A direct-broadcast-satellite TV reception terminal particularly adapted to sparsely populated communities

The design of a low-cost, high-efficiency receiver for 2.5-2.69-GHz DBS TV signals is presented and illustrated with drawings, photographs, and graphs of performance parameters. The system includes a 2.5-m galvanized-steel-mash modular-construction parabolic antenna weighing 100 kg; an articulated-polyhedron pointing system; a dipole-array feed; a receiver with a GaAs FET low-noise amplifier and providing maximum noise 2.1 dB, 3-dB IF bandwidth 25 MHz, and VHG/UHF modulated output level 50 mV at 75 ohms; and an 11-14-V power supply consisting of either an ac-dc converter or a photovoltaic array (1-4 40 x 90-cm panels, charge regulator, and storage battery). Provision is made for connection via cable to a standard TV set, a 'peritelevision' receiver, or a 100-500-mW linear amplifier for local-area rebroadcast.