Methods for identifying and correcting phase and/or amplitude errors in active antenna feed networks

A method of operating a beamforming antenna system that includes a multi-column array of radiating elements and a beamforming radio, the method comprising:

• adjusting weights applied in the beamforming radio to radio frequency (“RF”) signals that are output to at least some of a plurality of sub-arrays of the multi-column array of radiating elements based on information regarding the phase shifts experienced by RF signals when traversing the feed networks that connect respective ports of the beamforming radio to each radiating element in the multi-column array of radiating elements.

A method of at least partially compensating for phase errors in feed networks for respective columns of a multi-column array of radiating elements, the method comprising:

• determining phase shifts experienced by the respective sub-components of a radio frequency (“RF”) signal traversing a feed network for a first column of radiating elements of the multi-column array of radiating elements at a plurality of different frequencies;
• and
• storing the determined phase shifts.

A method of determining phase errors in a feed network for a first column of radiating elements of a multi-column array of radiating elements, the method comprising:

• measuring data corresponding to a phase versus frequency responses of a plurality of feed networks for the first column of radiating elements.

21-24. (canceled)