Antenna with low-cost steerable subreflector

A method of antenna pointing of an antenna that produces a beam, is disposed on a stationary support pier, and comprises a reflector, a subreflector, and a tilt assembly, the method comprising:

• receiving, from an auto-peak device, a control signal to control the tilt assembly to tilt the subreflector in a plurality of tilt positions, relative to the reflector, to move the beam while a corresponding signal strength of a signal communicated via the antenna at each of the plurality of tilt positions is measured;
• and
• tilting the subreflector to at least one tilt position of the plurality of tilt positions in response to the control signal,
• wherein the tilt assembly comprises:
• the subreflector;
• the reflector;
• a base structure connected to a support beam that further connects to the reflector;
• a pivot assembly configured to couple the subreflector to the base structure such that the subreflector is configured to pivot in one or more directions about a pivot point at the pivot assembly relative to the base structure;
• one or more actuators configured to tilt the subreflector in one or more tilt positions relative to the reflector and to cause the subreflector to pivot about the pivot point;
• and
• a counter-force device configured to maintain a force on the subreflector and dampen movement of the subreflector in response to the one or more actuators,
• wherein the one or more actuators are configured to tilt the subreflector to the one or more tilt positions in response to the control signal.