During vehicle motion, steering, acceleration, deceleration, and road undulations cause continuous changes in carrier attitude, which leads to frequent pointing deviations between the antenna beam installed on the vehicle-borne platform and the target satellite. Once a deviation exceeds the beam width, the communication link will be interrupted. This means that a vehicle-borne satellite communication in motion (SOTM) system must continuously sense attitude deviations and drive the beam to perform pointing correction during vehicle movement, thereby maintaining link continuity. To meet this dynamic tracking requirement, the 0.3m Vehicle-Borne Plate SOTM Antenna adopts an integrated design that merges the navigation sensor, signal strength tracking module, and GPS data into the internal system. The internal tracking logic comprehensively processes the vehicle attitude changes sensed by the inertial navigation module together with the location information provided by the GPS, driving the biaxial stabilization mechanism to adjust the antenna pointing in real time. Consequently, the antenna maintains automatic tracking to the target satellite while the vehicle moves continuously, establishing a continuous data connection with ground fixed stations or other mobile stations.
Tracking Capability Boundary: Accuracy, Searching, and Reacquisition
Based on this integrated tracking architecture, the antenna azimuth plane supports 360° continuous rotation, the pitch plane operates within 10° to 85°, and the polarization adjustment range is no less than 180°. These motion ranges ensure that the antenna avoids reaching mechanical limit stops under normal driving attitudes, preventing pointing adjustment delays caused by limit-triggered homing actions. The system achieves a tracking accuracy of ≤0.2° (R.M.S) and an initial searching time of ≤120s. Under straight-line driving conditions with a 10-minute signal coverage loss, the reacquisition time remains within 5s, which represents the link restoration duration after a vehicle exits tunnels or elevated bridge shadows.
RF Performance and Service Capacity
The signal transceiver unit of this plate SOTM antenna utilizes a plate array structure with an equivalent caliber of 0.3m. The working frequency band covers reception from 12.25GHz to 12.75GHz and transmission from 14.0GHz to 14.5GHz, featuring a reception antenna gain of ≥29.5dBi and a transmission antenna gain of ≥30.5dBi. The device features a built-in BUC with four optional power specifications: 3W, 6W, 8W, and 10W. The system supports VOIP voice calls, faxing, and low-speed data transmission.
Installation Adaptation and Environmental Adaptability
For vehicle mounting, the overall dimension of the equipment is Φ410mm×H320mm, the weight is 14.5kg, and the ACU cabinet dimension conforms to a standard 1U chassis specification. Compact size and light weight allow installation on the roof load-bearing structures of most commercial vehicles. The working power supply interface supports 24V DC vehicle power or 220/110V AC, with the total system power consumption remaining under 200W (including the built-in power amplifier). The equipment supports a working temperature range from -40°C to +55°C, a storage temperature from -40°C to +70°C, and a working humidity from 0% to 95% relative humidity.
RF Isolation and Signal Quality Assurance
The antenna utilizes linear polarization with an automatic adjustment function, achieving a port isolation of ≥85dB and a cross polarization isolation of ≥25dB. Port isolation measures the degree of transmission signal leakage into the reception channel; insufficient isolation causes transmission signals to pour into the reception link, elevating background noise and degrading reception sensitivity. Cross polarization isolation measures the capacity of the antenna to distinguish main-polarization signals from orthogonal-polarization signals.
Application Scenarios: From Logistics Fleets to Field Operations
Through the integration of automatic tracking, wide operating temperatures, and polarization isolation, the device establishes links in open-air environments without relying on ground base stations. For long-haul logistics fleets, the equipment serves as a temporary communication node to transmit commands between dispatch centers and vehicles when driving through weak mobile coverage areas. For field operations in remote regions, the device enables data backhaul at parking points without requiring extra ground relay installations.
If there is any requirement for the 0.3m Vehicle-Borne Plate SOTM Antenna, please feel free to contact us: info@satgroundapplication.com. The technical team can provide adaptation assessment advice, specification parameter alignment, and technical support for bulk procurement across various deployment scenarios, such as logistics fleets and field operations.
