Name
Abstract | ||
|---|---|---|
The NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) has a long history of providing large parabolic dish antennas with precision surfaces, low-loss feeds, and ultra-low noise amplifiers for deep-space telecommunications. To realize the benefits of high sensitivity, it is important that receiving systems are accurately calibrated and monitored to maintain peak performance. A method is described to measure system performance and to calibrate the receiving system using procedures, software, and commercial instruments that are easy to implement and efficient to use. The utility of the measurement procedures and the precision of the receiver calibration technique were demonstrated by performing tests at Ka-band (32 and 33.68 GHz) frequencies at Goldstone on a 34-m beam-waveguide antenna. Observations of multiple calibration radio sources are used to measure the dependence of antenna gain and system noise temperature on source elevation and derive the performance parameters. The experimental results described illustrate some of the ways that receiving system nonlinearity can negatively impact system performance. A simple radiometer calibration technique and analysis provide quantitative information that enables the system engineer to adjust and linearize the receiving system. When that is not practical, the experimenter or the operator can apply connection coefficients to the measured values of system noise temperature and thereby compensate for the receiving system nonlinearity |
Year | DOI | Venue |
|---|---|---|
1994 | 10.1109/5.284745 | Proceedings of the IEEE |
Keywords | DocType | Volume |
antenna testing,calibration,microwave antennas,microwave measurement,radio receivers,radiometry,radiotelescopes,space communication links,waveguide antennas,32 GHz,33.68 GHz,34 m,34-m beam-waveguide antenna,Kα-band,NASA Deep Space Network,antenna gain,performance,precision DSN radiometer systems,radiometer calibration technique,receiver calibration technique,receiving system nonlinearity,receiving systems,system noise temperature | Journal | 82 |
Issue | ISSN | Citations |
5 | 0018-9219 | 0 |
PageRank | References | Authors |
0.34 | 2 | 3 |
Name | Order | Citations | PageRank |
|---|---|---|---|
| C. T. Stekried | 1 | 0 | 0.34 |
| Jonathan Klein | 2 | 413 | 54.51 |
| Stelzried, Charles T. | 3 | 0 | 0.34 |