Beschreibung
What it does
The IceConeFeed v2.1 is the current production version of the QO100 dual feed. It clips onto the LNB of a standard offset satellite dish and lets you transmit on the 2.4 GHz QO100 narrowband uplink without modifying or removing the LNB — the LNB stays in place and continues to receive the 10.7 GHz downlink. Fully assembled, tuned, and tested before shipping.
Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating frequency (TX) | 2400 MHz (QO100 narrowband uplink) |
| Polarization | LHCP (default) — RHCP available on request |
| SWR @ 2.4 GHz | < 1.05 |
| LNB attenuation | ~0.7 dB (1.3 dB lower than v2) |
| Helix turns | 2.2 |
| Wire diameter | 1.4 mm |
| Connector | N-type |
| Max. supported LNB diameter | 61 mm |
| Material | PETG, UV-resistant |
| Color | Orange/White (default), Custom on request |
| Assembly | Fully assembled and tuned at our facility |
Quality control
Every unit is tuned to spec before it ships. The acceptance step on each unit is an S11 / SWR measurement at the operating frequency — units only leave the bench once they meet the published tolerance.
Full 3D radiation-pattern measurements (gain, axial ratio, half-power beamwidth, S21 sweeps across band) are part of our development and validation work and are also available as a service on customer-supplied antennas — see the Antenna Test Facility.
Polarization & dish use
This antenna is a dish feed — it sits in front of a parabolic reflector. Because the dish reflects the signal once and inverts the circular polarization, the feed must be the opposite handedness of the desired received signal. The default LHCP fits the QO100 narrowband uplink (which arrives RHCP at the satellite); pick RHCP if your dish has two reflectors (see this example).
Typical use cases
- QO100 narrowband CW/SSB operation from any 65–80 cm offset dish
- QO100 wideband DATV uplink
- Public-service / scientific operations from non-permanent sites — schools, expeditions, contests
Compatible parts & accessories
- LNB Adapter Ring — sizing rings for common LNBs
- LNB Golden Media 202 — modifiable for external LO
- Replacement Radome
- SMA-to-F adapter
- N 90° elbow
Documented in the Lab
- IceConeFeed Right Hand Circular — RHCP variant deep-dive
- IceConeFeed TX Performance — measured SWR, radiation pattern, uplink SNR
- IceConeFeed v2.1 on DATV — wideband uplink validation
- A Student’s Journey into QO-100 — first-station setup story
- United Nations on QO100 (4U100QO)
- Schulkontakt Antarktis — German school → Neumayer Station III
- Drone as Satellite: Custom S-Band IceConeFeed for ESA Indoor Navigation Research
Reviews & demos
Custom polarization (RHCP) and color combinations available on request — please use the contact form for a quote.
