A reflector antenna system includes: a concave primary reflector, the concave primary reflector adapted to be illuminated by a sub-reflector and radiate accordingly an axisymmetric beam; a coherent-phase sub-reflector disposed one in front of the primary reflector; and a feed adapted to operate with the TE.sub.01 axisymmetric mode and illuminating the said sub-reflector by employment of such. the aperture of the feed disposed to crowd the sub-reflector.

In one embodiment, a parabolic antenna assembly includes a main reflector, a feed system in RF communication with the main reflector including a horn and a dielectric portion, and a sub-reflector in RF communication with the feed assembly, wherein the sub-reflector includes a body portion and a stem portion mechanically coupled to one another, wherein a reflecting surface of the sub-reflector is defined by at least a portion of the body portion and at least a portion of the stem portion, wherein the dielectric portion spaces the sub-reflector from the horn, and wherein the sub-reflector includes an axially-symmetric choke for providing virtual continuity at the reflecting surface.

An antenna may have features to ameliorate ice accumulation thereon. For instance, the antenna may include a feed structure between a reflector and a radome. The radome may cover at least a portion of the antenna and/or components of the antenna. A heating element may be located at various locations on the feed structure of the antenna. The heating element may heat the radome or other aspects of the antenna. The heating element may heat the radome or other aspects by infrared radiation, and/or via circulating warmed air. A fan may be provided to promote circulation of warmed air. The heat ameliorates ice accumulation the antenna so that ice accumulation does not diminish the electromagnetic performance of the antenna.

A reflector antenna heating system includes a dielectric radome that covers a first side of a reflector and a feed subsystem of an antenna. The system also includes a plurality of heater blower devices on a second side of the reflector, each of the plurality of heater blower devices having an inlet port and an outlet port. The system further includes a plurality of outlet duct assemblies, wherein each of the plurality of outlet duct assemblies is coupled to the outlet port of a respective heater blower device to direct heated air around a perimeter of the reflector and along an inside surface of the dielectric radome. One or more gaps proximal to a center of the reflector are included to recirculate cooled air toward a plurality of inlet ducts for the plurality of heater blower devices to feed the inlet port of each heater blower device.

An adjustable antenna positioning system feed is disclosed herein. The adjustable antenna positioning system feed includes a feed base, a splash plate assembly, and a feed insert. The feed base is configured to be coupled to a reflector. The splash plate assembly is configured to be removably coupled to the feed base. The adjustable antenna positioning system feed is in a primary arrangement when directly coupled. The feed insert is positioned between the feed base and the splash plate. The adjustable antenna positioning system feed is in a secondary arrangement when the feed insert is coupled with the feed base and the splash plate.

Higher isolation solutions for printed circuit board mounted antenna and waveguide interfaces are provided herein. An example device includes any of a dielectric substrate or transmission line, an antenna mounted onto the dielectric substrate, and an elongated waveguide mounted onto the dielectric substrate so as to enclose around a periphery of the antenna and contain radiation produced by the antenna along a path that is coaxial with a centerline of the waveguide, the elongated waveguide having a first cross sectional area and a second cross sectional area, and the first cross sectional area differs from the second cross sectional area.

A dual-reflector antenna comprises a main reflector traversed by a feed source and a sub-reflector. The sub-reflector comprises a dielectric body extending between a first end that is small in diameter and a second end that is greater in diameter, the small-diameter end being connected to the end of the feed source constituted by a metal tube filled with a dielectric material. The end of the feed source connected to the sub-reflector comprises a housing, having an inner depth and inner diameter, built into the dielectric material. The small-diameter end of the sub-reflector comprises an inner portion having a substantially cylindrical shape, able to fit into the housing, having an outer length and outer diameter. The outer length and outer diameter of the small-diameter end of the sub-reflector are respectively less than the inner depth and inner diameter of the feed source, so as to form a space between the inner portion of the sub-reflector and the dielectric wall of the housing.

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. Alternative embodiments utilize symmetrically oriented struts with or without a coaxial subreflector support to physically support a subreflector.

A unitary dielectric block is provided having a waveguide transition portion located at a first end of the unitary dielectric block, a sub-reflector support portion located at a second end of the unitary dielectric block, and a radiator portion between the waveguide transition portion and the sub-reflector support portion. The unitary dielectric block may have a longitudinal axis. The sub-reflector support portion may have a proximal surface and a distal surface. The distal surface may be located further from the longitudinal axis of the unitary dielectric block than the proximal surface. The distal surface may be angled at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the unitary dielectric block, and the proximal surface may be angled at a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the unitary dielectric block. The second angle may be greater than the first angle.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a radio assembly. The radio assembly includes an antenna housing unit that houses a pair of reflectors which are situated on a front side of the antenna housing unit, a printed circuit board (PCB) that includes at least a transmitter and a receiver, and a backside cover. The PCB is situated within a cavity at a backside of the antenna housing unit and the backside cover covers the cavity, thereby enclosing the PCB within the antenna housing unit. One embodiment of the present invention provides a user interface for configuring a radio. The user interface includes a display and a number of selectable tabs presented on the display. A selection of a respective tab results in a number of user-editable fields being displayed, thereby facilitating a user in configuring and monitoring operations of the radio.