Satellite Phone Antenna

In order for your satellite phone to be of any use you require a satellite phone antenna which is the transducer between the electromagnetic waves and your satellite phone.  The receiving antenna transforms the incoming radio waves into electrical signals which then result in your ability to have a conversation.

Most satellite phone antennas are directional which means that it transmits more power in one direction than it does in others. The direction is dictated by the antennas radiation pattern which is a 3 dimensional pattern.

The antenna is what allows you to transmit over long distances.  How far depends on the antenna’s gain.  The higher the gain, the longer the distance that you will be able to transmit.  Your phone is powered by electricity that comes from the battery.  Your antenna uses power from that battery. 

The satellite has solar panels which are charged from the suns rays.  But there are also back up battery banks that charge so that when the sun is absent in the rotation the satellites are still able to provide a strong signal.  In fact as a user you never ever notice the difference.

Let’s have a look at the characteristics of the antenna attached to your phone.  Your satellite phone antenna uses radio signals that are transmitted by the antenna which uses frequencies which are called Hertz and abbreviated to the more recognizable Hz.  How hertz is determines is probably way more technical than we need to get. 

Instead let’s look at the three bandwidth types that are used in satellite communication.  They are the C band, L band, and Ku band.  Within each of those bands is a range of hertz signals.

The Ku band is used for sending signals to the satellite so that is what you will find on your satellite phone while the satellites themselves have a different band.  Your satellite phone antenna will be the correct bandwidth for the task at hand. 

The ground antennas are usually Yagi or Helix designs because the low orbiting satellites used by satellite phones use low frequencies for both receiving and transmitting. 

Some of the newer phones are using some of the newer high tech designs but the basics will remain the same.

The best phone in the world will have dropped calls, poor connections, and the works if you do not have the right antenna attached to it.  In fact a lower quality phone with a top of the line antenna will actually outperform any top of the line phone with a poor quality antenna.

So at the end of the day it is important to understand everything you can about the satellite phone antenna.  When you are in the market for a phone try to overlook all the fancy bells and whistles and features, for the thing that really matters the most – that boring antenna.

The satellite antenna might be boring, might not be very interesting to look at, but it is the most important item in your entire satellite phone. So pay attention!