Exploratory Test of Radio-Technical Characteristics of Antennas of Ground-Based Command Complexes

Abstract

This article considers the capabilities of known methods of characteristics measurement for large ground-based antennas in the microwave range. In addition to the well-known radio-astronomical method, capable of measuring the power directivity pattern and absolute gain, a radio holographic antenna measurement method is considered. A significant advantage of the latter method is the ability to reconstruct the distribution of field amplitude and phase in the aperture, which enables one to conduct additional targeted adjustment of a parabolic antenna system in order to increase its gain. This adjustment is particularly relevant for the ongoing effort to upgrade larger parabolic antennas of ground-based command systems and utilize their higher frequency ranges. Measurement techniques of natural signals from extraterrestrial radio sources, as well as geostationary satellites, designed for fully steerable parabolic antennas are discussed. The paper presents experimental results of measurement of power directivity and field distribution patterns in aperture, received with radio-astronomical and radio-holographic methods from the largest Russian fully steerable ground-based antennas with reflectors from 25 to 70 meters large.