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Horns & RF Components

We provide competitive pricing on state-of-the-art antenna solutions for the aerospace industry. We are proud to offer an optimum trade off of our low cost, broadband, low mass Horns, Polarizers, OMTs, Transitions, and Reflectors, designed to meet the most demanding RF and mechanical requirements for CubeSats, SmallSats, Orbiters, Landers, and autonomous IOT equipment.

Transitions

OMTs

Polarizers

Horns

Reflectors

Our products are optimized and manufactured using state-of-the-art techniques ensuring unparalleled performance.

Horns

We offer a selection of standard horn types including spline profiles as well as custom designs (if needed) depending on the antenna SWaP-C requirements. Our solutions provide:

  • Low mass and compact design
  • Broadband, high gain
  • High Power handling
  • Low cost
  • Short lead times for procurement

The following horn profiles have been standardized depending on the mission requirements. Broadband OMTs can be easily integrated into any flavor.

  • Spline shaped radially corrugated walls (high gain profile for global radiation with low cross polarization)
  • Axially corrugated choke horn (high performance for compact reflector antennas)
  • linearly sloped or spline shaped smooth wall (lower cost solution with lower design & manufacturing complexity)
  • Customized sectioned horns (optimal performance specific to a custom set of requirements)

Standardized Horns cover across X, Ku, K, Ka, Q, and V band and can be offered in combined K/Ka and Q/V band options. Our products are optimized and manufactured using state-of-the-art techniques ensuring unparalleled performance.

Radially Corrugated Horn
P/NBandFrequency
(GHz)		Typ.
Gain
(dBi)		Return
Loss (dB)		X-Polar
(dB)		Flange
(mm)		Price
Radial
Corrugated
Horn		RCH4411
RCH4511
RCH4611
RCH4612
RCH4711
RCH4811
RCH4812
RCH4911		X
Ku
K
K/Ka
Ka
Q
Q/V
V		6.5-8.5
10.25-14.75
17.25-20.75
17.25-30.5
27.5-30.5
37.0-43.0
37.0-53.0
47.0-53.0		14-23-30
-30
-28
-23
-28
TBC
TBC
TBC		23-2728.6
19.4
10.9
10.9
8.76
5.80
5.80
4.85		Quote
Smooth Wall Horn
P/NBandFrequency
(GHz)		Typ.
Gain
(dBi)		Return
Loss (dB)		Typ.
X-Pol
(dB)		Flange
(mm)		Price
Smooth
Wall
Horn		SWH4411
SWH4511
SWH4611
SWH4612
SWH4711
SWH4811
SWH4812
SWH4911		X
Ku
K
K/Ka
Ka
Q
Q/V
V		6.5-8.5
10.25-14.75
17.25-20.75
17.25-30.5
27.5-30.5
37.0-43.0
37.0-53.0
47.0-53.0		12-21-27
-26
-28
-23
-27
TBC
TBC
TBC		20-2528.6
19.4
10.9
10.9
8.76
5.80
5.80
4.85		Quote
Axially Corrugated Horn
P/NBandFrequency
(GHz)		Typ.
Gain
(dBi)		Return
Loss (dB)		X-Polar
(dB)		Flange
(mm)		Price
Axial
Corrugated
Horn		ACH4411
ACH4511
ACH4611
ACH4612
ACH4711
ACH4811
ACH4812
ACH4911		X
Ku
K
K/Ka
Ka
Q
Q/V
V		6.5-8.5
10.25-14.75
17.25-20.75
17.25-30.5
27.5-30.5
37.0-43.0
37.0-53.0
47.0-53.0		8-17-27
-26
-28
-23
-27
TBC
TBC
TBC		20-2728.6
19.4
10.9
10.9
8.76
5.80
5.80
4.85		Quote

Polarizers

Horn polarizers come in many forms and can include features to allow single/dual linear or circular polarization. Compact and wideband options exist to meet specific needs. We offered integrated solutions to reduce cost, mass, and envelope while maintaining a high gain profile.

