[amsat-bb] Re: antenna question

[Samudra Haque]

While searching for public text concerning Amateur satellites and
phased array antennas, I came across this gem from our very own Tom
Clark, K3IO
http://mysite.verizon.net/w3iwi/electronic_scanning_antennas.pdf,
"Electronic Scanning Antennas for Amateur Spacecraft". I wonder if
this knowhow could be utilized for ground stations to have antennas
that could rapidly switch between different birds by a software reload
function and a intelligent switching matrix ?

How many of you would prefer (if a command station) to have
multi-access to satellites as they pass during conjunction but use a
small antenna farm selectively to access them _simultaneously_.

On Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 3:06 PM, Samudra Haque <samudra.haque at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi, Amsat-BB
>
> Are there any antenna designs that use predominantly rotating
> sub-reflectors and a reflector for tracking LEO birds, in contrast to
> rotating the main antenna structure on booms in the AZ-EL directions ?
> I am aware of multi-LNB antenna arrangements, thought it would be
> interesting to find out ways to keep a fairly large reflector constant
> on the ground and use a smaller steerable sub-reflector or horn feed
> to aim the beam ?
>
> Any ideas ?
>
> Samudra N3RDX
>