parabolic antenna

electronics
Also known as: dish, dish antenna, parabolic reflector

Learn about this topic in these articles:

radar technology

  • principle of radar operation
    In radar: Antennas

    …of radar antenna is the parabolic reflector, the principle of which is shown in cross section in part A of the figure. A horn antenna (not shown) or other small antenna is placed at the focus of the parabola to illuminate the parabolic surface of the reflector. After being reflected…

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radio telescopes

  • Lovell Telescope
    In radio telescope: Principles of operation

    …radio reflector consisting of a parabolic antenna, which operates in the same manner as a television satellite dish to focus the incoming radiation onto a small antenna called the feed, a term that originated with antennas used for radar transmissions (see figure). This type of telescope is also known as…

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radio transmission

  • radio wave dish-type antennas
    In telecommunications media: Line-of-sight microwave links

    …repeater with transmitter and receiver dishes mounted on 30-metre (100-foot) towers has a maximum range of approximately 50 km (30 miles), whereas the maximum range will increase to approximately 80 km (50 miles) if the towers are raised to 90 metres (300 feet). Line-of-sight microwave links are subject to severe…

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sound reflection

  • graphic representations of a sound wave
    In sound: Reflection

    For example, a parabolic reflector will focus a parallel wave of sound onto a specific point, allowing a very weak sound to be more easily heard. Such reflectors are used in parabolic microphones to collect sound from a distant source or to choose a location from which sound…

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Very Large Array

  • Very Large Array
    In Very Large Array

    …VLA consists of 27 parabolic dishes that are each 25 metres (82 feet) in diameter. Each dish can be moved independently by transporter along rails laid out in an enormous Y pattern. (The arms of this pattern extend about 21 km [13 miles] each.) The resolution of the VLA is…

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