VHF/UHF Stellar Calibration Error Analysis

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / September 27-29, 1971 / Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C.A statistical error analysis is performed to determine the degree of uncertainty encountered when calibrating steerable VHF /UHF receiving antennas with the stellar calibration method. The analysis considers the propagation of precision error indexes. It is shown that an antenna gain calibration by the stellar method has a one-sigma (1σ) uncertainty of ±0.65 dB at 1440 MHz (L-band), and ±0.8 dB (1σ) at 136 MHz (VHF). Somewhat increased precision can be achieved by monitoring the antenna gain-to-noise temperature (G/T) ratio at a station; a worst-case uncertainty of ±0.4 dB (1σ) can be realized at both L-band and VHF. Finally, field test measurements of antenna gain, obtained at 136 MHz in the NASA space tracking and data acquisition network (STADAN), demonstrate an uncertainty of ±1.0 dB, or less, which effectively confirms the analytical result.International Foundation for TelemeteringProceedings from the International Telemetering Conference are made available by the International Foundation for Telemetering and the University of Arizona Libraries. Visit http://www.telemetry.org/index.php/contact-us if you have questions about items in this collection