Vehicle terminal antennas for mobile satellite applications

Abstract

A review of three classes of antennas for data and voice terminals is presented. The first one is a conically shaped beam low-gain antenna for data terminals. Drooping dipoles, quadrifilar helices, and microstrip antennas are described. These antennas can be simple and inexpensive . The second type of mobile terminal antennas are medium gain: microstrip mechanically steered arrays, microstrip electronically steered arrays, and adaptive arrays with a simple beam-steering system. The third type is a high-gain fixed terminal antenna. The noise temperature and G/T values of some antennas are discussed. The results of the vehicle terminal antennas program at AK Electromagnetique in support of developing North American mobile and fixed satellite services are summarized.<>