Orbital X-Band Professional Series LNBs
Orbital Low Noise Block Downconverters
U-Tube - X Band Compact Reception System
X band users face a problem unique in satellite applications - the uplink frequency is very close to the downlink band. The uplink signal is at least 10 trillion times more powerful, at one Watt, than the downlink signal. In the course of producing an uplink signal of sufficient power and purity to use the satellite without interfering with other users, you create a series of artifacts that must be filtered and suppressed before transmission. Even with the best of design and manufacture, you still have residual products that can seriously impair the reception of the desired signals.
Usually we mitigate this interference by separating the transmit and receive frequencies - because the unwanted signals interfere less the greater the separation of transmit and receive frequencies. However, when the receive band is so close to the transmit band, as it is with X band, extraordinary measures must be added in the receive chain to insure quality performance. Including filters before the LNB, and other sophisticated measures are required to isolate the transmit from the receive signals. Remember, the transmit and receive devices are on the same dish, using the same feed or physical space - yet we expect a trillion degrees of separation.
This challenge is further compounded by the fact that the receive signal is so weak that anything we do in front of the LNB adds to the effective noise figure. Given these circumstances, we have to add filtering and isolation without impairing the performance of the LNB.
To accomplish this end, Orbital divided the filtering function and put some in the LNB and some before the LNB - however, that is still not enough. The Orthomode Transducer, which separates the receive and transmit power at the feed, needed improvement as well - so we developed a new and better one (improving isolation by 20 dB (a factor of one hundred).
Still faced with issues of component matching with minimal loss - we we took over the design of the Polarizer - the device that converts circular transmissions to linear transmissions (it must do so with the least possible loss), yet still preserving the axial ratio. This means that the amplitude of the circular path must be preserved as the signals are made linear - we are converting with less than 0.5 dB of difference.
All this must be done with minimal insertion loss, and it must do this across the entire frequency band, and we are now able to receive a very weak signal in the close proximity of a very strong signal across the entire 500 MHz band of frequencies, with minimal loss (0.4 dB loss from the feed to the LNB.
Not only have we reduced size, weight and cost but we have effectively made your dish bigger by increasing the carrier to noise ratio.
Orbital X-Band U-Tube Assembly
Cut the losses. Cut the Cost.
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Features
- Compact
- Light Weight
- Excellent VSWR because of system tuning
- Low footprint over antenna
- Exceptional Axial Ratio
Inline - X Band Compact Reception System
The Orbital Inline X-Band Compact Reception System has essentially the same operating characteristics as the U-Tube. The only difference is the length and width of the unit, and the individual components are manufactured to create an Inline rather that a "U" shape.
Orbital X-Band U-Tube Assembly
Click to download specs & mechanical PDF
Polarizer
Still faced with issues of component matching with minimal loss - we we took over the design of the Polarizer - the device that converts circular transmissions to linear transmissions (it must do so with the least possible loss), yet still preserving the axial ratio. This means that the amplitude of the circular path must be preserved as the signals are made linear - we are converting with less than 0.5 dB of difference.
The Polarizer converts circular waves, RHCP and LHCP, to linear waves, H and V - preserving both isolation and relative amplitudes between the polarities, denoted by the axial ratio.
| Description | Specifications |
| Axial Ratio | 0.5 dB typical |
| Dimensions | 125 x 60 x 60 mm 4.9 x 2.4 x 2.4 in |
Ortho-Mode Transducer
The Orthomode Transducer, that separates the receive and transmit power at the feed, needed improvement as well - so we developed a new and better one (improving isolation by 20 dB (a factor of one hundred).
The OMT, Orthomode Transducer, diplexes the separate transmit and receive signals into one waveguide, preserving isolation between the opposite polarity signals with minimum loss.
| Description | Specifications |
| Pass Band | 7.25 – 8.4 GHz |
| VSWR | 1.15 : 1 max |
| Transmit Rejection | 50 dB min |
| Insertion Loss | |
| Dimensions | 118 x 77 x 60 mm 4.6 x 3.0 x 2.4 in |
Receive Bandpass Filter (Transmit Reject Filter)
The Receive Band-Pass Filter must reject as much out of band interference, especially transmit signals, artifacts and noise, as possible (Attenuation) while losing as little of the desired receive band signals as possible (Insertion Loss). It must perform this function with as much efficiency as possible (VSWR) and as evenly across the band as possible (ripple and band flatness).
| Description | Specifications |
| Pass Band | 7.25 – 7.75 GHz |
| Insertion Loss | 0.2 dB max |
| VSWR | 1.2 : 1 max |
| Transmit Rejection | 30 dB min, 7.9-8.4 GHz |
| Dimensions | 182 x 75 x 50 mm 7.2 x 3.0 x 2.0 in |
X Band Transmit Bandpass Filter
The Transmit Band Pass Filter must pass the uplink frequency band with as little loss as possible, (Insertion Loss) and as efficiently as possible (VSWR) while providing tremendous attenuation of any signals originating in the transmit power amplifier or converter that might fall into the receive band. This exceptional filter provides over 92 dB of Attenuation in the receive band relative to the transmit band.
X-Band External Reference LNB
| Features |
| Transmit Rejection of 45 dB |
| Low Noise Figure |
| Image Reject of 60 dB |
| High P1 dB & IP3 |
| Description | Specifications |
| RF Input Frequency | 7.25 – 7.75 GHz |
| IF Output Freq | 950 – 1450 MHz |
| Noise Figure | 0.7 dB typical |
| Gain | 62 dB ±4 dB |
| Input VSWR | 1.3 : 1 max |
| P1 dB | +15 dBm min |
| Vibration | MIL-STD-810E |
| Dimensions | 113 x 70 x 55 mm 4.4 x 2.8 x 2.2 in |
| Weight | 850 g, 1.9 lbs |
Mechanical Drawing
The Orbital U-Tube X-Band Compact Reception System, is our solution to the unique X-Band issue of the transmit frequency being in close proximity to receive frequency. Since the Transmit poser is 10 trillion times more powerful than the poser of the Receive signal, extra-ordinary measures are taken to protect the purity and integrity of the Receive signal
Here's a few LNB solutions, for adding additional services, or perhaps you have just purchased a new LNB with external DC or dual DC. There are a few external reference examples as well. |
3 LNB SolutionHow to order
U-Tube and Inline Compact Reception System Components may be ordered separately or as integrated units.
For pricing options please call 1-604-856-0305 or contact us.
