There are various designs with different operating frequencies, dimensions, and gains to choose from in order to meet different requirements and applications. The L band patch antenna is specially designed to receive L-band satellites like GPS, Iridium patch antenna, Inmarsat, and other types of satellites that offer transmission between 1525 – 1660 MHz.
What is L-Band Patch Antenna?
The L-band patch antenna is a type of antenna specially built for several GNSS bands. Also, it is suitable for Inmarsat and Iridium telecom applications. Also, this patch antenna is made up of metal and strictly designed for low-cost, robust applications. It is suitable for use in high-power applications. The removal of substrate loss has allowed the provision of high antenna radiating efficiency.
What are the Key Features of L band Patch Antenna?
L band patch antenna comes with a lot of excellent features which include:
- Low PIM design
- Very robust and it is specially made of metal
- They have a wide frequency bandwidth
- Also, these antennas offer high gain and high efficiency
- They cover multiple GNSS bands such as G PS L1,
- These antennas cover Inmarsat and Iriduim bands
- They feature circular polarization
There are various designs with different operating frequencies, dimensions, and gains to choose from in order to meet different requirements and applications. The L band patch antenna is specially designed to receive L-band satellites like GPS, Iridium patch antenna, Inmarsat, and other types of satellites that offer transmission between 1525 – 1660 MHz.
It is important to know that the L band patch antenna is not ideal for weak signals that need a dish such as GOES. The L band patch antenna features a set with a large suction cup. Also, it features bendable tripod and 3M RG174 extension cable which helps in installing. This antenna comes in a weather proof enclosure. Receiving l band satellites
What is L Band Antenna?
L-band is simply a defined frequency range from 1 GHz to about 2GHz in the radio spectrum. Also, the L band is widely integrated for satellite communications, Global Positioning System (GPS), Radars, Telecommunication, and Aircraft surveillance. This band features a very small bandwidth since it ranges from 1 to 2 GHz and as such, L-band is commonly integrated in fleet management and tracking systems.
Due to the low profile, wide applications, and easy fabrication of patch antennas, these antennas have become very popular in space crafts, aircraft, and satellite communications. Even in wireless communication, there is an increase in protocols you need to fully integrate in a single device. Also, you can easily achieve this by integrating single-band antennas for every required application. Also, you can integrate a multiband antenna which has similar structure and size of a single band.
Furthermore, multiband antennas are ideal for use in devices that need to cater for some protocols. Also, multiband antennas require to use expensive filters to help suppress unwanted signals. Therefore, this increases the cost.
Furthermore, reconfiguration is usually considered an alternative technique that gives the same space like multiband antennas.
What are the Functions of a Patch Antenna?
A patch antenna is a usually an antenna that has a low profile. This antenna can be installed on a surface. Also, it comprises any geometrical sheet or “patch” of metal, attached over a ground plane. This ground plane is very big piece of metal. Also, a patch antenna is a type of microstrip antenna. The two metal sheets when combined create a piece of microstrip transmission line with about one-half wavelength of the radio waves.
Furthermore, the radiation mechanism comes out from fringing fields. There is a radiation at the edges. This radiation makes the antenna to function a bit larger than its physical dimensions. Therefore, you can make the antenna resonant. To achieve this, the microstrip transmission line’s length must be a bit shorter than one-half the wavelength at the frequency.
Also, the patch antenna is primarily practical when it is at microwave frequencies. In this scenario, the wavelengths are very short, which makes the patches small. Patch antennas are ideal for use in portable wireless devices. This is because it is easy to fabricate these patch antennas on printed circuit boards. Microstrip antennas refer to multiple patch antennas on the same substrate. These antennas can help in making high gain array antennas. Also, you can achieve phased arrays using these antennas. In phased arrays, you can electronically steer the beam.
L Band Satellite Frequency and Satellite Communication
Band frequencies reduce distances when it comes to communication. Band frequencies play a huge role in communication. We can maintain that satellites are usually arranged throughout the space.
According to a principle wavelengths feature various properties. To have a better understanding, let us cite an example. Long wavelengths have the property it takes to travel long distances and pass through several obstacles they find, like mountains and buildings. However, it is important to understand that higher the frequency results in shorter the wavelength. Therefore, it will be much easier to prevent the traffic of the waves.
There is another crucial situation we need to look into. This is regarding when there are high frequencies, even more than tens of gigahertz. You can imagine that the objects we consider small and simple like raindrops or leaves can stop the waves. Therefore, this results in a well-known phenomenon known as “rain fade.” You can overcome this phenomenon which by applying more power.
A solution to satellite problems
Most times, we only discuss the advantages offered by high frequencies such as the Ka Band and Ku Band. Ku and Ka Band have great features. These bands enable transmitters to give out more data per second. The main problem with such high frequencies is that they may carry more information, however they are in need of more power to prevent any blockages. Furthermore, this and bigger antennas indicate that there is a great need to acquire more equipment.
There is a solution to this problem. The L Band offers great benefits in satellite communication. These include offering much more stable global operations. It does this even when there are adverse weather conditions in complicated areas. Also, another benefit of this band is that it offers a global network coverage without any form of interruptions. Therefore, this allows mobile users to have access to broadband communications anywhere around the world.
What are the applications of the L-Band?
The L-band antennas are one of the most used frequency range in various satellites worldwide. Also, the antenna offers the advantage of being lightweight. Therefore, the L band satellites are primarily utilized for mobile and tactical operation. Other of its applications, are given in different systems, which includes search and rescue operations. For example, the SARSAT/COSPAS, Russians and Americans used some meteorological satellites. This band is suitable for the downlinks available in satellites having high resolution.
Frequency range in which Band L operates
The L band satellites function in frequencies that from 1,530 to 2.7 Ghz. It is one of the satellites bands that has the lowest frequency. Since the L band has the lowest frequency it is commonly used in the market. One of its benefits includes a longer wavelength. Due to this, external factors such as rain don’t affect this band. If at all such happen does, normally integrated by the Ka and Ku frequency bands.
How to Develop an L-Band ground station.
Building an L band setup is the fastest and most efficient way to start with satcom ACARS. Also, the L-Band is usually around 1.5GHz. There is a broad signal footprint from each Inmarsat. Therefore, you don’t need antenna tracking. All you need to do is to point it at the satellite orbit’s middle. Then, you can receive the signal and as well decode ACARS messages.
One of the most crucial things you need to understand about how L-Band operates is that you will need to pick up the ACARS messages from ground support staff to the aircraft. Most times, L-band is described as land while C band is cockpit.
Buying the hardware
The RTL-SDR v2 patch antenna is the most popular option people settle for when buying an L band. Other alternatives are usually smaller antennas and this is not recommended. This is because small size antennas offer low performance and this means very low signal. Some people have tried out the modified GPS antennas. These antennas are too small and can’t be of real value. In fact, avoid any of the small sized patch antennas regardless of how attractive the price is. Small sized patch antennas are often available at a much lower price.
The V2 antenna is a great option worth considering. If you only want to listen to voice calls, then the V2 patch antenna is a great choice. You need more gain for consistent decodes of the audio. One fact is that an antenna is more directional if it has more gain. The V2 antenna is a quality item that offers good properties.
Sometimes, your active L-Band antenna might have so much gain. In this case, the satellite orbit may take your antenna off your sweet spot. All you will have to do is to move every time you need to decode some voice messages.
Conclusion
Due to the low profile, wide applications, and easy fabrication of patch antennas, these antennas have become very popular in space crafts, aircraft, and satellite communications. Even in wireless communication, there is an increase in protocols you need to fully integrate in a single device.
