Feed-forward symbol synchronizer and methods of operation therefor

A symbol synchronizer that synchronizes symbols transmitted within one or more packets that form a burst of radio frequency (RF) energy, the symbol synchronizer comprising:

• a receiver that samples the symbols using a sampling clock, resulting in multiple complex symbol samples;
• a symbol phase estimator, coupled to the receiver, that generates a phase estimate from the multiple complex symbol samples, wherein the phase estimate indicates a phase shift between a local reference and the symbols;
• a resampler, coupled to the symbol phase estimator, that resamples the multiple complex symbol samples based on the phase estimate, resulting in a set of symbol samples;
• a buffer, coupled to the resampler, into which the set of symbol samples is clocked using a resampling clock that is based on the phase estimate;
• and
• a symbol clock, coupled to the buffer, that clocks the set of symbol samples out of the buffer and into a demodulator.

A satellite within a satellite communications network that receives symbols transmitted within one or more packets that form a burst of radio frequency (RF) energy, the satellite comprising:

• a receiver that samples the symbols using a sampling clock, resulting in multiple complex symbol samples;
• a symbol phase estimator, coupled to the receiver, that generates a phase estimate from the multiple complex symbol samples, wherein the phase estimate indicates a phase shift between a local reference and the symbols;
• a resampler, coupled to the symbol phase estimator, that resamples the multiple complex symbol samples based on the phase estimate, resulting in a set of symbol samples;
• a buffer, coupled to the resampler, into which the set of symbol samples is clocked using a resampling clock that is based on the phase estimate;
• and
• a symbol clock, coupled to the buffer, that clocks the set of symbol samples out of the buffer and into a demodulator.