Satellite Antenna TV is Small

Antennas for satellite communications seem to work on a reverse corollary to Moore's Law. The law which is first observed by the management of Intel Gordon Moore, states that the number of transistors on a chip doubles every two years. The corollary, it seems that the antennas satellite will be progressively smaller. Perhaps one day we will watch satellite TV on a Blackberry device size.

The KVH M1, on a pole mount above, is the smallest antenna KVH satellite TV has ever offered, weighing only 7.5 kg. (Courtesy of KVH Industries)
The last marine antenna satellite television products from KVH Industries and Technologies Intellian follow that trend. The two companies have produced small units for mounting on smaller boats. These units take on boats from 20 to 30 meters. And what is even more surprising is that it is active units stabilized and will meet in a satellite signal and a ship is moving. It seems that a few years ago, KVH Industries antenna experts were telling us that the antennas satellite television can not get any smaller than they already were. "It is a question of physics," they explained. The laws of the universe can not be circumvented. It seems, however, that Intellian KVH and engineers have discovered a way to tweak a little.

KVH's new unit is the TracVision M1, while the product is Intellian called i1. Both are impressively small: the TracVision M1 is a mere 7.5 pounds and antenna measurements, some 12.5 inches, while the Intellian i1 is a bit heavy at 9.4 pounds and a antenna size 11 inches. What do these physical characteristics, of course, is that even small boats can be equipped to receive satellite television.
How these small antennas perform the task of picking up a weak signal from satellite 23,000 miles in space? The solution involves an intriguing combination of hardware and software techniques.

KVH M1 uses a satellite dish antenna, but has developed some techniques to extract the maximum useful signal. KVH all enhancers signal passes by the name of RingFire technology. An antenna receives the signal and bounces it to start a plaque mounted on top of central tube feeding. The splash plate reflects the signal through a "window of Food" at the top of the feeding tube. This double bounce signal from a central antenna reflector puts the M1 in the category of a Cassegrain type antenna. Cassegrain antennas are not only for radio frequencies, the double reflection principle works with visible light as well. Much type of reflector telescopes amateur astronomical units is also Cassegrain, using large and small coaxial mirrors to concentrate the light from distant planets visible to the eyepiece of the telescope.

KVH the M1, the flow tube is a hollow circular waveguide. The satellite signal concentrated spreading the tube to a device called a low-noise block (LNB), which is against the return of the capsule. The LNB is a unit of Electronic Engineering which includes satellites and then converts the signal for satellite broadcasting in the frequency (12 GHz Ku-band) to an intermediate frequency (1.5 GHz band L), which is easier to the satellite receiver to handle. LNB to focus the weight and allow the unit to handle multiple frequencies, KVH LNB is a set of elements stacked from the LNB signal through the wireless receiver in the boat. According to Chris Watson, director of marketing for KVH, the design of the antenna and LNB has been optimized for performance. "This unit is designed to address the noise and the least [signal] energy as possible."

Two advantages of using double-Cassegrain thinking is that the plate can start small and therefore not block the signal collection area of the antenna and the LNB is just next to the antenna and not at the end of an arm over the dish. That is more of a compact mass which is easier for engines to rotate the antenna around a boat is underway and work of the antenna is sitting in a satellite signal.
The Intellian i1 Cassegrain also uses the approach, placing the LNB at the base of the feeding tube, behind the antenna. The i1 uses some software techniques to improve its reception. To find the satellite signal, the i1 uses a patented algorithm called broad range of research to reduce the search time. To remain stuck on the signal once the satellite has been acquired, the technique employs i1 calls Intellian Dynamic Beam Tilting (DBT) to keep the signal and reduce the need for moving the antenna. The DBT technique means that a sub reflector antenna, the smallest reflector at the top of the tube, rotates on an axis slightly inclined. A combination of rotation, inclination and the special shape of the sub reflector can watch the i1 on the sidelines. This allows the sample i1 electronic signal strength to ensure that it is the best signal without having to physically move the entire antenna. "The antenna does not have to do everything around the hunt," said John Minetola, director of U.S. sales for Intellian. "He did not make the large platter."

KVH The M1 and the Intellian i1 are intended to be used with direct broadcast satellite television, sitting in a geosynchronous orbit over North America. And, of course, there is a price to pay for smaller, lighter dish. While large antennas satellite television offered by both Intellian KVH and can be used as much as 100 to 200 miles offshore, the size of the M1 and i1 means these antennas can not gather enough signal that units reach the edge of a satellite of the beam. Thus, these small products of the satellite antenna can be used from 20 to 75 miles offshore.
An important point, however, is that the technology developed for these small antennas is also used on the largest offered by the antennas and KVH Intellian, improving the performance of all products of satellite television.
According to KVH, M1 antenna has a price of $ 2995, which includes the unit of the antenna, 50 feet of RG6 cable and satellite TV receiver / controller. The Intellian i1 has a suggested retail price of $ 2795, including cabling and an antenna control.

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