Technology Considerations for the Use of Multiple Beam Antenna Systems in Communication Satellites

The general usage of multibeam antennas in satellite communication system is reviewed, and design constraints for a six-beam reconfigurable satellite antenna system are considered. These show that losses in the variable beam-forming network (BFN) Iimit performance achievable with a conventional common-power-amplifier/receiver system. An alternative design for an active BFN is presented, and relative performance predicted at 4/6, 11/14, and 20/30 GHz.