Antenna tracking system for broadband portable terminal

Satellite communications have revolutionized the way we pass information especially in the field of high data rate applications. The modern compression, modulation and error correction techniques have reduced the bandwidth and the data rate requirements - making use of omni directional antenna possible. However, as the years pass newer applications are developed that require higher data rates thus needing directional antennae and associated tracking mechanisms. The portable terminals need tracking mechanisms to allow quick deployment. The accurate tracking is important to maintain the required E_b/N_o. The application of intelligent control algorithms would be considered to cover areas such as orbit determination, optimal estimation techniques, performance, and practical implementation etc. The conventional tracking systems are broadly classified in the following classes: Manual/programme tracking Monopulse or simultaneous sensing Sequential amplitude sensing Electronic beam squinting The last three are closed loop tracking systems that use the continuous beacon signal transmitted by the satellite for auto tracking [1]-[3]. The project aims to address these issues to propose an Antenna Tracking System for a broadband portable terminal.