1.

2 Gain and Efficiency

1.2.1 Test Method

Use Satellite beacon to test 3dB beam width, and based on this data calculating
the antenna Gain and Efficiency; Selected satellite and beacon is the same ones that
you test Antenna Radiation Pattern. The angle indicator accuracy of antenna servo
system is high, so we test it through the method of subtraction between the two
antenna angles which can be read directly.

1.2.2 Block diagram of testing.

Block diagram of antenna gain and efficiency, as well as the pattern test are
shown in Fig.1

1.2.3 Test Steps

1. According to the illustrated drawing, connect the equipments and make the
test system to work normal;
2. Adjust the antenna to point to the selected Satellite;
3. Make the antenna point to the Satellite and also make the beacon signal
level maximum;
4. Set up the spectrum analyzer parameters as 1dB/div;
5. Fix Azimuth, drive up the antenna Elevation away from Maximum to
make the signal drop down 3dB , and record the El data EL3dBU from
antenna controller screen;
6. Drive down the antenna, at the same time check the spectrum analyzer to
get another El 3dB point, record the El data EL3dBD from the antenna
controller screen;
7. The absolute value of difference between two points of 3dB is El 3dB
width, and record it as 3dBEL=EL3dBU  EL3dBD;
8. Return the antenna to maximum manually;
9. Fix El, drive clockwise the antenna Az away from Maximum and make the
signal drop down 3dB, and record the Az data AZ3dBW from the antenna
controller screen;

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 10. Drive counterclockwise the antenna Azimuth away from Maximum and
find another 3dB point, and record the Az data AZ3dBE from the antenna
controller screen;
11. The absolute value of difference between two points of 3dB is recorded as
AZ3dB=AZ3dBW  AZ3dBE;
12. So Az 3dB width 3dBAZ is

AZ 3dB
 3dBAZ  2 arcsin(sin cos EL0 )
2

In which, EL0=(EL3dBU + EL3dBD)/2 is the El angle when the antenna pointing

is maximum;
13. For the other selected beacons, repeat above steps and get 3dB beam
width.

1.2.4 Obtain antenna gain and efficiency based on 3dB beam width

The formula of estimating the antenna gain based on antenna pattern of 3dB
beam width is as below:

 K 
G (dB)  10 lg  (dB)
  3dBAZ   3dBEL 

Where, take K as 27000-29000.

So the antenna efficiency is as below:
=G（/Dm）2

In which， G  10 G ( dB) / 10 ，Dm is the antenna diameter.

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