Technology Overview
Broadband Connectivity While On the Move
Starling has created the future of global broadband connectivity while moving in the air or on the ground. With our CoMPA technology, Starling allows service providers, telecom and satellite providers to the highest quality, most cost effective and complete connectivity services.
Ku-Band Advantages
Ku-band solves most of the limitations of L-band connectivity, such as narrow and limited capacity, allowing for a true global broadband experience while in motion.
Recognizing the advantages of Ku-band, Starling has created a lightweight Ku broadband antenna that full meets – even exceeds – the needs of commercial airlines, private jets, high speed trains and emergency vehicles. Our antenna technology offers the most viable option for complete and global on-the-move broadband services as it has the required capacity for broadband applications in relation to multi-users. It goes far beyond the capabilities of other antenna systems currently on the market, which are generally too cumbersome and heavy to support such capacity on many land and air vehicles.
Ku-band antennas were originally designed for terrestrial use where the end-user and the energy levels were fixed. Furthermore, until now, Ku-band service was limited to regional coverage. However, Starling’s advanced, high-bandwidth, low profile Ku-band antenna system now enables global coverage on any route. Our antenna systems are bi-directional and enable consistent, high-quality connectivity worldwide:
- On land and in the air
- Complete coverage over transatlantic and equatorial routes
- All weather conditions.
Starling’s CoMPA Technology
The Starling antenna is based on our revolutionary, patented coherent multi-panel antenna (CoMPATM) technology. CoMPA technology stands out among other approaches to mobile connectivity antennas by enabling all electronic units to be housed inside the antenna itself. Unmatched miniaturization of the electronics enables our MIJETTM series of antennas to have smaller diameters and lower profiles than any other broadband antenna commercially available, while maintaining maximum quality global connectivity. This makes CoMPA-based Ku antennas suitable for any airborne platform, from the smallest jet to the largest commercial airliner, and for most land platforms, from high-speed trains to emergency vehicles.
For air and land antenna applications, CoMPA technology offers several compelling advantages:
- Low profile – Save costs. Small antenna size combined with mounting in the optimum location minimizes drag and significantly reduces fuel consumption.
- Ultra-small – Easy to install. The miniaturized RF components inside the narrow-diameter, lightweight, low-profile antenna are easily installed in the ideal location, even on the smallest jets and vehicles.
- High performance – Strong connection (ITU/FCC-compliant). The sharp beam and low side lobes allow excellent cross polarization. Low-loss networking with two-way connectivity meets global SATCOM frequency allocation requirements.
- Unique transmit and receive capabilities. Special wideband elements and diplexer for isolation are unique to Starling antennas. Efficient transponder use results in lower service costs.
- High quality – Low maintenance. With all electronics contained inside the antenna, no space is required inside the plane, train, or land vehicle. This allows considerably faster installation on in-service aircraft, train and vehicles and quick, simple replacement of previously-installed old Ku band systems.
The Starling MIJET series of CoMPA-based antenna systems is tested, flight proven, and commercially available now.