An active array antenna system for satellite communication on-the-move

A Ku-band active receiving microstrip array antenna system for satellite communication on-the-move (COTM) is described. The factors contributing to antenna gain-to-system noise temperature ratio (G/T) are analyzed, based on which the number of antenna receiving channels is decided. Small size, low noise figure and ease to assemble low noise amplifier (LNA) modules are designed for every receiving channel. A block-of-down converter (BDC) is also designed for the antenna system to convert the 12.25 GHz to 12.75 GHz radio frequency (RF) signal to intermediate frequency (IF) signal. The method to calculate G/T of this active array antenna system is also given, and the calculated result is 10.5 dB/K.