An old satellite antenna measured on a new test facility at Eindhoven University of Technology

Abstract

Results are presented of planar near-field (NF) antenna measurements at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU=e). The antenna under test (AUT) is an engineering model (EM) of a satellite antenna for European coverage from Geostationary Orbit (GEO). It has a shaped beam with Polarisation isolation to allow frequency reuse in a front-fed reflector configuration. Electrical and mechanical axis are not co-incident, making alignment procedures important. A prime reason for publication is that acceptable results can already be obtained with a relatively small NF scan-plane. A comparison is shown with results obtained 25 years ago. It shows also that the AUT with its composite reflector has been kept in a stabile state.