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Antennas

CH-10 Conical HornAntenna with Multisat Feed
CH-10 Conical Horn (Legacy)Antenna with Dual Beam Feed
AFC is a world leader in the design and manufacture of high surface accuracy satellite communications antennas. Patterning its terrestrial microwave point-to-point conical horn antenna product line after the highly successful Telstar horn developed by Bell Laboratories, AFC pioneered a complete line of highly precise, dimensionally stable composite fiberglass antennas in various sizes for frequency coverage through 40 GHz. This technology was applied to AFC's line of parabolic dish antennas. Parabolic antennas come with various Az/El, polar or motorized pedestals. Antenna options include cored ultra light reflectors, offset, embedded wire anti-ice or transportable systems and feeds systems including Multi-satellite units. Specific information on AFC's line of high wind fixed pointing satellite dish antennas may be found in 2.4 to 7 Meter Satellite Az/El Mount Antennas.

 

Antenna Web Pages

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Antenna Feeds and Microwave Components

TDRSS Satellite Ku-band Orthomode Coupler
TDRSS Satellite Ku-band Orthomode Coupler
In support of the antenna industry, AFC offers a broad range of microwave components, combining networks, antenna feeds, multi-satellite feeds, orthomode polarizers, launchers and ultra low loss waveguide. Manufacturing techniques employed are aimed at achieving desired technical results and cost objectives for commercial and military/agency applications. Frequency bands covered are up to 100 GHz. The Satellite Communications Antenna Feeds data sheet contains information on commonly purchased feed types. Multi-Sat Feed for Two-Degree Spaced Satellites describes a class of multi-beam feed systems specifically designed for 4.5 to 9 meter diameter antennas. For smaller antennas, see Dual Beam Retrofit Multi-Satellite Feed for 3.7 m (12 ft.) Diameter Class Antennas. Design and technical information, installation and test results may be found in Multi-satellite feed system for 2-degree satellite spacing reprinted from the April 1992 CED magazine.

Web Pages for Microwave Components, Antenna Feeds,
Multi-Satellite and Dual Beam Feeds

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Radomes

12.5 m Diameter Impedance Matched Thin Membrane Wall Geodesic Radome
12.5 m (41 ft.) Diameter Impedance Matched Radome for S-Band Radar.
Designed to protect antenna and radar systems from harsh environmental extremes, a radome is a strong prefabricated geodesic dome like structure with microwave transparency properties.
AFC's high technology radome capability combines the expertise of materials science, geodesic domes, structures and electromagnetics. AFC manufactures four types of dielectric radomes. The four types identify themselves primarily by the radome wall construction. In each case, the dielectric panel edges are reinforced into flanges for adjacent panel assembly. The dielectric flanges form a framework establishing the general terminology Dielectric Space Frame (DSF) for AFC's radome products. Depending on radome wall parameters, adjacent panel flanges may also serve as environmental load bearing beams or struts. Each panel is a molded one piece unit. When assembled to the other panels, the panel array forms a truncated spherical surface. Individual panels may be doubly curved or flat yielding a faceted or spherically smooth appearance. Foam insulation is often added to the wall producing a two or three layer sandwich configuration.

Radome transmission loss is composed of the insertion loss from the RF signal passing through the radome wall and from the scattering loss off the panel flange framework. In most cases, the scattering loss from the framework is several times greater than the wall insertion loss. To reduce scattering loss, AFC engineers use a technique known as impedance matching to "tune out" framework loss. As required by sophisticated electrical performance requirements, circuit elements may be laminated into the dielectric flanges to impedance match scattering loss. Any of the four DSF radome types may be impedance matched. Please refer to the Radome Network Home Page for more information on impedance matched radomes.

      The four DSF radome types are:

Thin Membrane Solid Laminate 2-Layer Sandwich 3-Layer Sandwich
Thin Membrane Wall Geodesic Radome Solid Laminate Radome 2-layer Sandwich Radome 3-layer Sandwich Radome
The thin membrane wall DSF radome where adjacent panel flanges carry all the environmental loads. The solid laminate wall DSF radome. Adding a layer of foam to the inside thin membrane wall DSF radome forms a 2-layer sandwich wall radome. Foam thickness is chosen primarily for thermal insulation and cost objectives. The composite 3-layer sandwich foam core wall radome.

