency with satellite signals transmitted from a satellite, the satellite transmitting satellite signals at a first frequency to a user location for reception only within a satellite directional reception range about the user location, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a terrestrial for transmitting terrestrial signals at the first frequency from a fixed terrestrial location which forms a fixed geometry with the user location and the satellite, the terrestrial transmitter being located with respect to the user location such that the terrestrial transmitter transmits to the user location along a route which is outside of the satellite directional reception range about the user location.