SSPA stands for Solid State Power Amplifier. Amplifiers, irrespective of their types, are used to enhance the amplitude of the radio frequency received by the satellite antennas.
Specifically used in satellite communication technology, it is an active device that drives the transmitter.
Intensifying the amplitude of the RF results in relative increase of noise, distortion, and loss of power and therefore, a suitable SSPA is used for varied applications.
However, incredible advances made in solid state technology have made the solid state power amplifier the most accomplished and sound device in the field of the satellite communication field, and especially over the traveling wave tube amplifier (TWTA).
The tenacious workhorse devices of amplifiers are the Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) or Gallium Nitrate (GaN) transistors, a component that does the bulk of the amplification work.
Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) SSPA system is popularly in use for over 4 decades now due to its quick replacement advantage though in terms of temperature tolerance GaN-based amplifiers fare better.
Gallium Nitrate (GaN) based solid state amplifiers were the first among the two to be developed by the department of defense for its use as jammers of the improvised explosion device (IED) in Iraq and other electronic warfare systems.
Commercial use of Gallium Nitrate (GaN) based SSPA, initially, was developed initially for low frequency L, S, and C band satellites. Now, it is also been used for higher frequencies like X, Ku, and Ka frequency bands. Both models are available from RADITEK Inc with details on the website.