WO2012129240A2

WO2012129240A2 - Manually repointable satellite antenna

Info

Publication number: WO2012129240A2
Application number: PCT/US2012/029827
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erwin Hudson
Original assignee: Viasat, Inc.
Priority date: 2011-03-20
Filing date: 2012-03-20
Publication date: 2012-09-27
Also published as: WO2012129240A3

Abstract

In some embodiments a manually repointable satellite antenna includes a fixed satellite antenna reflector dish, a mounting arm fixedly coupled to the fixed satellite antenna reflector dish in a fixed position relative to the fixed satellite antenna reflector dish, an antenna feed assembly, and a manually adjustable linkage operatively coupled to the antenna feed assembly and to the mounting arm.

Description

MANUALLY REPOINTABLE SATELLITE ANTENNA

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/454,561, entitled "Repositionable Satellite Antenna" and filed on March 20, 2011, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The present disclosure relates to wireless communications in general, and in particular, to satellite communication antennas.

[0003] As customers become more and more dependent on broadband Internet for communications, shopping, entertainment and other services, their expectations for network reliability has increased to the point where the possibility of an extended outage must be reduced. Satellite delivery of broadband Internet service, particularly in more rural and remote areas, continues to expand around the world. In the United States alone, up to

1,000,000 households receive their primary broadband Internet service via satellite.

[0004] While satellite failures are quite rare, the possibility of a satellite failing, in part or entirely, remains quite real. Total loss of a satellite would result in an outage for all subscribers with terminals pointed at that satellite. It may take weeks to months to reposition an on-orbit spare satellite into that orbital position. If the construction and launch of a new satellite were to be required to restore service, it could take 3 years or more to have a replacement satellite manufactured, launched and brought into service. An outage of several weeks is certainly unacceptable to customers and years of outage would almost certainly result in loss of the subscriber base altogether.

SUMMARY

[0005] In a set of embodiments, an antenna employs a fixed satellite antenna reflector dish with a mounting arm fixed to the satellite antenna reflector dish. A manually adjustable linkage is coupled between the antenna feed assembly and the mounting arm. The manually adjustable linkage may be used to hold the antenna feed assembly in a first pre-defined position relative to the fixed satellite antenna reflector dish. This provides a first look angle for the antenna. The manually adjustable linkage may also be used to hold the antenna feed assembly in a second pre-defined position relative to the fixed satellite antenna reflector dish. This provides a second look angle for the antenna.

[0006] In a set of embodiments, a method for installing an antenna includes obtaining a manually repointable satellite antenna for installation. The antenna is mounted such that the position of the antenna feed assembly is fixed in a first position relative to the satellite antenna reflector dish such that the antenna feed assembly is aligned to a first look angle directed to a first satellite. The position of the antenna feed assembly relative to the satellite antenna reflector dish is manually adjustable to a second position such that the antenna feed assembly is aligned to a second look angle directed to a second, different satellite.

[0007] In some embodiments a manually repointable satellite antenna includes a means for focusing satellite communication signal energy from a first satellite orbital slot to a first feed position, and for focusing satellite communication signal energy from a second satellite orbital slot to a second feed position. The first and second satellite orbital slots may be different. The manually repointable satellite antenna also includes a means for converting satellite communication signal energy at a feed position into electrical signals and a means for holding the means for converting. The means for holding can hold the means for converting in each of the first feed position and the second feed position and allow manual repositioning of the means for converting between the first feed position and the second feed position. The means for holding is disposed proximate to the first feed position and second feed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] A further understanding of the nature and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure may be realized by reference to the following drawings. In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label. [0009] FIGS. 1 and 2 are illustrations of an example of a manually repointable satellite antenna in accordance with some embodiments.

[0010] .

[0011] FIGS. 3 and 4 are illustrations of another example of a manually repointable satellite antenna in accordance with some embodiments.

[0012] .

[0013] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a bracket to hold a feed in two or more positions in accordance with some embodiments.

[0014] FIG. 6 is a diagram of an example mounting arm in accordance with some embodiments.

[0015] FIG. 7 is a flow chart of an example method for installing a manually repointable satellite antenna in accordance with some embodiments.

