A beamforming network for a compact circular switched-beam array antenna

This paper reports on the design and development of a beamforming network for a compact 8-element switched-beam array antenna for use with the Australian mobile satellite communications system, Mobilesat/sup TM/. The device is formed by a switched 8-way-2-elements-on radial divider/combiner and eight 1-bit phase shifters and is capable of generating 24 individual beams. The experimental results for the beamforming network as well as for the entire array are presented.