Ka-band satcom-on-the-move antenna system announced

Typically mounted on vehicles for either commercial or military use, the new ADS system features a low profile radome that houses a 4-port, wideband flat-panel waveguide-array antenna together with ancillary hardware.

Operating at 19.2-21.2GHz in Rx and 29-31GHz in Tx, the dual circular polarisation system covering military and commercial Ka-band is suitable for the latest high data-rate requirements and, being fully European made, is free from any ITAR/EAR restrictions.

Key to the operation of the ADS antenna system are two of the Link Microtek rotary joints - one for azimuth and one for elevation - which enable RF signals to be fed from the static side of the system to its rotating side.

The central transmit channel of each rotary joint is implemented in WR28 waveguide and delivers up to 50W of microwave power (CW) over the frequency range 29 to 31GHz with an insertion loss of just 0.5dB and a VSWR of 1.3:1. This allows the signal from the BUC, which is connected to the system port, to be transferred through a waveguide transmission line all the way to the antenna, thus minimising losses.

According to Steve Cranstone, Managing Director of Link Microtek, power loss is a major consideration in the system design. “To be able to transmit 50 watts at Ka-band frequencies, you need quite expensive amplifiers, so it is important not to lose too much of that power on the way to the antenna,” he said. “Using CST electromagnetic simulation software to verify the performance of the rotary joint design, our engineering team was able to ensure that the waveguide transmit channel would keep any loss to a minimum.”

The outer receive channel, meanwhile, uses SMA coaxial connectors to cover L-band frequencies from DC to 2.15GHz with a maximum CW power of 10W, as well as providing the DC voltage needed for powering the two LNBs which are located on the rotating side of the system, right on the back of the antenna with the aim of maximising the G/T. Isolation between the channels is greater than 35dB.

Manufactured from aluminium, the rotary joints weigh only 160g and measure 49mm in length with a body diameter of 36mm and a flange diameter of 55mm. They have an operating temperature range of -40 to 55°C, satisfy the typical military environmental conditions of MIL-STD-810G and are tested to over 1 million rotations.

Cranstone again: “The design and manufacture of this type of rotary joint presents a significant challenge in a number of ways. Inside each one are scores of tiny individual parts, which have to be crafted to high precision and tight tolerances before being carefully assembled by hand. Despite this intricate, almost watch-like design, they have to be robustly constructed to withstand the particular mechanical stresses associated with SOTM systems so that they deliver reliable long term operation.”

For ADS, Chief Engineer, Marco Formaggi said: “We have been delighted with the performance of the rotary joints supplied by Link Microtek. The company’s many years of experience and expertise in this field enabled it to satisfy all of our technical and commercial requirements and helped us produce an innovative antenna system employing the most advanced technology available.”