§  25.132   Verification of earth station antenna performance standards.

   Link to an amendment published at  74 FR 47102 , Sept. 15, 2009.

   (a)(1) All applications for transmitting earth stations, except for
   earth stations operating in the 20/30 GHz band, must be accompanied by
   a certificate pursuant to § 2.902 of this chapter from the manufacturer
   of each antenna that the results of a series of radiation pattern tests
   performed on representative equipment in representative configurations
   by the manufacturer demonstrates that the equipment complies with the
   performance standards set forth in § 25.209. The licensee must be
   prepared to demonstrate the measurements to the Commission on request.

   (2) All applications for transmitting earth stations operating in the
   20/30 GHz band must be accompanied by the measurements specified in
   § § 25.138(d) and (e).

   (b)(1) In order to demonstrate compliance with § 25.209 (a) and (b), the
   following measurements on a production antenna performed on calibrated
   antenna range, as a minimum, shall be made at the bottom, middle and
   top of each allocated frequency band and submitted to the Commission:

   (i) Co-polarized patterns for each of two orthogonal senses of
   polarizations in two orthogonal cuts of the antenna.

   (A) In the azimuth plane, plus and minus 7 degrees and plus and minus
   180 degrees.

   (B) In the elevation plane, zero to forty-five degrees.

   (ii) Cross-polarization patterns in the E- and H-planes, plus and minus
   9 degrees.

   (iii) Main beam gain.

   (2) The FCC envelope specified in § 25.209 shall be superimposed on each
   pattern. The minimum tests specified above are recognized as
   representative of the performance of the antenna in most planes
   although some increase in sidelobe levels should be expected in the
   spar planes and orthogonal spar planes.

   (3) Applicants seeking authority to use an antenna that does not meet
   the standards set forth in § § 25.209(a) and (b) of this part, pursuant
   to the procedure set forth in § 25.220 or § 25.223(c) of this part, are
   required to submit a copy of the manufacturer's range test plots of the
   antenna gain patterns specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.

   (c) The tests specified in paragraph (b) of this section are normally
   performed at the manufacturer's facility; but for those antennas that
   are very large and only assembled on-site, on-site measurements may be
   used for product qualification data. If on-site data is to be used for
   qualification, the test frequencies and number of patterns should
   follow, where possible, the recommendations in paragraph (b) of this
   section, and the test data is to be submitted in the same manner as
   described in paragraph (a) of this section.

   (d) For each new or modified transmitting antenna over 3 meters in
   diameter, the following on-site verification measurements must be
   completed at one frequency on an available transponder in each
   frequency band of interest and submitted to the Commission.

   (1) Co-polarized patterns in the elevation plane, plus and minus 7
   degrees, in the transmit band.

   (2) Co-polarized patterns in the azimuth and elevation planes, plus and
   minus 7 degrees, in the receive band.

   (3) System cross-polarization discrimination on-axis. The FCC envelope
   specified in § 25.209 shall be superimposed on each pattern. The
   transmit patterns are to be measured with the aid of a co-operating
   earth station in coordination with the satellite system control center
   under the provisions of § 25.272.

   (e) Certification that the tests required by paragraph (c) of this
   section have been satisfactorily performed shall be provided to the
   Commission in notification that construction of the facilities has been
   completed as required by § 25.133.

   (f) Antennas less than 3 meters in diameter and antennas on simple
   (manual) drive mounts that are operated at a fixed site are exempt from
   the requirements of paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section provided
   that a detailed technical showing is made that confirms proper
   installation, pointing procedures, and polarization alignment and
   manufacturing quality control. These showing must also include a plan
   for periodic testing and field installation procedures and precautions.

   (g) Records of the results of the tests required by this section must
   be maintained at the antenna site or the earth station operator's
   control center and be available for inspection.

   [ 58 FR 13419 , Mar. 11, 1993, as amended at  69 FR 5710 , Feb. 6, 2004;  70 FR 32253 , June 2, 2005;  72 FR 50028 , Aug. 29, 2007]