Cobham Antenna Systems, Microwave Antennas
News
2004-07
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Link16 extended performance omni antenna for ground-based installations
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Cobham Antenna Systems (Microwave Antennas) has developed a high gain omni antenna that covers the entire Link16 band, 960 to 1215MHz. This antenna has 7dBi gain so that when compared with traditional 2dBi gain omni antennas, the range is nearly double that of a system that is constrained by output power. Receive sensitivity is increased significantly which can be a limiting factor for communications with distant airborne platforms. The higher gain allows reduced transmit power from the ground-based transmitter which in turn helps to reduce the need for large generators in the case of tactical mobile Link16 systems.
The antenna has a corporate feed structure to ensure that the peak gain remains at the same elevation angle (+1.5°) at all frequencies, despite the large bandwidth for this omni pattern. The radiating elements and feed structure have been designed to produce an omni antenna with less than +/-1° azimuth ripple across the entire band. This ensures that the customer can be confident in connection to the aircraft whatever the orientation of the antenna. Detailed analysis has demonstrated that the aircraft will receive stronger signals the closer it gets to the ground antenna, irrespective of aircraft height or elevation angle, including overhead at 30,000 ft. The antenna is very light weight (1.7kg) and has a base spigot for mounting to standard 1 inch pole mount clamps, although other configurations are possible. |