Antenna with optimized pattern for simultaneous reception of terrestrial signals and signals of geostationary satellites

Abstract. The link margin for satellite communication services targeting mobile users is tight. This leads to reception problems in areas with strong fading scenarios like urban areas or forested areas with dense foliage. In order to avoid loss of service in urban areas with week coverage by satellite signals, terrestrial repeaters are used. Therefore in the design of antennas for mobile reception of satellite services, an optimized characteristics for the satellite constellation, as well as an adequate coverage of the terrestrial repeaters has to be accounted for. In this paper an antenna with optimum shaped pattern for the satellite mode and adjustable gain for vertical polarization is investigated. Beside constraints regarding the radiation pattern, measurements concerning the dependence of the antenna on noise temperature and therefore the behavior in real noisy environments are carried out. A comparison with a conventional antenna shows the high performance of the new antenna in combination with a very low volume requirement.