Implementation and characterization of a W-band SatCom ground terminal receiver with 5 GHz reception bandwidth and mechanical beam steering

Abstract This paper presents the development, characteristics, and comprehensive performance analysis of a W-band ground station receiver, designed for high-throughput satellite applications, including real-time 4K video data transmission. Operating within the 71–76 GHz frequency range, this ground station features a 57 dBi gain Cassegrain antenna system, a receiver with 5 GHz analog radio frequency bandwidth, low-noise signal reception with less than 2.5 dB noise figure, and a signal sampling rate of 16 GSa/s, with a receiver sensitivity below -130 dBm. It incorporates mechanical beam steering and monopulse multimode tracking capabilities that enable alignment and signal tracking. The station also supports autonomous operational modes and robust search patterns, essential for dynamic satellite communication environments. With the ability to display a real-time 5 GHz spectrogram and store up to 12 TB of digitized data, the station is tailored for data-intensive applications. Measurement results confirm the ground station’s superior performance in terms of signal bandwidth and receiver sensitivity, demonstrating its potential to significantly enhance satellite communication infrastructure. This work details the design of the ground station and explores its practical implications in modern aerospace electronic systems.