Abstract: A TVRO earth station having a satellite seeking system comprising at least one controllable motor for adjusting the position of an antenna for receiving signals from a satellite having multiple transponders transmitting signals at prescribed nominal center frequencies and with different polarizations, control means for energizing the motor to move said antenna along a predetermined satellite-searching path, a receiver for receiving the incoming signals from the antenna and successively tuning to the center frequencies at each of a succession of intervals along the searching path, means responsive to the signals detected by the receiver for producing a signal or value representing the quality of the detected signals at each of the successive intervals along the searching path, and means responsive to the quality-representing signal or value for identifying the locations along the searching path at which the antenna receives signals from a satellite.

Abstract: In a TVRO earth station having an antenna for receiving incoming satellite signals and polarizing means associated with the antenna for adjusting the relative alignment of the antenna orientation and the polarization of the incoming signals, an automatic polarization control system comprising means for producing an electrical control signal for controlling the polarizing means to adjust the relative alignment, means for detecting the noise level in the satellite signals received by the antenna, and means responsive to the detected noise level for adjusting the control signal, and thereby adjusting the polarizing means, to minimize the detected noise level.