https://tmfassociates.com/blog/2017/05/14/will-viasats-air-force-one-contract-get-trumped/ Satellites, spectrum and other stuff Tue, 03 Feb 2026 21:36:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 https://tmfassociates.com/blog/2017/05/14/will-viasats-air-force-one-contract-get-trumped/comment-page-1/#comment-94156 timfarrar Wed, 31 May 2017 19:07:02 +0000 http://tmfassociates.com/blog/?p=6117#comment-94156 I'm comparing the size to 2Ku. I agree that the Ku/Ka antennas have a similar (if not identical) aperture to the existing Ku or Ka only antennas deployed by Global Eagle, Panasonic, etc. (although obviously its heavier and more expensive). But a much larger aperture is available with flat panels like 2Ku, and this can provide a meaningful benefit in terms of bps/Hz performance. My expectation is that most providers will eventually shift to this form factor (and effectively therefore choose Ku or Ka but not both), and we've already seen many <a href="https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2016/10/04/not-so-fast-a-phased-array-wake-up-call-discussed/" rel="nofollow">efforts in that direction</a>. The flat panel technology might not be quite there yet, as that link points out, but it doesn't seem to me that a combined Ku/Ka solution will be the best option in the long term. I’m comparing the size to 2Ku. I agree that the Ku/Ka antennas have a similar (if not identical) aperture to the existing Ku or Ka only antennas deployed by Global Eagle, Panasonic, etc. (although obviously its heavier and more expensive). But a much larger aperture is available with flat panels like 2Ku, and this can provide a meaningful benefit in terms of bps/Hz performance. My expectation is that most providers will eventually shift to this form factor (and effectively therefore choose Ku or Ka but not both), and we’ve already seen many efforts in that direction. The flat panel technology might not be quite there yet, as that link points out, but it doesn’t seem to me that a combined Ku/Ka solution will be the best option in the long term.

]]> https://tmfassociates.com/blog/2017/05/14/will-viasats-air-force-one-contract-get-trumped/comment-page-1/#comment-93559 fredthe Mon, 15 May 2017 14:52:25 +0000 http://tmfassociates.com/blog/?p=6117#comment-93559 I'm curious as to why you would assume "and more broadly will a combined Ku and Ka antenna (which inevitably has a smaller aperture and more beam skew problems)". Both the ViaSat and Gilat/Hughes antennas use separate, back-to-back panels for the two bands. The size of each panel is comparable to existing fuselage-mount Ku and Ka antennas. It sounds like you are making statements without having actually seen either antenna. I’m curious as to why you would assume “and more broadly will a combined Ku and Ka antenna (which inevitably has a smaller aperture and more beam skew problems)”. Both the ViaSat and Gilat/Hughes antennas use separate, back-to-back panels for the two bands. The size of each panel is comparable to existing fuselage-mount Ku and Ka antennas. It sounds like you are making statements without having actually seen either antenna.

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