Broad Beam
A “broad beam” in satellite-based telemetry is a beam of radio waves that is focused on a large area of the Earth’s surface. Broad beams are commonly used to transmit data from an orbital satellite to a large number of ground-based receivers simultaneously. Broad beams are also used in satellite-based radar and GPS in order to view large areas of the Earth’s surface at one time. Broad beams typically require more power than spot beams, but provide a much wider coverage area and generally transmit the same amount of data.
How Broad Beam Works
The radio waves generated in a broad beam are created in the same way that all radio waves are created by means of an antenna. As electricity is passed through a vertical metal rod, a horizontal metal rod at its end is excited and vibrates in accordance with the electrical frequency that is passed through it. The result is radio waves that spread out in all directions, which can then be focused by a concave dish, or “satellite dish”. By adjusting the angle of the concave dish and increasing the power, an orbital satellite is able to transmit data to a large area of the Earth’s surface.
Applications
Broad beams can be used for a wide variety of applications. For example, broad beams can be used in radar and GPS to target multiple ground units and correlate the position of all units simultaneously. Broad beams can also be used to provide data to thousands of television receivers at once and may cover several counties or even an entire state.
Advantages
Broad beams are advantageous because they minimize the number of satellites a company must maintain in order to provide service to their customers. Likewise, broad beams are advantageous because they allow thousands of individual units to connect to the same system.
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