Kymeta Demos Metamaterials-Based Antenna at Sat Show

By Doug Lung
published

Kymeta's metamaterials based Ka-band satellite antenna is getting closer to becoming a commercial reality.

Kymeta demonstrated its antenna this week at Satellite 2014 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. "Last year we showed concepts and models," said Vern Fotheringham, chairman, president and chief executive officer at Kymeta. "This year we show working antennas. We are collaborating with the satellite industry to build products and solutions for mobile, transportable and fixed communications, and expect to have demonstration units for testing as early as second half of 2014."

The demonstration consists of a Kymeta antenna using its electronic beam steering to track a moving satellite model transmitting an HDTV signal. "I am truly excited to show the satellite industry that our technology is working," said Dr. Nathan Kundtz, founder, executive vice president and chief technology officer at Kymeta. "Kymeta’s electronic beam steering capabilities will open a range of new mobility solutions in aviation, maritime and automobile markets, and the technology is also a good fit for spacecraft antenna solutions."

Doug Lung
Doug Lung

Doug Lung is one of America's foremost authorities on broadcast RF technology. As vice president of Broadcast Technology for NBCUniversal Local, H. Douglas Lung leads NBC and Telemundo-owned stations’ RF and transmission affairs, including microwave, radars, satellite uplinks, and FCC technical filings. Beginning his career in 1976 at KSCI in Los Angeles, Lung has nearly 50 years of experience in broadcast television engineering. Beginning in 1985, he led the engineering department for what was to become the Telemundo network and station group, assisting in the design, construction and installation of the company’s broadcast and cable facilities. Other projects include work on the launch of Hawaii’s first UHF TV station, the rollout and testing of the ATSC mobile-handheld standard, and software development related to the incentive auction TV spectrum repack.
A longtime columnist for TV Technology, Doug is also a regular contributor to IEEE Broadcast Technology. He is the recipient of the 2023 NAB Television Engineering Award. He also received a Tech Leadership Award from TV Tech publisher Future plc in 2021 and is a member of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society and the Society of Broadcast Engineers.