AVANTAGES OF PARABOLIC ANTENNA:

 The advantage of a parabolic antenna is that it can be used as primary mirror for all the
frequencies in the project, provided the surface is within the tolerance limit; only the feed antenna
and the receiver need to be changed when the observing frequency is changed.
(http://aether.lbl.gov/www/projects/GEM/apn-478/apn-478.html)
 An advantage of such a design is the small irradiation loss, which allows for an optimum antenna
gain. (http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7245265.html).
 It is an advantage of such an arrangement that the exciter system and/or the exciter 3 are/is
protectively located within the parabola or the parabolic reflector
(http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7245265-description.html)
 Parabolic antenna is the most efficient type of a directional antenna – large front/back ratio,
sharp radiation angle and small side lobes. It fits well for noisy locations where other antennas
factually do not work.

The antenna's Gain is adequate to the area of the reflector. The reflector can be central-focused
(the focus is in the centre of the dish) or offset (the focus is off the axis of the dish). WAVEANT
manufactures only centre-focused dishes because they can be easily directed and have better
mechanical characteristics.

The next advantage is the easy assembly of the plastic cover kit (RADOM) and collar, which is
hardly possible with offset dishes. The plastic cover kit eliminates the hoarfrost and layers of
snow, the collar increases the possibility of directing the antenna and suppresses undesirable
jamming.

Various types of radiators can be used for radiating the reflector. WAVEANT uses a so-called
opened wave-guide, which is a hollow cylinder with exact dimensions typical for every frequency
and width of the working band. In addition, we add other compensation elements into the wave-
guide, which adjust a radiation angle (120° is a standard) and improve the antenna adjustment
(SWR). A great advantage of the opened wave-guide is its high front/back ratio and sharp course
of directional radiating characteristics.

Warning! The antenna designed for the frequency band 5 GHz will hardly work if connected to a
device transmitting on the frequency band 2,4 GHz and vice versa!
(http://www.waveant.eu/questions/)
 What is the advantage of parabolic antennas for the frequency band 2.4 GHz?
 In general, they serve for connection of end users (so-called last mile) to a wireless
network. However, in areas with lower intensity of Wi-Fi networks, they can be
successfully used also for back-bone links. In fact, this frequency is used for connections
up to maximum 10 km.

 Grids: they are designed for less demanding installations, they are wind resistant, but
have worse parameters than full dishes.
 Dishes: they have a sharp radiating lobe, large front/back ratio and they are designed for
demanding installation (wind!)
  What is the advantage of parabolic antennas for frequency 5 GHz?
 In general, they serve for building spinal point-to-point connections. The jamming in this
band is lower than in the frequency band 2.4 GHz and, thanks to large directionality, it is
possible to use more directional connections in the same frequency in the same locality.
In recent time, low-size dishes are used to connect end customers requiring high quality
and reliability of connection
 Grids: due to short waves, manufacturers do not use them for this frequency; front/back
ratio is insufficient.
 Dishes: the only possible solution for the frequency band 5 GHz and more.
(http://www.waveant.eu/questions/

DISADVANTAGES OF PARABOLIC ANTENNA:

 Among the foremost of these disadvantages are excessive weight, excessive stowage volume
requirements, excessive cost and complexity, the necessity of using mechanical latching means
for retaining the reflectors in their collapsed condition and active or powered deployment
mechanisms for deploying the reflectors, and a tendency to malfunction.
(http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3599218.html)
 The disadvantage of such a design is the over-irradiation of the parabolic reflector, which leads to
unwanted side lobes or back lobes.
((http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7245265description.html).
 http://books.google.com.sg/books?
id=njTri1942n4C&pg=PA185&lpg=PA185&dq=Disadvantage+of+Parabolic+Antenna&source=
web&ots=g3iZVLGJ7r&sig=DhhsDgT8SCMAQUAtAFZIXFwnv1E&hl=en#PPA187,M1
 In the field of communication technology over long distances, for instance between earth and a
satellite, it is well known to use parabolic reflectors. They are needed for amplification and
concentration of the inherently weak and directional signals of long distance communication and
also for improving signal to noise ratio and thus transfer bitrates.

In a world constantly demanding more flexibility and mobility there has been an increased
demand for portable, independent broadband communications.

However, it is difficult to make communication equipment using antennas with parabolic