[0016] FIG. 8 is a flow chart of an example method for manually repointing a manually repointable satellite antenna in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] We present simple, elegant and low cost solutions to the problem of repointing a satellite antenna. The solutions may be especially valuable for low cost subscriber terminals in the event of a satellite failure. One solution can be explained by an example using a reflector dish type of antenna, although the solutions described herein have applicability to other types of antennas. While the discussion herein focuses primarily on a receive antenna, it is to be understood that similar principles may be applied to a transmit antenna and to a transmit/receive antenna.

[0018] In some embodiments, a manually repointable satellite antenna may include a means for focusing satellite communications signals from a first satellite orbital slot to a first feed position. The means for focusing may collect satellite communications signals (e.g., radio frequency electromagnetic radiation) emitted by a satellite positioned at the first satellite orbital slot that impinges upon the means for focusing. The means for focusing may redirect (e.g., by reflection or refraction) the electromagnetic radiation toward the first feed position. In some embodiments, the first feed position may be a focal point for the means for focusing. In some embodiments, the first feed position may be proximate to a focal point. In various embodiments, the means for focusing may focus the electromagnetic radiation to a predefined focus region which may be a predefined point, a predefined line, or a predefined area extending in two or three dimensions defined in relationship to the means for focusing. The means for focusing may, in some embodiments, be a parabolic reflector, a spherical reflector, a lens, a folded system (e.g., having a main reflector and one or more sub reflectors), or similar structure. In some embodiments, the means for focusing may be a reflector as described in examples.

[0019] The means for focusing may also focus satellite communications signals from a second orbital slot to a second feed position. The second orbital slot may be different from the first orbital slot. For example, the first orbital slot and the second orbital slot may each be on the geostationary arc and separated in longitude. The longitude separation of the first and second orbital slots may be, for example, 9, 4, 3, or 2 degrees. The first feed position and second feed position may result in differing look angles of the manually repointable satellite antenna, wherein a first look angle may be aligned with the first orbital slot and the second look angle may be aligned with the second orbital slot. The angular difference between the first and second look angles may be any suitable amount which may be a function of the longitude separation and the latitude at which the manually repointable satellite antenna is or will be installed.

[0020] The manually repointable satellite antenna may include a means for converting satellite communications signal energy at a feed position into electrical signals. The means for converting may collect electromagnetic radiation that has been focused by the means for focusing and convey the collected electromagnetic radiation into one or more electrical conductors (e.g., a waveguide, a transmission line, or the like). In some embodiments, the means for converting may be an antenna feed as described in examples below.

[0021] The manually repointable satellite antenna may also include a means for holding the means for converting in each of the first feed position and the second feed position and allowing manual repositioning of the means for converting between the first feed position and the second feed position. For example, the means for holding may include a manually adjustable mechanism that, in first mode, allows sliding the means for converting between the first and second feed positions, and in a second mode, fixes the means for converting at a selected one of the first and second feed positions. The means for holding may be disposed proximate to the first feed position and the second feed position. For example, a first end of a mounting arm may be attached to the means for focusing and the means for holding may be attached to a second end of the mounting arm. In some embodiments, the means for holding may include a bracket, fasteners, slots, and other arrangements as described below.

[0022] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example system in which a manually repointable satellite antenna is pointed alternatively at a primary satellite 105 and a secondary satellite 110. The manually repointable satellite antenna may have a reflector 170 (e.g., a reflector design for use with a fixed satellite, such as a geostationary satellite) that is attached to a mounting arm 160. The reflector 170 may be parabolic, modified parabolic or other similar shape. The mounting arm 160 may be a single straight structural beam as illustrated, or may be implemented by one or more mechanical beams of various shapes and orientations. The mounting arm may be attached to the reflector in a fixed position. Although the mounting arm is shown here as attached near the center of the reflector, in some embodiments, the mounting arm may alternatively be attached near an edge or edges of the reflector. The antenna may, in some embodiments, use either a direct feed, offset feed or folded optics geometry.

