Methods and systems are described for providing end-to-end beamforming. For example, end-to-end beamforming systems include end-to-end relays and ground networks to provide communications to user terminals located in user beam coverage areas. The ground segment can include geographically distributed access nodes and a central processing system. Return uplink signals, transmitted from the user terminals, have multipath induced by a plurality of receive/transmit signal paths in the end to end relay and are relayed to the ground network. The ground network, using beamformers, recovers user data streams transmitted by the user terminals from return downlink signals. The ground network, using beamformers generates forward uplink signals from appropriately weighted combinations of user data streams that, after relay by the end-end-end relay, produce forward downlink signals that combine to form user beams.

A communication system where a central node (base-station or access point) communicates with multiple clients in its neighbourhood using transparent immediate beam-forming. Resource allocation and channel access is such that the central node does not necessarily know when each client starts its transmission. Receive beam-forming in such a system is not possible, as beam-forming coefficients for each client should be selected according to the particular channel realization from that client to the central node. Each client is detected early in its transmission cycle, based on either a signature that is part of the physical characteristics unique to that client, or based on a signature that is intentionally inserted in the clients' signal, and accordingly adjusts its beam-forming coefficients.

Provided is an antenna for satellite communication capable of receiving multi-band signals. The antenna includes: a main reflector; a first feed horn which is provided on the main reflector and receives a signal of a first band; a first reflector which is disposed to be spaced apart from a reflective surface of the main reflector at a predetermined interval and transmits the signal of the first band to the first feed horn; a second feed horn which is provided on the main reflector and receives a signal of a second band; and a second reflector which is disposed to be spaced apart from the reflective surface of the main reflector at a predetermined interval and transmits the signal of the second band to the second feed horn.

A microstrip-to-waveguide transition includes a substrate and a waveguide. The substrate has a metal layer, a ground layer and a dielectric layer disposed between the metal layer and a ground layer. The substrate includes a microstrip line impedance transformer and a substrate integrated waveguide that is electromagnetically coupled to the microstrip line impedance transformer. The substrate integrated waveguide has a 90 degree substrate integrated waveguide bend section at an end portion thereof. The waveguide is arranged perpendicularly relative to the substrate. The waveguide is electromagnetically coupled to the substrate integrated waveguide at the 90 degree substrate integrated waveguide bend section. The microstrip-to-waveguide transition is free of a back-short at a location corresponding to the 90 degree substrate integrated waveguide bend section.

Methods and systems are described for providing end-to-end beamforming. For example, end-to-end beamforming systems include end-to-end relays and ground networks to provide communications to user terminals located in user beam coverage areas. The ground segment can include geographically distributed access nodes and a central processing system. Return uplink signals, transmitted from the user terminals, have multipath induced by a plurality of receive/transmit signal paths in the end to end relay and are relayed to the ground network. The ground network, using beamformers, recovers user data streams transmitted by the user terminals from return downlink signals. The ground network, using beamformers generates forward uplink signals from appropriately weighted combinations of user data streams that, after relay by the end-end-end relay, produce forward downlink signals that combine to form user beams.

A satellite dish cover apparatus for protecting a satellite dish and preventing signal interference includes a main dish cover comprising a circular front panel, a perimeter extension, and a rounded back panel. The back panel has an installation aperture configured to receive a satellite dish such that a front face of the satellite dish is fully covered by the front panel. A feed horn cover hood is coupled to a feed horn cover arm extending from the front panel and is configured to receive the feed horn of the satellite dish. A mounting arm is coupled to the back panel and extends out of the installation aperture. A mounting clamp is coupled to the mounting arm and is configured to selectively engage a support post of the satellite dish.

A reflector assembly configured to move between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration includes a central hub, a series of ribs coupled to the central hub, and a flexible reflective material attached to the ribs. Each rib includes a root rib, an intermediate rib, and a tip rib. The root rib is configured to rotate in a first direction about a first axis away from a coaxial axis of the central hub, the intermediate rib is configured to rotate in the first direction about a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis, and the tip rib is configured to rotate in the first direction about a third axis substantially parallel to the second axis as the reflector assembly moves into the deployed configuration. The flexible reflective material and the ribs together form a reflective surface with a substantially paraboloidal surface profile configured to focus electromagnetic energy.

Determining movement for alignment of a satellite antenna using accelerometer data and gyroscope data of the satellite antenna. Described techniques include receiving accelerometer data for a first time period from an accelerometer mounted on the antenna and analyzing the accelerometer data to determine a movement time window for a movement event of the antenna. The techniques may include receiving gyroscope data for the first time period from a gyroscope mounted on the antenna and analyzing the gyroscope data during the movement time window to determine an amount of movement of the antenna due to the movement event.

Disclosed is a shaped horn in conjunction with a dielectric tube for enhanced aperture directivity that can achieve a near optimum efficiency. The shaped horn provides additional mode control to provide an improved off-axis cross-polarization response. The horn shape can be individually optimized for isolated horns or for horns in a feed array. The feed array environment can produce results that lead to a different optimized shape than the isolated horn. Lower off axis cross-polarization can result in improved efficiency and susceptibility to interference.

Methods and systems are described for providing end-to-end beamforming. For example, end-to-end beamforming systems include end-to-end relays and ground networks to provide communications to user terminals located in user beam coverage areas. The ground segment can include geographically distributed access nodes and a central processing system. Return uplink signals, transmitted from the user terminals, have multipath induced by a plurality of receive/transmit signal paths in the end to end relay and are relayed to the ground network. The ground network, using beamformers, recovers user data streams transmitted by the user terminals from return downlink signals. The ground network, using beamformers generates forward uplink signals from appropriately weighted combinations of user data streams that, after relay by the end-end-end relay, produce forward downlink signals that combine to form user beams.