RF & Microwave Technical Articles
Explore waveguide, RF and SATCOM selection guides, interface comparisons and measurement methods. Browse technical articles and Dolph product updates to define component requirements, compare configurations and prepare a technical enquiry.
How Do You Size a Dish for a Satellite Link?
Size a satellite dish from the link budget: calculate gain and diameter, allow for rain, and compare candidate sizes with a worked 12 GHz example.
Which Satellite Antenna Type Fits Your Application?
Fixed, tracking, gateway, or compact? Match the satellite antenna type to your application by orbit, band, gain, and approval rules, with worked calculation examples.
How Does a Satellite Dish Focus Radio Waves?
Learn how a satellite dish focuses radio waves: parabolic reflector geometry, equal-path in-phase combining, feed horn pickup, bands, dish sizes, and what breaks the focus.
Can Two Satellites Reuse the Same Frequency?
Can two satellites reuse the same frequency? Learn how antennas, polarization, coverage and codes enable sharing, and what to check before changing hardware.
What Is a Satellite Transponder Bandwidth?
Understand satellite transponder bandwidth, 36 MHz channel examples, symbol-rate calculations, power limits, and the difference between nominal width and spacing.
Which Frequency Bands Do GNSS Satellites Use?
Compare GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou, QZSS and NavIC frequency bands, shared carrier centres and practical antenna bandwidth checks.
How Do Satellite Frequency Allocations Vary by Region?
Compare satellite allocations across ITU Regions, with BSS frequency bands, US Ku/Ka definitions, C-band limits, and a worked equipment-coverage example.
What Are Extended C-Band and Extended Ku-Band?
Understand extended C-band and extended Ku-band with FCC uplink and downlink ranges, the Ku-band gap, and a worked equipment-compatibility check.
Which Bands Carry Earth Observation Data?
Compare X-band and Ka-band imagery links, S-band telemetry, and L-band weather broadcasts, with verified mission examples and a worked reception-planning calculation.
Why Is L-Band Used for Mobile Satellite Links?
Learn why L-band suits mobile satellite links, with antenna, rain-loss and link-budget calculations, bandwidth tradeoffs, and a practical installation checklist.
When Is C-Band Better Than Ku-Band?
Compare C-band and Ku-band for rain fade, coverage, antenna size, and uptime. Use worked examples and a practical checklist to assess real link proposals.
Which NOAA Weather Satellite Signals Are Still Active?
NOAA APT has ended. Compare active GOES HRIT/EMWIN, GRB and JPSS HRD signals, reception requirements, and the November 2026 S-NPP shutdown deadline.
How Do Satellite Uplink and Downlink Bands Differ?
Compare satellite uplink and downlink frequencies, bandwidths, path loss, and feed hardware, with sourced band examples and a worked C-band requirement check.
Why Are Satellite Uplink Frequencies Usually Higher?
Why satellite uplinks are often higher than downlinks: frequency pairs, rain fade, ground-station power, and a worked example separating antenna gain from path loss.
Can Flexible Waveguide Be Used for Continuous Motion?
Flexible waveguide can support qualified, bounded repeated motion, but not endless rotation. Compare twist limits, fatigue tests, and rotary joint use.
Why Does Flexible Waveguide Have Higher Loss?
Why flexible waveguide has higher loss: wall geometry, surface resistance and mismatch, with sourced comparisons and a worked loss budget.
Why Do RF Band Definitions Overlap?
Explains why UHF, radar letters, and satellite service labels overlap, with worked Ku, K/Ka, and edge examples and exact-frequency specification guidance.
How Does a Septum Polarizer Work?
How a septum polarizer converts linear to circular polarization: stepped-septum 90-degree delay, bandwidth, axial ratio, loss, and bench checks.
How Do You Convert Linear to Circular Polarization?
Learn how to convert linear to circular polarization using wave plates, waveguide polarizers, hybrids or helices, with tolerance budgets, a 10 GHz worked example and verification steps.
How Do Offset and Prime-Focus Satellite Dishes Compare?
Compare offset and prime-focus satellite dishes by gain, feed compatibility, pointing and installation space, with a worked 12 GHz antenna-gain example.
What Determines a Flexible Waveguide’s Minimum Bend Radius?
Learn what sets flexible waveguide minimum bend radius, compare published E/H-plane limits, and check usable length with a worked WR-90 routing example.