[0023] In FIGS. 1-2, an antenna feed assembly 150 may be implemented as a feed horn that may be directly coupled mechanically to a receive electronics enclosure 140. The antenna feed assembly may alternatively be implemented as multiple horns. The receive electronics enclosure 140 may include wave guides, polarity switching paths, and/or other elements and may also contain circuitry to interface to the antenna feed assembly and to process a signal by amplifying, filtering, frequency converting, and/or other techniques. In an embodiment, the electronic enclosure assembly may also incorporate transmit signal processing and may be mechanically coupled with an antenna feed assembly to create a Transmit-Receive Integrated Assembly, or TRIA. Following examples will use the concise acronym TRIA, but such references may be considered broadly to refer to an antenna feed assembly and other components that may be connected to it electrically, mechanically or both.

[0024] The manually repointable satellite antenna may include a manually adjustable linkage. Shown in FIG. 1 - FIG. 6 are example mechanical components including a bracket 130, wing nut 120 and threaded rod 310 that may be part of a manually adjustable linkage that connects a TRIA (including the antenna feed assembly) to a mounting arm 160 in accordance with various embodiments. [0025] The TRIA may be installed on the antenna in such a manner that it has two predefined feed positions, one feed position resulting in an antenna look angle 182 toward the primary satellite 105 per the example in FIG. 1 and the second feed position resulting in an antenna look angle 183 toward a backup satellite 110 per the example in FIG. 2. The manually adjustable linkage may allow holding the TRIA (and feed) in either of the predefined feed positions. The manually adjustable linkage may also allow manual

reconfiguration to reposition the TRIA (and feed) between the first and second feed positions.

[0026] Reflector antenna performance is generally optimal when the antenna look angle is directly along the primary axis, or boresight, of the antenna. In other words, a reflector antenna may have a single focal point for which the optimal performance is obtained when the feed is positioned precisely (e.g., within a small fraction of a wavelength at the frequency of operation) at that single focal point. Accordingly, when the feed is positioned offset from the focal point, some loss in performance (referred to as scan loss degradation) may occur.

[0027] The approach shown as examples in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 may position the antenna feed along the boresight when pointing toward the primary satellite 105, and position the antenna feed away from the boresight when pointing toward the secondary satellite 110. This may provide the best performance on boresight in the look angle 182 to the primary satellite direction and allocate all of the scan loss degradation to the look angle 183 in the backup satellite direction. An alternative approach, shown in FIGS. 3-4 may position the antenna feed offset from the boresight (by equal and opposite amounts) in both positions, which may result in approximately equal scan loss in both the primary satellite 105 direction and the backup satellite 110 direction, where the antenna look angle 180 for the primary satellite 105 has scan loss degradation approximately equal to the scan loss degradation for the antenna look angle 181 for the backup satellite 110. Alternate designs can allocate the scan loss degradations between the two look angles in any desired ratio.

[0028] In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 5, A bracket 130 can be used to define the positions for holding the TRIA (including the antenna feed assembly 150). In some embodiments, pre-defined TRIA locations may be indicated by notches 210 on the bracket 130. Notches may be located at the ends of slots 220 or may be positioned along the length of slot 220. Another way to pre-define locations is position indicator markings 230, or alternately un-notched ends of slot 220 so that the TRIA is aligned at the edges of travel along the slot. A pre-defined position can be any position that is defined and indicated before the adjustment of the TRIA from a first location to a second location. Note that the TRIA is not shown in FIG. 5 for clarity, although the bracket 130 may be part of an integrated TRIA assembly. Any suitable fastener, including for example wing nuts, thumb screws, wing screws (or the like) may act to hold the TRIA in the primary satellite position. The bracket 130 may be attached to the mounting arm 160 using threaded posts 310 or another fastener type. The mounting arm 160 may consist of one or more supporting members that supports and aligns the TRIA in relation to the reflector 170.

[0029] Various other ways of mounting the TRIA (and feed) to the mounting arm may be used. In general, any suitable way of defining two (or more) alternative feed positions that allows manual adjustment between the two alternative feed positions can be used. For example, as described above, a bracket can include a slot into which an interlocking piece protrudes. The slot can define a range of movement for the feed (e.g., constraining the movement of the feed to translation within a plane, translation along a line, rotation about a point, or other suitable constraint). The slot can be straight or curved. The slot can incorporate mechanical features (e.g., an index mark, a detent, or the like) to define one or more pre-defined positions. The interlocking piece can, for example as described above, be a fastener which also functions to fix the feed in position. A slot may be located on a bracket that is part of the same mechanical assembly as the feed (an example being the bracket as shown), or alternatively, a slot may be implemented on a structure that is rigidly attached to the mounting arm or other element that is fixed relative to the reflector or other focusing device.

