Optimum combining of multiple shipboard satcom antennas for hemispheric coverage

In order to avoid blockage and other siting problems, it is sometimes necessary to distribute a number of satcom antennas around a ship. These antennas may have limited scan range, such as with phased arrays. In combination, these antennas must provide complete hemispheric coverage even under maximum pitch and roll. In this paper, the arrangement and orientation of the individual antennas is determined that gives the minimum individual scan range. This determination is done for configurations including 3-, 4- and 5-side-facing antennas alone, and then 3-, 4-, and 5- side-facing antennas plus a zenith-facing face. Methods for plotting the outer scan contours are provided.