Embodiments of the invention include an integrated single-piece antenna feed and a turnstile circular polarizer suitable for use in a satellite communications system. One embodiment of the integrated single-piece antenna includes a circular waveguide input, a turnstile, a coaxial feed horn, subreflector and subreflector support. One embodiment of the turnstile features four branches of wrapped-single-ridged waveguide. Another embodiment is a turnstile circular polarizer.

In one embodiment, a sub-reflector assembly for a reflector antenna has (i) a waveguide transition at a waveguide end of the sub-reflector assembly and configured to fit within a waveguide, (ii) a dielectric radiator connected to the waveguide transition and extending both laterally and back towards the waveguide end of the sub-reflector assembly, and (iii) a sub-reflector connected to the dielectric radiator. By configuring the dielectric radiator to extend both laterally and back towards the dielectric end of the assembly, radiated energy from the waveguide is directed such that the sub-reflector assembly can be used with shallow reflector dishes (e.g., F/D ratio greater than 0.25) and still achieve sufficiently high directivity.

Embodiments of the invention include an integrated single-piece antenna feed and a turnstile circular polarizer suitable for use in a satellite communications system. One embodiment of the integrated single-piece antenna includes a circular waveguide input, a turnstile, a coaxial feed horn, subreflector and subreflector support. One embodiment of the turnstile features four branches of wrapped-single-ridged waveguide. Another embodiment is a turnstile circular polarizer.

A method for illuminating a dish reflector of a reflector antenna, including providing a waveguide coupled to a vertex of a dish reflector at a proximal end, a sub-reflector supported by a dielectric block coupled to a distal end of the waveguide, the dielectric block provided with a dielectric radiator portion proximate the distal end of the waveguide. An RF signal passing through the waveguide and the dielectric block to reflect from the sub-reflector through the dielectric block and at least partially through the dielectric radiator portion to the dish reflector illuminates the dish reflector with a maximum signal intensity and/or signal intensity angular range that is spaced outward from the vertex area of the dish reflector.

A dielectric cone radiator sub-reflector assembly for a reflector antenna with a waveguide supported sub-reflector is provided as a unitary dielectric block with a sub-reflector at a distal end. A waveguide transition portion of the dielectric block is dimensioned for coupling to an end of the waveguide. A dielectric radiator portion is provided between the waveguide transition portion and a sub-reflector support portion. An outer diameter of the dielectric radiator portion is provided with a plurality of radial inward grooves and a minimum diameter of the dielectric radiator portion is greater than of a sub-reflector diameter of the sub-reflector support surface.

A microwave system and method comprising a center fed parabolic reflector; a radio transceiver, said transceiver disposed on a circuit board and coupled to a radiator, said radiator disposed on the circuit board and extending orthogonally from a surface of the circuit board. Embodiments also include directors on the circuit board and a sub-reflector comprising a thin plate disposed on a weather proof cover and said sub-reflector having a substantially concave surface with a focus directed towards the radiator. The circuit board may be physically integrated within the feed mechanism of the center fed parabolic reflector and the radio transceiver is configured to provide OSI layer support.

An apparatus and method for controlling stabilization of a satellite-tracking antenna, the apparatus including: an antenna driving unit driving the antenna to track a satellite based on preset satellite position information and position information collected by an inertia sensor and an encoder; a point detecting unit detecting a point where an amplitude of a satellite reception signal is maximum; an elevation measuring unit measuring an elevation value corresponding to the point; and a controller controlling an azimuth motor and an elevation motor to enable the antenna to face the point, when the measured value is out of a first range, the controller controlling the azimuth motor to have an azimuth value corresponding to the point and controlling the elevation motor to have an elevation value less than the measured value corresponding to the point, when the measured value is in the first range.

A quick connect coupler assembly for connecting a first waveguide portion to a second waveguide portion is provided. The coupler assembly includes: a first coupler component affixed to the first waveguide portion and a second coupler component affixed to the second waveguide portion. The first coupler component has a plurality of perturbations, while the second coupler component has a plurality of slots and a radially disposed guide or channel. The perturbations align with and pass through the slots into the guide or channel such that the perturbations rotatably move about the guide or channel in a radial direction from an unlocked to a locked position.

Antenna 2 and radio communication apparatus 1 include mount portions 9 and 15, flat proximity opposing surfaces 13 and 20, and waveguide portions 12 and 19 penetrating through proximity opposing surfaces 13 and 20, respectively. For example, in proximity opposing surface 13 of radio communication apparatus 1, choke groove 14 is formed outside waveguide portion 12. With mount portions 9 and 15 of antenna 2 and radio communication apparatus 1 abutted against and fixed to each other, proximity opposing surfaces 13 and 20 are set parallel to, and directly opposite to each other with a clearance interposed therebetween so that waveguide portions 12 and 19, opposite to each other and with a clearance, form a waveguide.

A steerable antenna configuration having all actuators and the feed source mounted on a stationary side of the antenna thereby eliminating the need of having to supply power and/or communication signal through, a rotation mechanism. A first actuator rotates a reflector assembly about a first axis, and a second actuator rotates at least a main reflector of the reflector assembly about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The second axis is rotatable about the first axis via the first actuator.