  • Wideband Corrugated Polarizer (wideband and inline)
  • Septum Polarizer (compact LHCP/RHCP without need for OMT)
  • Hybrid (larger overall architecture, but the best performance)
Septum Polarizer
P/NBandFrequency
(GHz)		Return
Loss (dB)		Insertion
Loss (dB)		Axial RatioFlangePrice
Septum
Polarizer		SPL4411
SPL4511
SPL4611
SPL4711
SPL4811
SPL4911		X
Ku
K
Ka
Q
V		6.5-8.5
10.25-14.75
17.25-20.75
27.5-30.5
37.0-43.0
47.0-53.0		-25
-23
-23
-23
TBC
TBC		0.22
0.28
0.32
0.35
TBC
TBC		0.6
0.8
0.5
0.7
TBC
TBC		WR112
WR75
WR51
WR34
WR22
WR19		Quote
Corrugated Polarizer
P/NBandFrequency
(GHz)		Return
Loss (dB)		Axial RatioFlange
Width
(mm)		Price
Corrugated
Polarizer		CPL4411
CPL4511
CPL4611
CPL4711
CPL4811
CPL4911		X
Ku
K
Ka
Q
V		6.5-8.5
10.25-14.75
17.25-20.75
27.5-30.5
37.0-43.0
47.0-53.0		-27
-25
-23
-23
TBC
TBC		0.5
0.8
0.7
0.5
TBC
TBC		28.50
19.05
12.954
8.636
5.690
4.775		Quote

Waveguide Transitions

We offer many types of broadband transitions and waveguide from port to port:

  • Coaxial to Waveguide Transitions
  • E-bend, H-bend, Transformers
Waveguide Launcher Transition
P/NBandFrequency
(GHz)		Return
Loss (dB)		Connector
Type		FlangePrice
Coax
to
Waveguide		TSN5411
TSN2511
TSN6611
TSN6711
TSN7811
TSN7911		X
Ku
K
Ka
Q
V		6.5-8.5
10.25-14.75
17.25-20.75
27.5-30.5
37.0-43.0
47.0-53.0		-23
-23
-23
-23
TBC
TBC		N
SMA
K (2.92mm)
K (2.92mm)
V (1.85mm)
V (1.85mm)		WR112
WR75
WR51
WR34
WR22
WR19		Quote

Orthomode Transducers and Junctions

The following stand-alone Orthomode Transducers (OMT) and Orthomode Junctions (OMJ) are available. Reach out if a specific dual or multi-polarization configuration is required for your antenna.

  • Orthomode Transducers
  • Orthomode Junctions with integrated filters (contact us)
Orthomode Transducer OMT
P/NBandFrequency
(GHz)		Return
Loss (dB)		Port
Isolation		Flange
Ports		Price
Orthomode
Transducer
(OMT)		OMT3411
OMT3511
OMT3611
OMT3711
OMT3811
OMT3911		X
Ku
K
Ka
Q
V		6.5-8.5
10.25-14.75
17.25-20.75
27.5-30.5
37.0-43.0
47.0-53.0		-25
-25
-25
-25
TBC
TBC		-50
-45
-45
-50
TBC
TBC		WR112
WR75
WR51
WR34
WR22
WR19		Quote

Filters and Diplexers

We offer high power, low loss compact waveguide filters for common bands. A customize filter or diplexer can be modified from our catalog for a specific set of requirements including transmit/receive isolation and higher order mode filtering.

  • Low Pass filters
  • Band Pass Diplexers and Multiplexers
  • High pass filters
  • PIM Chokes

Contact us to discuss your filter requirements and to verify with our design catalog.

Integrated Antenna Architectures

A functional block diagram of our generic antenna architecture is provided. Our team can provide highly integrated solutions for further mass and envelope reductions.

Typical antenna architecture for global feed horns on a geo satellite
Antenna Feed Network Integrated Architecture

Some of the various components and modules offered is summarized below.

DescriptionCritical Features
HornA rotationally symmetric horn to support all polarizations• Radiator
• Throat matching section to increase bandwidth
• Flare features to increase gain and reduce cross-polarization
Orthomode
Transducer
(OMT)		An Asymmetric OMT is used to create vertical and horizontal polarization components• Port symmetry to reduce higher order mode content
• Matching elements to increase bandwidth
PolarizerA septum, corrugated, or hybrid component used to produce circular polarization• Phase stable across a wide band
• Precisely machined with tight tolerances in sensitive regions
TransitionCoax to waveguide transition• Tuning elements on and around the probe for wideband operation

For integrated solutions, contact our team to discuss possible options.

If you are interested to learn more about the different feed horn architectures, you may want to check out our article on Selecting the Best Horn Antenna.

antenna simulation and design using the latest commercial and open source tools

Antenna Simulation

Our custom in-house reflector and feed simulation tools (RECO) can quickly optimize an antenna.

