What are Antenna Positioners?
Antenna positioners are metal antenna holders that can mechanically rotate an antenna in 3 dimensions to point it in the desired direction. Antenna Positioners use actuators to rotate the antennas 360 degrees in both the elevation and azimuth planes. Some positioners even have actuators that can change the linear elevation of the antenna. The actuators are electronically usually controlled via USB or ethernet port on the positioners and need electricity via a power supply to operate.
An accompanying controller software usually based on Python or MATLAB programming languages are used to control the actuators of the positioner. The software usually has a number of preset options representing the directions that the antenna can be pointed in. When a preset is selected using the software, it sends positioning values to the actuators via the USB or ethernet, and the actuators turn the antenna to point in the preset direction. Most antenna positioner manufacturers provide a software through which the positioner can be controlled. Some software even allow users to create their own presets to point the antenna in their desired directions. They may even have options to create a time-based 3D path for the antenna to point along, which will allow the software to change the direction of the antenna automatically based on time. This can allow antennas to keep pointing at a moving object automatically.
Antenna Positioners can be used in antenna chambers to evaluate the performance of an antenna in different directions. They can also be used for 3D beamforming, making Over-the-Air Measurements, testing antenna array performance, antenna placements of radars, beam convergence assessments and many other applications.
When selecting an Antenna Positioner it is important to evaluate the size and weight of the antenna that the positioner can handle. Other things to evaluate would be the software which controls the antenna positioner. In many cases, certain features are required which might not be available in all positioners.
everything RF has listed antenna positioners from the leading manufacturers. View product specifications, download datasheets and get quotes on antenna positioners that meet your requirement.
