From system need to RF function.
Each application area starts from a system need. For each one this page sets out the need, the RF functions we study, the scope of a first study, the product concepts linked to it and the next step. Pictures are context illustrations, not SkyBand hardware.
Discuss your RF requirements
Satellite communications
Links, terminals and payloads in low and geostationary orbit.
The system need
A satellite link needs RF power at the antenna and a receiver that adds as little noise as possible, so that weak signals can be recovered. Terminals and payloads add limits on size, weight and power. Mobile terminals also steer their beam, which adds phase and amplitude control to the RF front-end.
RF functions we study
- Power amplifiers for X-, Ku- and Ka-band, studied as band-specific variants.
- Low-noise amplifiers and transmit/receive (T/R) switching.
- Phase and amplitude control for beam steering.
- Complete transmit/receive front-end modules.
Scope studied
The study covers the RF front-end between the antenna and the modem: power amplification, low-noise reception, switching and, for steered terminals, phase and amplitude control. The antenna, the modem and the baseband are outside it.
GaN MMIC is considered for high-power amplification and SiGe BiCMOS for millimetre-wave, low-noise and mixed-signal circuits. The Tools page shows the status of each. Tools and technologies
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System view of a satellite link. A satellite exchanges signals with an antenna, which exchanges signals with the RF front-end, which exchanges signals with the modem and baseband. Control for beam steering and calibration acts on the antenna and the RF front-end. The RF front-end is the block SkyBand designs.
Blocks, from the signal path to the support functions:
- Satellite – LEO or GEO
- Antenna – Fixed or steered
- RF front-end – PA, LNA, switching (a block SkyBand designs)
- Modem and baseband
- Control – beam steering and calibration
Functional diagram of the system. The filled block is where SkyBand designs RF functions.
Linked product concepts
Related capabilities
Next step
Tell us your application and target requirements. We will review feasibility and agree the next engineering step.
Discuss a satellite terminal front-endRadar, aerospace and defence
Airborne links, ground radar and defence radios.
The system need
A radar or defence radio transmits high power and still has to receive very weak signals. Airborne and defence platforms add limits on size, weight and power, and some radios must work across several bands or waveforms.
RF functions we study
- Transmit/receive (T/R) functions for C-band ground radar.
- Power and low-noise amplification, switching and receiver protection.
- A reconfigurable front-end studied for UHF, L and S bands in defence radios.
- Front-end integration in a single transmit/receive module.
Scope studied
The study covers the transmit/receive RF front-end between the antenna or array and the receiver: power and low-noise amplification, switching and receiver protection. The antenna, the exciter and signal processing are outside it.
GaN MMIC is considered for high-power amplification. RF-SOI access is in progress for integrated front-ends and switches. Technology selection follows the application. Tools and technologies
Scroll sideways to see the whole diagram, or read the text version below it.
Read this diagram as text
System view of a radar or defence radio. An antenna or array exchanges signals with the transmit/receive RF front-end, which exchanges signals with the receiver and exciter, which exchanges signals with signal processing. Timing and control act on the front-end and the receiver. The RF front-end is the block SkyBand designs.
Blocks, from the signal path to the support functions:
- Antenna or array
- Transmit/receive RF front-end (a block SkyBand designs)
- Receiver and exciter
- Signal processing
- Timing and control – pulses, bands and waveforms
Functional diagram of the system. The filled block is where SkyBand designs RF functions.
Linked product concepts
Related capabilities
Next step
Tell us your application and target requirements. We will review feasibility and agree the next engineering step.
Discuss a radar or defence RF functionActive antennas
Beamforming, transmit/receive functions and electronically steered tiles.
The system need
An electronically steered antenna points a beam without moving parts. The electronics behind it must fit a small element spacing, stay matched from one RF path to the next and remove their own heat.
RF functions we study
- Beamformers and phase and amplitude control.
- Transmit/receive (TR) RF paths for each group of elements.
- Front-end integration and calibration support.
- Thermal and layout considerations from the start of the design.
Scope studied
The study covers the transmit/receive RF paths and the beamformer behind the radiating elements, with calibration and thermal considerations. The radiating elements and the terminal or platform are outside it.
Technology choice follows the architecture study. The options we consider are listed on the Tools page. Tools and technologies
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System view of an active antenna. Radiating elements exchange signals with transmit/receive RF paths, which exchange signals with a beamformer, which exchanges signals with the terminal or platform. Control and calibration act on the RF paths and the beamformer. A thermal design block sits under the whole system. The RF paths and the beamformer are the blocks SkyBand designs.
Blocks, from the signal path to the support functions:
- Radiating elements
- Transmit/receive RF paths (a block SkyBand designs)
- Beamformer (a block SkyBand designs)
- Terminal or platform
- Control and calibration – settings and RF path matching
- Thermal design – heat removal from the power amplifiers (scope to be agreed)
Functional diagram of the system. The filled block is where SkyBand designs RF functions.
Linked product concepts
Related capabilities
Next step
Tell us your application and target requirements. We will review feasibility and agree the next engineering step.
Discuss an active antenna tile5G and 6G infrastructure
Millimetre-wave radios for base stations, small cells and fixed wireless links.
The system need
A wireless radio needs linear, efficient RF power and a receiver that adds little noise, in a unit that must stay compact and cool. At millimetre-wave frequencies the antenna is an array, so the radio needs beam steering and several transmit/receive channels in parallel. 5G networks include millimetre-wave bands. 6G is still being defined: we treat it as an exploratory direction, not as a target with defined requirements.
RF functions we study
- Power amplifiers for millimetre-wave radios, with linearity and efficiency as design priorities.
- Low-noise amplifiers, switches and transmit/receive (T/R) front-ends.
- Phase and amplitude control for beamforming arrays.
- Several channels integrated into one front-end module or tile.
Scope studied
The study covers the millimetre-wave RF front-end and the beamformer between the baseband unit and the antenna array. Network equipment, the baseband and the antenna array are outside it.
SiGe BiCMOS is considered for millimetre-wave, low-noise and mixed-signal circuits, and GaN MMIC where output power and efficiency matter most. The Tools page shows the status of each. Tools and technologies
Scroll sideways to see the whole diagram, or read the text version below it.
Read this diagram as text
System view of a millimetre-wave wireless radio. The network and baseband unit exchanges signals with the RF front-end, which exchanges signals with a beamformer, which exchanges signals with the antenna array. Control and calibration act on the front-end and the beamformer. The RF front-end and the beamformer are the blocks SkyBand designs.
Blocks, from the signal path to the support functions:
- Network and baseband
- RF front-end – PA, LNA, switching (a block SkyBand designs)
- Beamformer (a block SkyBand designs)
- Antenna array
- Control and calibration – beam steering and channel matching
Functional diagram of the system. The filled block is where SkyBand designs RF functions.
Linked product concepts
No product concept is aimed at terrestrial networks today. The Ku/Ka TR module and the AESA tile address satellite terminals and are not presented as suited to 5G or 6G. This area would start as an engineering study.
Related capabilities
Next step
Tell us your application and target requirements. We will review feasibility and agree the next engineering step.
Discuss a millimetre-wave radio studyTell us your application and target requirements.
Describe your application, band and constraints without controlled data. We will review feasibility and agree the next engineering step.