Active phased arrays for multi-beam earth coverage

The anticipated density of satellite communications traffic with mobiles will require multi-beam earth coverage. Multiple beams can be generated from reflector antennas with multiple feeds or from a phased array aperture. The constraints on each system are discussed, and it is concluded that for more than about seven beams the best system involves a phased array antenna, particularly if reconfigurability of the beams may be required. Active phased arrays, with a power amplifier at each radiating element offer advantages in reliability and may indeed be the only way of handling the large total radiated power of future systems at acceptable levels of intermodulation.