Narrow multibeam satellite ground station antenna employing a linear array with a geosynchronous arc coverage of 60° -- Part I: Theory

The feasibility of using an appropriately squinted linear scan in narrow multibeam satellite ground station antennas employing phased arrays is demonstrated. This linear scan has the potential of reducing the complexity of a narrow-beam planar array to that of a linear array. Calculations for such antennas placed at cities throughout the U.S. show tht the peak beam pointing error in covering the W to W geosynchronous equatorial arc (GEA) is under 5/ 1000th of a degree. Communication at a 300 MBd rate in the 12/14 GHz band can be made feasible, for a grating lobe-free scan and beamwidth antenna, by using a relatively simple time equalization.