An EHF (Q-Band) Receiving System

Abstract

Operating communication systems at EHF offers the important advantages of the improved antijam performance (wider bandwidth availability) and low probability of intercept. However, space rated communication hardware for operation at EHF is not readily available. Using advanced MIC technology, low noise frequency synthesis techniques and a subharmonic mixing scheme, Rockwell International designed, developed and tested a frequency hopped, 8-ary FSK modulated, Q-band receiving system for satellite applications. Detailed analyses were correlated with the experimental test data obtained in Rockwell's ASCOT Laboratory. These test results, along with key design approaches in hardware and synthesizer designs are presented in this paper.