What Are Standard Gain Horn Antennas & Accessories Used For?

A standard gain horn antenna is a type of waveguide antenna that is used in a variety of test/measurement, sensing, radar, and communications applications. Waveguide antennas, such as standard gain horns are used in these applications due to their high gain, efficiency, and precision performance. There are Standard Gain Horn Antennas With Waveguide Input and Standard Gain Horn Antennas With Coaxial Connector Input. A main consideration with standard gain horns is the ability to mount them with precision and to prevent degradation of the antenna via environmental ingress. This is why accessories such as Standard Gain Horn Antenna Radome Covers, G-type (Round) Mounts For Standard Gain Horn Antennas, and Standard Gain Horn L-style Antenna Mount WR229/IEC R40 are so useful.

Standard gain horn antennas are commonly used as a “standard” or “calibration’ for antenna testing and for high-gain communications and sensing, such as long-range radar and satellite communications. This is why precision is key, as the high directivity of these antennas results in a very narrow antenna pattern that needs to be properly aimed to ensure a good communication link or that the measurements/sensing is performed at the desired target.

A common issue with outdoor, but even indoor, environments is debris, corrosive fog, and moisture entering the waveguide system through the gain horn antenna. This is why there are radome/covers for these antennas that help isolate the internal waveguide environment from contamination from the external environment. These covers/radomes can greatly extend the lifespan of a gain horn antenna, especially if that antenna is used in harsh environments. It is important for the radome/covers to be made of low-dielectric constant materials that are also low-loss to minimize the impact on the signs passing through the radome/cover.

Precision alignment and mounting of waveguide horn antennas is essential, which is why there are specialized brackets/mounts available to aid with this task. As the best method of alignment/mounting a waveguide is via the precision flange already machined into a standard gain horn, the best waveguide antenna mounts have hole patterns that match the waveguide flange patterns and sizes. This means that different mounts are needed for different waveguide sizes but having these mounts available prevents the need to fabricate custom mounts or rig temporary mounting solutions that aren’t necessarily or easily repeatable.

Courtesy of Pasternack