Design and implementation of a low cost adaptive antenna system for mobile satellite communication

This paper describes the design methodology and low-cost solutions implemented in the a low-cost 1K element phased array system. The system operates at 12.2 to 12.7 GHz supporting both left hand and right hand circular polarizations. The total radiation gain is 31.8 dBi and the axial ratio is 1.5 dB. The total height and weight of the system are only 5 cm and 9 Kg respectively. The techniques and configurations used to reduce the cost and complexity of the system are described in this paper. Moreover, the design of a novel sub-array antenna, signal processing unit and the mechanical structure of the array are presented.