• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.1089-1097
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• 2002

In this paper, the novel shipboard Active Phased Array Antenna(APAA) system for maritime mobile satellite communications is introduced. The antenna uses novel technologies like wide range hybrid tracking, single antenna elements with both of Rx and Tx, asymmetrical array structure, interference isolation between Rx and Tx, and error correction method from frequency scan effect. The antenna has single aperture for both of Rx and Tx with 32 $\times$ 4 two-dimensional array. The antenna has two beams. Its frequencies are 7.25 ~ 7.75 GHz for Rx and 7.9 ~ 8.4 GHz for Tx. The antenna gains are 35.4 dBi for Rx and 35.7 dBi for Tx, those are 54 % of efficiency. The electrically steering ranges are $\pm$35$^{\circ}$ of elevation direction and $\pm$4$^{\circ}$ of azimuth direction. The mechanical control ranges at hybrid tracking capability are continuous 360$^{\circ}$ of azimuth direction and $\pm$10$^{\circ}$ of elevation direction. The antenna has 2.2$^{\circ}$ of 3 dB beamwidth, -14 dB of sidelobe level, and 21 dB of cross-pol suppression. The antenna performance was measured by near field measurement set. Its system performance was tested on the ship motion simulator and with the satellite transponder simulator. The test result showed that its tracking error was within -3 dB from its peak gain under motion condition. The antenna system was tested by real modulated Direct Broadcasting Satellite(DBS) signals to check its communication processing function.