[0030] The manually adjustable linkage may be implemented in a variety of ways. For example, the antenna feed assembly may be mounted on a short articulating arm such as those used in adjustable lamps. The articulating arm may attach to the mounting arm near the focal area of the antenna and provide for movement of the feed assembly around the focal area. In this implementation, pre-determined focal locations may be indicated relative to the position of more than one articulating joint. Some embodiments may use clamps to hold the feed assembly onto a mounting arm or other rigid structure at or near the focal area. The clamps may be 'G' clamps, screw clamps, quick action clamps, spring loaded clamps, etc. In another embodiment, an antenna feed assembly may fit into multiple recesses in a mounting structure that define the various focal locations for the feed assembly. In some embodiments, gravity may hold the feed assembly in the appropriate recess, while in other embodiments the feed assembly may be secured into the recess using a fastener such as a screw or a clamp, etc. as discussed previously. Note that recesses for different focal locations may overlap with one another. In this case, one or more locations for corners or edges of the feed assembly may be unique such that the location of the feed assembly for each focal location may be

unambiguously determined. In some embodiments, the feed assembly may be moved using set screws. In an example, one side of the feed assembly may be pressured by a spring, while a set screw applies force from the opposite side to move the feed assembly in the direction of the spring. In some embodiments, the feed assembly may be held in place with hook and loop strips. In one example, one type (for example, hook) of tape may be attached to the feed assembly, while the other type (in this example, loop) may be attached to a rigid mounting surface (for example, a mounting arm). In an example, mounting tape on either the feed assembly or the mounting arm may be placed and/or trimmed in such a way as to pre-identify the various focal positions of interest. In some embodiments, the feed assembly may be held in place with magnets. In an example, magnetic tape may be placed on either the antenna feed assembly, a mounting surface, or both. By using thick magnetic tape on both surfaces, multiple positions may be pre-identified by the physical relationship between the tape on the different surfaces. For example, a convex corner of the tape on the antenna feed assembly may align with a concave corner of the mounting surface to pre-define one position.

[0031] Techniques for using a manually repointable satellite antenna will now be described. In some embodiments, a method of installing a manually repointable satellite antenna may include obtaining a manually repointable satellite antenna for installation. For example, the manually repointable satellite antenna may be any of the examples described above. In some embodiments, obtaining the manually repointable satellite antenna may include an installer assembling the manually repointable satellite antenna from a kit of parts. In some embodiments, the parts for the antenna may be obtained by the installer from different sources. For example, the antenna reflector may be shipped separately from the TRIA, etc. and/or the installer may locally source various parts such as fasteners, posts for mounting, etc. The method may also include mounting the manually repointable satellite antenna. Examples of embodiments of the method will now be described with reference to the manually repointable satellite antennas of FIGS. 1-4, although the method may be used with different embodiments of a manually repointable satellite antenna.

[0032] In some embodiments, the antenna may be skewed to orient it along the

geostationary arc as viewed from the earth. Refer to FIG. 7 step 1 for an example. The installer, at the time of install, may test the antenna with the TRIA in the primary satellite position per the example in FIG. 7 step 6. Testing of the antenna connection to a satellite may involve receiving a signal from a satellite and determining a received signal quality such as power, signal to noise ratio, etc. Testing may include both receiving and/or transmitting signals to/from a satellite or satellites.

[0033] In some embodiments, the antenna may be tested when pointed toward the backup satellite, although this is not essential. The installer may loosen the fasteners 120 per step 8 and move the TRIA to a backup satellite position per step 9 and do the same or equivalent tests per the example in step 11. If desired, an installer may use a test satellite with a similar look angle to that of the backup satellite. In this case, an alternate antenna feed may be swapped in to match the signals of the test satellite. For example, if an alternate satellite was available in the same orbital slot as the backup satellite, but operating at a different frequency, an alternate feed matched to that frequency may be temporarily substituted in place of the target feed. The alternate feed assembly may correspond to the target feed assembly so that the results of testing the connection of the antenna to the alternate satellite with the alternate feed is expected to yield the same results as testing the connection of the antenna to the backup satellite with the target feed. After the alternate feed is used in testing the connection, the target feed would be replaced.

