A critical need exists throughout the maritime services for cost-effective, lightweight, multi-band antenna systems with the capability to receive L, S, and X-band satellite signals requiring very high G/T (gain/temperature), which for ordinary receivers needs large antenna gain of about 30-40 dBi. These requirements under this SBIR Multi-Band Antenna for L, S, and X-Band Data, N03-147 are very challenging. Wang Electro-Opto Corporation (WEO) has extensive hardware and software experience and capabilities in the development of multi-band antennas in a closely related field of Software Radio, and has developed several wideband/multi-band beam-steered arrays. WEO proposes to develop a wideband/multi-band high-G/T beam-steered software array antenna system for receiving satellite data spanning L, S, and X bands. By adaptive down conversion and digital signal processing, and using software techniques at baseband, a multi-band reception antenna system will be designed. The Phase-I design will include performance specifications, signal processing, anti-jamming capabilities, hardware/software configuration, time and cost parameters. Benefits The L, S and X-Band software receive array antenna design can be generalized to various commercial multi-band systems to receive satellite data, with significantly reduced operating and maintenance costs. Industry applications include environmental prediction and research, land use management and telecommunications. Keywords receive antenna, high G/T antenna, high-G/T software antenna, digital signal-processing antenna, software array antenna, earth terminal antenna, high-G/T adaptive array, beam-steered software array
