Very small aperture terminal (VSAT) networks offer a solution to the increasing demand for low-density voice and data communications. Spread Spectrum and single-channel-per-carrier (SCPC) transmission techniques work well for multiple access purposes while allowing the earth station antennas to remain small. Direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) is the simplest spread spectrum technique to use in a VSAT network, since a frequency synthesizer is not required for each terminal. This thesis examines DS-CDMA and SCPC Ku-band VSAT satellite systems for low-density (64 kbps or less) communications. It develops methods for calculating PN coding cross-correlation interference losses and satellite transponder effects, and it includes these losses in a performance analysis of 50 channel full mesh and star network architectures. It demonstrates selection of operating conditions producing optimum performance. / Master of Science