[0034] Additional fine adjustments to antenna pointing may be performed. Finally, the installer may move the TRIA back to the primary satellite position per the example in step 13, tighten fasteners per step 14, and complete the antenna installation. The order of these steps may vary and some steps may be optional.

[0035] In some embodiments, it is also possible to install the antenna if only one of the satellites is available at the time of install. With one satellite, the antenna skew angle may be set based on the location of the terminal relative to the satellite. Then the TRIA may be set to the correct position and the antenna fine adjusted to point at the satellite available. Refer to FIG. 7, steps 1 to 6. Installed with known skew angle adjustment, the two TRIA positions can be established with high confidence. This technique can also be used, for example, to save install time, even if the backup satellite is available at the time of install.

[0036] In the event of a satellite failure, a customer, or another person with minimal or no tools and with little or no mechanical aptitude required, can repoint the antenna quickly. For example, a customer may be notified by mail, telephone, electronic communication, etc. that the primary satellite has failed. In some embodiments, the customer may be guided through manually repointing the antenna by telephone instructions. The antenna may be repointed by loosening the fasteners 120 per the example in FIG. 8 step 2 and repositioning the TRIA to a backup satellite position per step 3. Fasteners may be retightened finger tight per step 4 and the customer's service may be restored on the backup satellite 110. Refer to FIG. 8 for an example. This simple approach results in little additional antenna cost and is easy enough to perform that customers may quickly restore service in the event of a satellite failure. This may obviate the need for numerous field service calls to repoint a potentially large number of customers affected by a satellite failure.

[0037] There are a number of variations to the concept that may optimize performance in certain applications. For example, rather than just two satellite positions, the approach may be extended to multiple satellite positions by creating a number of set point positions. Refer to FIG. 5 for an example. For example, the positions 230 could be marked (for example, in degrees) relative to an initial pointing position so that the service provider could direct the customer to move the feed a certain number of markings as required. The position information provided by the installer to the customer may be provided at the installation completion, where the installer records the primary and backup satellite positions in the customer's antenna user's documentation.

[0038] Rather than a straight slot 220, a slot or slots may be curved, for example to change the angle of the TRIA during repointing. In addition, the thickness of the bracket 130 may vary so that as the TRIA is moved from one position to another, the TRIA may move in both horizontal and vertical directions. The TRIA may also be made to move toward or away from the reflector. Rather than wing nuts 120, the manually adjustable linkage may have screws, latches or other equivalent mechanisms to hold the TRIA in various positions. A wing nut fastener over a threaded rod 310 per FIG. 6 is one example mechanism. The manually adjustable linkage may use mechanical detents to perform the function of one or more of the fasteners and/or indicators discussed previously.

[0039] Rather than employing a TRIA, the antenna may be transmit only, receive only (such as satellite television for example), or have separate transmit and receive electronics. As an alternative, the electronics may remain fixed and the antenna feed assembly may be repositioned using the methods proposed herein with either a flexible connection between the electronics and the feed, or another mechanism to allow the antenna feed assembly to move relative to the electronics. [0040] Rather than a directly fed antenna, the antenna may be offset fed. The reflector may be a standard parabola or have an alternative shape. The antenna may be designed with folded optics and may include a sub reflector. The antenna may have multiple feeds in a single assembly and/or multiple antenna electronics.

[0041] There may be antenna reflector designs where the TRIA may be rotated rather than just moved horizontally in front of the reflector 170. A fastener closest to the reflector, for example, may be replaced with a pin, allowing the TRIA to rotate with the pivot point directly under the phase center of the antenna feed assembly.

[0042] It should be noted that the methods, systems and devices discussed above are intended merely to be examples. It must be stressed that various embodiments may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, it should be appreciated that, in alternative embodiments, the methods may be performed in an order different from that described, and that various steps may be added, omitted or combined. Also, features described with respect to certain embodiments may be combined in various other embodiments. Different aspects and elements of the embodiments may be combined in a similar manner. Also, it should be emphasized that technology evolves and, thus, many of the elements are exemplary in nature and should not be interpreted to limit the scope of embodiments of the principles described herein.

