Satellite broadcast reception antenna, method and apparatus for searching and identification of broadcast satellites in geostationary orbit

A method of locating one or more target satellite orbital slots with a satellite broadcast reception antenna, the method comprising:

• generating by a microprocessor of the satellite broadcast reception antenna a list of look angles for satellites potentially visible to a radio frequency (RF) sensor of the satellite broadcast reception antenna;
• orienting an antenna element of the satellite broadcast reception antenna to align with a highest elevation where one or more satellite broadcast energy maxima are determined by the microprocessor to be visible to the RF sensor;
• sweeping the antenna element in an azimuth axis to locate signal maxima by the microprocessor;
• storing azimuth coordinates for each maxima in a memory coupled to the microprocessor;
• matching by the microprocessor the located maxima against a visible satellites pattern stored in the memory;
• determining by the microprocessor an azimuth offset required to transform a reference frame of the satellite broadcast reception antenna into a world reference frame.

A satellite broadcast reception antenna, comprising:

• an antenna element;
• a motor coupled to the antenna element such that the motor can sweep the antenna element in an azimuth axis;
• and
• an antenna control system coupled to the first motor, the antenna control system including a physical memory and a microprocessor,
• wherein the antenna control system is configured to:
• generate a list of satellite broadcast energy maxima collected by an azimuth sweep of the antenna element;
• match the list of broadcast energy maxima against a visible satellites pattern stored in the memory;
• and
• determine an azimuth offset required to transform a reference frame of the antenna element into a world reference frame.