Portable satellite communication system

A satellite communication system, comprising:

• an antenna including at least one antenna element and a waveguide antenna feed;
• a satellite communication transceiver unit comprising RF circuitry;
• a mounting structure configured to facilitate removable mounting of said satellite communication transceiver on said antenna element;
• one of a male mating portion and a female mating portion disposed on said satellite communication transceiver unit and forming a terminal end of a waveguide RF antenna port for said satellite communication transceiver unit;
• one of said male mating portion and said female mating portion disposed on a terminal end of said waveguide antenna feed, and oppositely sexed as compared to the mating portion provided on said satellite communication transceiver unit;
• a partial spherical female surface defined on said female mating portion configured to engage a partial spherical male surface defined on said male mating portion;
• wherein said female mating portion and said male mating portion together form a ball socket swivel when said satellite communication transceiver unit is mounted in said mounting structure, and said male and female mating portion are mated together.

A method for providing an RF interface between a waveguide antenna feed of a satellite communication antenna and a waveguide RF antenna port of a satellite communication transceiver unit, comprising:

• providing said waveguide RF antenna port with one of a male and a female mating portion;
• providing said waveguide antenna feed with one of said male and said female mating portions, oppositely sexed as compared to the mating portion on said waveguide RF antenna port;
• positioning a housing enclosing said satellite communication transceiver unit on a mounting structure disposed on an antenna element of said satellite communication antenna;
• performing a blind mating operation which includes inserting a partial spherical male surface of the male mating portion within a partial spherical female surface of the female mating portion.

A method for communicating RF energy across a waveguide interface, comprising:

• disposing a female mating portion at a terminal end of a first waveguide;
• disposing a male mating portion at a terminal end of a second waveguide;
• providing a partial spherical male surface on said male mating portion;
• providing a partial spherical female surface on said female mating portion;
• forming a ball and socket swivel by receiving said partial spherical male surface within a portion of said female mating portion defined by said partial spherical female surface;
• and
• communicating RF energy between said first waveguide and said second waveguide, through said male and female mating portions.

A waveguide RF interface, comprising:

• a female mating portion at a terminal end of a first waveguide including a partial spherical female surface;
• a male mating portion at a terminal end of a second waveguide including a partial spherical male surface;
• said partial spherical male surface removably disposed within a part of said female mating portion defined by said partial spherical female surface to form a ball and socket swivel;
• and
• an RF choke joint groove disposed along a periphery of said partial spherical male surface, said RF choke joint groove configured to inhibit leakage of RF energy from an interior of said ball and socket swivel.