How Do Antenna Masts Work? - Microwave Communication

Antenna masts that bring us signals have greatly facilitated our lives and brought the world closer together. So, do you know how antenna masts work? What principles does it apply? As a professional Portable Antenna Mast manufacturer, let us introduce it to you.

How do antenna masts work? --- Microwave communication

Microwave communication is communication using microwaves, electromagnetic waves with wavelengths between 0.1 mm and 1 m.

According to the communication method and the transmission medium that determines the main properties of the channel, microwave communication can be divided into atmospheric line-of-sight terrestrial microwave communication, tropospheric over-the-horizon scattering communication, satellite communication through the ionosphere and outer free space, and space communication. Of course, it has other categories, but we mainly introduce the former today.

5 types of microwave communication

✔️Microwave relay communication

Using microwave line-of-sight propagation to communicate with the microwave in the relay mode of the relay station, it also known as microwave relay communication.

The microwave relay system consists of terminal stations at both ends and a number of relay stations in the middle, which is point-to-point communication at the ground line of sight. Balanced configuration of transceiver equipment at each station, the station distance is about 50km, the antenna diameter is 1.5~4m, the half power angle is 3~5°, the transmitter power is 1~10W, and the receiver noise factor is 3~10dB (equivalent to a noise temperature of 290~261K). Double diversity reception is available in some cases.

The capacity of analog FM microwave can reach 1800-2700 channels, and the capacity of digital multi-system quadrature amplitude modulated microwave can reach 144Mbit/s.

The equipment investment and construction costs are less, and the maintenance is convenient; the engineering construction and equipment installation period is short, and the vehicle-mounted microwave station can be used to quickly repair the communication circuit.

✔️Troposcatter communication

The over-the-horizon wireless communication is realized by the scattering of microwaves by the discontinuous interface of the inhomogeneous medium in the troposphere. The commonly used frequency band is 0.2 to 5 GHz, which is point-to-point communication on the ground beyond the horizon.

The span is hundreds of kilometers, the equivalent diameter of the large billboard (parabolic) antenna can reach 30-35m, the beam half-power angle is 1-2°, there is aperture dielectric coupling loss, the transmitter power is 5-50kW, quadruple diversity reception, capacity of dozens of words to more than a hundred words.

Troposcatter communication is generally not affected by solar activity and nuclear explosions, and communication circuits can be established in mountainous areas, hills, deserts, swamps, bay islands and other regions.

✔️Satellite communications

The radio communication between earth stations using transponders on artificial earth satellites to forward signals is a ground-space line-of-sight multiple-access communication system. Satellite relay stations are limited by energy and heat dissipation conditions, so ground-air equipment is placed more heavily. Synchronous satellite system, one-way space segment is more than 36,000 kilometers, the diameter of the ground station antenna is 15-32m, the gain is 60dB, the beam half-power angle is 0.1-1°, automatic tracking is required, and the transmitter power is 0.5-5kW.

Satellite relay stations, horn antennas for downlink global beams, parabolic antennas for spot beams, and frequency reuse by beam separation. The power of the transponder is tens of watts, the bandwidth is generally 36MHz, and the capacity is 5000 to 10000 channels.

Satellite communication has a wide coverage and extended time, and the signal is easy to be intercepted, eavesdropped, and even interfered. A smaller capacity Very Small Antenna Earth Station (VSAT) suitable for sparse routing is suitable for data communications.

✔️Space communication

Communication between stars (including satellites, spacecraft and other spacecraft) using microwaves. It includes communications between earth stations and spacecraft, spacecraft and spacecraft, and satellite communications between earth stations through inter-satellite forwarding. The communication between the earth station and the spacecraft is divided into near space communication and deep space communication. In deep space communication, in order to extract weak signals from the high noise background, special coding and modulation, coherent reception and frequency band compression are required.

✔️Microwave mobile communication

Microwave communication in which both parties or one party is in motion is divided into three types of mobile communication: land, sea and aviation. Land mobile communications mostly use frequency bands of 150, 450 or 900 MHz, and are developing towards higher frequency bands. Satellite communications can be used for maritime, aviation and land mobile communications. Inmarsat can provide such mobile communication services. Light satellites in low earth orbit (LEO) will be widely used for mobile communication services.

In conclusion

After reading the above, do you have some basic understanding of microwave communication? If you have more questions, please feel free to contact us. We are professional telescoping antenna pole manufacturer, having antenna mast group for sale, has been committed to providing customers with quality service, we are sure we are your best partner.