AFC engineers have developed a family of dielectric space frame radomes based on a range of required radome diameters. A set of radomes within a given range of radii will have identical panel count, panel shape and overall geometric layout. Individual panel size and the flange angles, which are radius dependent, will differ to accommodate the radome's overall shape factors. Spherical truncation is also radome specific, and is accommodated by sub panels unique to each requirement. This process of engineering complex designs from the macro point of view has greatly simplified the structural design phase. Emphasis is placed on meeting the material strength requirements of the environmental specifications and of the important electromagnetic constraints as opposed to continually reinventing the radome. To enhance RF performance, a design-balancing process occurs between a stronger structure at maximum rated wind speed and improved RF performance. This balancing act determines that our radomes are designed with appropriate structural safety factors for the lifetime of the radome. It is for this reason that AFC defines radome structural safety by a criterion based on the geometric deformation of the radome shell, which leads to a catastrophic failure wind speed.

Radome accessories customize a radome to suit particular requirements. Accessories may include lightning protection, obstruction lights, ventilation, base collar, personnel door, indoor lights and power kits, hydrophobic coating and impedance matching. For more information, visit AFC's Dielectric Radome data sheets, Radome Capability. and other data sheets summarized below.

Radome Web Pages

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Tallguide ®

EHF Band Tallguide TG31
Tallguide TG31 for 33 to 55 GHz.
TG31 replaces WR22 waveguide.
Ultra low loss Tallguide (
TALLGUIDE ®) is a unique form of precision rectangular waveguide that exhibits one tenth (1/10) the transmission line loss of standard WR type waveguide. Tallguide's virtual loss free transmission mode appeals to multi-mode waveguide technology where as many as 15 higher order modes may propagate. See Tallguide ® Loss Savings Compared with Standard Waveguide for detailed graphical information over the 5 to 110 GHz frequency band. Tallguide has all necessary bends, twists and straight sections that are essential to lay out any waveguide run. A Tallguide run consist of transition units from standard waveguide into Tallguide, H-plane bends, twists, straight sections and mode suppressor in-between. Tallguide enables the interfacility waveguide run distance, between the control room and transmitting antenna, to be specified for convenience. Like waveguide installation, no alignment or special tools are needed.

Typical applications are satellite uplinks and radar. For example, the ASDE 3 short pulse airport surveillance radar, uses Tallguide at most major airports within the US, Canada and Europe. Often, ASDE 3 Tallguide runs are several hundred feet long. For satellite communications applications, Tallguide increases uplink power --- significantly reducing earth station cost. For further satellite communications data, see How to Combat Uplink Power Loss reprinted from the January 1995 issue of Satellite Communications.

Specific Tallguide component design information for Tallguide frequency bands may be found at the Tallguide Home Page, which is the starting point for all Tallguide information.

For other Tallguide frequency bands and component information, visit the Tallguide data sheets below.
5.8 - 7.0 GHz 7 - 10 GHz 8.2 - 12.4 GHz 10 - 15 GHz 12 - 20 GHz 15 - 22 GHz 17 - 27 GHz 22 - 33 GHz 26 - 40 GHz 33 - 55 GHz 50 - 75 GHz 60 - 90 GHz 75 - 110 GHz
WR137 WR112 WR90 WR75 WR62 WR51 WR42 WR34 WR28 WR22 WR15 WR12 WR10
TG215 TG170 TG134 TG115 TG87 TG80 TG62 TG50 TG40 TG31 TG23 TG17 TG16
Tallguide Home Page Tallguide Data Sheet How to Combat Uplink Power Loss

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Custom Shelters (Legacy)

AFC manufactures custom shelters to solve a variety of needs. Typical examples are transportable uplinks and secure airborne deliverable shelter modules. In todays tactical, highly mobile atmosphere, shelters often encompass dual use roles. Such tactical applications include an airborne deployed environmentally controlled 8x8x20 foot shelter housing a complete 26 foot diameter radome. Accessories and optional features may include TEMPEST design, personnel and equipment doors, alarm and emergency systems.
Custom Shelter and Antenna System
Custom Shelter
and Antenna System

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The Company

Antennas for Communications was founded by Steven Galagan and Howard Hubbard on February 2, 1972. Microdyne Corporation purchased AFC in 1979 and operated the business as a wholly owned subsidiary with its own banking, accounting and engineering. Following Microdyne's merger with Federal Technology, in June 1991 an AFC employee group purchased the assets of AFC from Microdyne. In July 2011, AFC moved into new 40,000 Sq-ft facilities. Operations and manufacturing quality control are certified under ISO 9001 : 2015. AFC is a privately held Florida corporation registered on SAM.GOV.

AFC's headquarters are in Ocala, Florida, which is located 1-1/2 hours north of Orlando. From Orlando international airport, take the Florida Turn Pike north to Highway 75. Florida Map Orlando to Ocala.

A complete Internet WWW AFC document index may be found in Antennas for Communications (AFC) Home Page Document Summary List.

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Antennas for Communications
2499 SW 60th Ave, Ocala, FL 34474
Telephone (352) 687-4121 Fax (352) 687-1203 E-mail sales@afcsat.com


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