Gbps High Speed Antenna Arraying for Ground-Based Network

Combining the output signals from two or more ground station antennas can increase the gain of the received signal, providing the critical flexibility to increase the science data rate from space missions. NASA’s Near Space Network (NSN) has developed a gigabits/sec high rate antenna arraying system, based on the coherent combination of signals derived from multiple directive antennas. This arraying system is called the “High Data Rate Signal Combiner (HDRSC).” This arraying design approach/technology has been used previously at very low data rates. This work, however, focuses on gigabits/sec high rate antenna arraying system architecture. When coherently combining just two signals there is ideally a doubling of power, i.e., a 3dB signal-to-noise improvement. Arraying of small antennas can easily outperform a single large aperture antenna not only in radio-frequency performance but also in a substantial reduction of cost. This paper will cover the design approach for Gbps arraying, hardware architecture, test philosophy, and results.