Learn More
metallic 3d printing and CNC machining of rf feedchain networks

Custom Feed Networks

We can help customize a feed to provide the best wireless performance no matter the waveguide used.

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the architecture of a horn antenna?
Horn antennas are typically composed of 3 main sections:

  • Input section

    • This is the flanged waveguide leading to the throat matching section.

  • Throat matching section

    • This is the most significant section for matching the horn antenna and improving the match.

  • Flare section

    • This section matches the throat to aperture for free space radiation and forms the gain patterns.

What are the most popular coaxial connector types for feed horns?
Typically feed horns require high power interfaces and vary depending on the frequency. For X-band, N-type is generally chosen whereas for Ku-band, SMA or K-type is prefered. K and Ka-band feed horn coaxial interfaces require K type (2.92mm) and even higher frequency antennas require V type (1.85mm) coaxial connectors for best performance at higher bands.
How do you increase the gain of a horn antenna?
In very basic terms, a longer horn with a larger aperture produces higher gains, though, there are always limits to this. Losses, higher order modes, and other effects can limit the gain and effect the radiation pattern. It’s important for high gain antennas to work closely with your manufacturer to understand the limits of high gain antennas.
How long does it take to build a custom antenna?
The duration of a custom antenna development project really depends on the requirements.

Generally, a horn antenna that’s close to an existing Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) solution can have a relatively quick 6-8 week turn-around delivery.

Larger projects of around 12 weeks or more are typical for standard architectures, but with more complex requirements like dual-band or dual polarization operation or specific uncommon requirements.

To get a better idea of the schedule required to deliver a custom antenna, it’s best to speak to us to discuss.

What are the antenna design challenges?
Some challenges antenna designers face when developing a new antenna solution:

  • Selecting the right antenna architecture that will meet the product requirements
  • Choosing a simulation software that will quickly produce the most accurate results and converge quickly on an optimized solution like RECO and MatchMaker.
  • Conducting antenna tests that validate the antenna performance with respect to the given requirements

This obviously not an exhaustive list but at least provide some the top challenges to converge on a wireless solution.

What are the types of simulation software used to design antennas?
Choosing the best antenna design software to develop an antenna depends on the type of antenna and how it is modelled. To design an antenna, the following solvers can be used:

  • FEM (Finite Element Method) is used typically for feeds, horns, lens, pcb, and other types of antenna with hollow waveguide or different dielectric materials with more organic shapes. A commercial FEM option with years of vetted experience would be Ansys Electronics Desktop (HFSS) but it is generally the slowest option for antenna optimization.
  • MM / PO Mode Matching (MM) is also used for feeds, horns, filters, bends, OMTs, Polarizers, and other RF components, but the meshes are generally limited to rectangular and circular discontinuities. MatchMaker is a very fast solver that leverages all compute cores to solve horns in seconds.

    • Physical Optics is used for reflector antennas and is often the preferred choice when designing and optimizing reflector antennas. RECO is an ultra fast solver that provides a solution in seconds.

Combining RECO with MatchMaker, a full reflector antenna and feed can be designed in seconds! This can save significant amounts of time and cost by converging quickly towards a solution for a set of specific requirements.

Why is Aluminum (6061) used in antennas?
Aluminum is the preferred choice of metal when it comes to fabricating external antennas. Other than it being a light weight, it offers better conductivity than steel. This means higher gain (ie: lower loss) for the same power! It’s also very resistant to corrosion and has great thermal properties to route and dissipate heat. There are also metallic 3d printing options for more organically shaped antennas.

For the lowest loss and highest performance, Silver is used to plate surfaces and further improve electrical performance. Silver has the lowest loss of all the standard options, but requires additional processes and comes at a higher cost.

How much power can an antenna handle?
If enough power is applied to the antenna port, high power breakdown can occur by ionization of the gases making a conductive path between metallic surfaces. This can cause damage to the antenna metal surfaces or dielectric materials. Typically, large gaps will lower the electric field and the probability of breakdown, so wire antenna like helical, dipole, and monopole antennas will perform quite well at higher powers. Horns and waveguide arrays like a slot array also perform well at high power.

Antenna Product Experts

✔ Each component performance is as predicted using aerospace manufacturing precision

✔ Our products maximize gain, wide bandwidth, and efficiency

✔ Each component is carefully designed by experienced antenna & RF component specialists

sketching engineering drawing on a pad

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