[0043] Specific details are given in the description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques have been shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.

[0044] Also, it is noted that the embodiments may be described as a process which is depicted as a flow diagram or block diagram. Although each may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be rearranged. A process may have additional steps not included in the figure.

[0045] Having described several embodiments, it will be recognized by those of skill in the art that various modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents may be used without departing from the spirit of the principles described herein. For example, the above elements may merely be a component of a larger system, wherein other rules may take precedence over or otherwise modify the application of the principles described herein. Also, a number of steps may be undertaken before, during, or after the above elements are considered.

Accordingly, the above description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A manually repointable satellite antenna comprising:

a fixed satellite antenna reflector dish;

a mounting arm fixedly coupled to the fixed satellite antenna reflector dish in a fixed position relative to the fixed satellite antenna reflector dish; one and only one antenna feed assembly; and

a manually adjustable linkage operatively coupled to the antenna feed assembly and to the mounting arm, wherein the manually adjustable linkage is manually reconfigurable to:

hold the antenna feed assembly in a first pre-defined position relative to the fixed satellite antenna reflector dish to provide a first look angle, and

hold the antenna feed assembly in a second pre-defined position relative to the fixed satellite antenna reflector dish to provide a second look angle which is different from the first look angle.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein a mechanical detent defines at least one of the first pre-defined position and the second pre-defined position.

3. The antenna of claim 1 wherein an index mark defines at least one of the first pre- defined position and the second pre-defined position.

4. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising a fastener operable to:

hold the antenna feed assembly in any of the first pre-defined position and the second pre-defined position when the fastener is tightened; and allow movement of the antenna feed assembly between the first pre- defined position and the second predefined position when the fastener is loosened.

5. The antenna of claim 4, wherein the fastener is a wing nut.

6. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the manually adjustable linkage further

comprises a slot that is arranged to allow movement of the antenna feed assembly between the first and second pre-defined positions and constrain movement of the antenna feed assembly to a plane.

7. The antenna of claim 6, wherein the slot is curved.

8. The antenna of claim 6, wherein the slots is further arranged to constrain

movement of the antenna feed assembly to rotation about the mounting arm.

9. A method for installing a manually repointable satellite antenna comprising:

obtaining a manually repointable satellite antenna for installation; mounting the manually repointable satellite antenna such that:

the position of an antenna feed assembly is fixed in a first position relative to a satellite antenna reflector dish such that the antenna feed assembly is aligned to a first look angle directed to a first satellite, and

the position of the antenna feed assembly relative to the satellite antenna reflector dish is manually adjustable to a second position such that the antenna feed assembly is aligned to a second look angle directed to a second satellite, which is different from the first satellite.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the manually repointable satellite antenna

comprises:

a fixed satellite antenna reflector dish;

a mounting arm fixedly coupled to the fixed satellite antenna reflector dish in a fixed position relative to the fixed satellite antenna reflector dish; one and only one antenna feed assembly;

11. The method of claim 9, wherein mounting the satellite antenna dish is performed such that the first and second look angles are oriented along the geostationary arc.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first pre-defined position corresponds to a look angle that is aligned to the boresight of the antenna.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising testing a connection of the antenna to the first satellite.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

testing a connection of the antenna to the second satellite;

adjusting the position of the antenna feed assembly to the first position relative to the satellite antenna reflector dish such that the antenna feed assembly is aligned to receive a signal from the first satellite.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining that a satellite failure has occurred; and

manually adjusting the position of the antenna feed assembly to the second position.

16. A manually repointable satellite antenna comprising:

means for focusing satellite communication signal energy from a first satellite orbital slot to a first feed position, and for focusing satellite communication signal energy from a second satellite orbital slot to a second feed position, wherein the first and second satellite orbital slots are different;

means for converting satellite communication signal energy at a feed position into electrical signals;

means for holding the means for converting in each of the first feed position and the second feed position and allowing manual repositioning of the means for converting between the first feed position and the second feed position, the means for holding disposed proximate to the first feed position and second feed position.