The array, which is 1” in height and covered a surface of 0.7m x 1m, supported an HD video transmission via Intelsat 905 operating on Ku-band. Phasor’s technology formed and auto-pointed the RF beam to acquire the signal emitted from the satellite and demodulated the high quality video.
The beam is entirely formed electronically and is steerable over a 70° cone. The company says that it is inertia-free, allowing rapid scanning and overcoming the limitations of motorised parabolic reflector antennas.
Phasor says that the array aperture is conformable to any curved surface such as an aircraft fuselage or a train roof, and may be extended to provide any required gain to support high data rate links with low satellite capacity demands.
The developer says that its engineers have used low cost electronic components and that the antenna can offer more affordable applications for satellite communications on the move (SOTM) for trains, planes, drones and yachts.
Besides Ku-band, Phasor says that its technology is applicable at X-, Ka- or other bands.
“The successful tests vindicate several years of development representing millions of dollars of investment offering the potential to enable major new markets for the satellite industry,” said David Garrood, chief satellite officer, Phasor Solutions.
“This heralds the eagerly anticipated arrival of the holy grail of satellite antennas.”
Another company, Kymeta, is developing a flat antenna technology for Ka-band connectivity. It has partnered with Inmarsat to design a flat Ka-band antenna for airplanes, which it plans to launch in the first quarter of 2015, but it also intends to make the technology available for the maritime industry, initially in the Ka-band, and then possibly in the Ku- and L-bands.
