A method up-link fade control for a satellite not having AGC, includes the steps of determining characteristics for correcting channel non-linearity, each characteristic being determined for a different value of up-link fade. A signal representative of up-link fade is determined by a beacon receiver and the signal is associated with a correction characteristic for the up-link fade. The correction characteristic associated with the signal is applied to a corrector of a modulator such that the corrector changes the modulator characteristics to modify constellation parameters at a satellite receiver.