Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring, testing, and controlling alignment are provided, including an antenna assembly with an antenna and a receiver, the antenna configured to receive signals from a remote source, the receiver coupled to the antenna and configured to generate signal strength values associated with the signals from the remote source, and where the antenna assembly exhibits an azimuthal alignment relative to an axis determined by the antenna assembly and the remote source. Systems and methods provided herein further generate a first coarse-grained signal strength value from set of signal strength values generated by the receiver while the antenna assembly is at a first azimuthal alignment offset, and generate a measure that the first azimuthal alignment offset is at least one of: less than a predetermined azimuthal alignment offset, approximately equal to the predetermined azimuthal alignment offset, and greater than the predetermined azimuthal alignment magnitude.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring, testing, and controlling alignment are provided, including an antenna assembly with an antenna and a receiver, the antenna configured to receive signals from a remote source, the receiver coupled to the antenna and configured to generate signal strength values associated with the signals from the remote source, and where the antenna assembly exhibits an azimuthal alignment relative to an axis determined by the antenna assembly and the remote source. Systems and methods provided herein further generate a first coarse-grained signal strength value from set of signal strength values generated by the receiver while the antenna assembly is at a first azimuthal alignment offset, and generate a measure that the first azimuthal alignment offset is at least one of: less than a predetermined azimuthal alignment offset, approximately equal to the predetermined azimuthal alignment offset, and greater than the predetermined azimuthal alignment magnitude.

Abstract: An low cost stacked microstrip antenna and low cost method of making the same are disclosed. By using specially designed bandwidth and directivity parameters in conjunction with lower cost dielectric, materials economies of production are realized. In particular, dielectric support layers made from fine cell foam sheet material that is mass produced for primary purposes other than electrical insulation materials, are used to reduce cost. A stackable design used in conjunction with a capacitively coupled feedline connector reduce assembly costs as well.