Abstract: A C-Band or Ku-Band satellite communication system uses a relatively small receiving antenna while operating within current FCC designated bandwidth and using existing satellite configurations. Aperture synthesis techniques create nulls in orbit locations from which potential interference is expected. Bandwidth inefficient modulation techniques reduce transmission power flux density. Video compression reduces the power necessary to transmit video information. These three features make possible a receiving antenna with a receiving area equivalent to that of a three foot diameter dish, at C-Band frequencies. Comparable reductions are possible for Ku-, Ka-, S- and L-Band systems. Compressing the data reduces the required transmitted power by a factor of ten. Spreading the bandwidth reduces the power density below the FCC limitation.

Abstract: A receiving antenna includes a parabolic reflector and a feed horn. The feed horn includes an electrically conductive wall with an edge forming an aperture. The feed horn further includes a plurality of electrical conductors that extend from the edge to the center of the feed horn in a substantially coplanar relationship with the aperture. Each of the electrical conductors differentially affect a first polarized electrical field perpendicular to the edge adjacent the electrical conductor and a second polarized electrical field parallel to the edge adjacent the electrical conductor. In this manner, the electrical conductors can be configured to reduce the effective aperture of the feed horn in a plane, so that a first polarized horn radiation pattern produced by the feed horn can be circularized.

Abstract: A C-Band or Ku-Band satellite communication system uses a relatively small receiving antenna while operating within current FCC designated bandwidth and using existing satellite configurations. Aperture synthesis techniques create nulls in orbit locations from which potential interference is expected. Bandwidth inefficient modulation techniques reduce transmission power flux density. Video compression reduces the power necessary to transmit video information. These three features make possible a receiving antenna with a receiving area equivalent to that of a three foot diameter dish, at C-Band frequencies. Comparable reductions are possible for Ku-, Ka-, Sand L-Band systems. Compressing the data reduces the required transmitted power by a factor of ten. Spreading the bandwidth reduces the power density below the FCC limitation.

Abstract: A C-Band or Ku-Band satellite communication system uses a relatively small receiving antenna while operating within current FCC designated bandwidth and using existing satellite configurations. Aperture synthesis techniques create nulls in orbit locations from which potential interference is expected. Bandwidth inefficient modulation techniques reduce transmission power flux density. Video compression reduces the power necessary to transmit video information. These three features make possible a receiving antenna with a receiving area equivalent to that of a three foot diameter dish, at C-Band frequencies. Comparable reductions are possible for Ku-, Ka-, S- and L-Band systems. Compressing the data reduces the required transmitted power by a factor of ten. Spreading the bandwidth reduces the power density below the FCC limitation.

Abstract: A C-Band or Ku-Band satellite communication system uses a relatively small receiving antenna while operating within current FCC designated bandwidth and using existing satellite configurations. Aperture synthesis techniques create nulls in orbit locations from which potential interference is expected. Bandwidth inefficient modulation techniques reduce transmission power flux density. Video compression reduces the power necessary to transmit video information. These three features make possible a receiving antenna with a receiving area equivalent to that of a three foot diameter dish, at C-Band frequencies. Comparable reductions are possible for Ku-, Ka-, S- and L-Band systems. Compressing the data reduces the required transmitted power by a factor of ten. Spreading the bandwidth reduces the power density below the FCC limitation.

Abstract: An adapter for a direct broadcast television system enables owners of existing dish antennas to receive both current analog television broadcasts and new digital television broadcasts via C-Band satellites. The adapter includes a coaxial switch for switching between analog and digital television, a tuneable demodulator for selectively switching between transponders on the C-Band satellites, a channel selector unit for selecting the channel specified by the user from the bit stream output by the demodulator, a channel expander for decompressing the video signal, and a control unit for accepting user commands and controlling the polarization of the received signals, the steering of the TVRO antenna, the demodulated transponder frequency and the demultiplexed channel. The ability to select the user's channel from multiple channels available on different transponders and different satellites allows the dynamic reassignment of television channels based on system efficiency considerations.