Calculating Minimum Required Antenna Size

Calculating Minimum Required Antenna Size

There are many variables which must be considered when calculating the minimum antenna size required to receive any satellite TV service, whether digital or analogue. Antenna performance is governed by antenna efficiency and noise temperature, while the overall noise performance of the entire system is largely determined by the noise temperature rating of the first stage of electronic amplification: the LNB. For Ku-band receiving systems, additional signal margin may be required to counteract the effects of rain fade in temperate and tropical environments.

The C-band and Ku-band charts presented below provide rule of thumb estimates of what size antenna will be required for receiving a satellite TV signal of a given EIRP value. Consult the tutorials on line at http://www.mlesat.com for further information on making a proper selection for your particular installation.

Earth Station Antenna Size (Meters)
Direct-to-Home Analogue or Digitally Compressed Video