Self-survey calibration of meteor radar antenna arrays

This paper presents the self-surveying technique for calibrating the antenna spacing, orientation, and phase errors in multiple receiver radar antenna arrays. Utilizing a set of source transmitters placed at known locations in the far-field of the array and measurements of the phase present at each antenna, the array´s relative antenna locations and phase errors can be determined. The advantage of this technique is that the radar is used in its normal operating mode, providing an end-to-end calibration under true operational conditions. A self-survey calibration was performed with a meteor radar located at Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland, successfully mapping the array. The antenna positions were relatively close the expected locations, although the baselines were rotated approximately 5° from the true cardinal directions. The majority of the phase error was introduced by the receivers