L-Band, 1.2 m Parabolic Antenna-Noise Temperature Measurement

Abstract

Extensive antenna-noise temperature measurements at 1.6 GHz (L-Band) were made using a 1.2 m (4 ft. diameter) parabolic dish antenna mounted on the Flying Bridge of a modern 15,690-ton, commercial-container ship owned by the United States Lines. Both in-harbor and at-sea radiometer measurements were made that indicated a steady background, antenna-noise temperature value slightly less than 70 degrees kelvin (K) at elevation angles of 5°, and greater, at 1.6 GHz. A comparison of theoretical and measured values indicate excellent agreement within about 5K for at-sea data. These measurements should be especially helpful to RF equipment designers of maritime, L-Band shipboard terminals for operation with the two, geostationary, maritime satellites, Marisat-A and -B.