Antenna assembly

The subscriber antenna assembly according to 1, wherein the antenna or antennas are mounted on the support whereby the antenna or antennas are pivotable.

In a fixed wireless communication system using multiple access techniques, comprising a plurality of base stations connected to a known transmission network and a plurality of subscriber stations, the base stations and subscriber stations transmitting signals solely by wireless means, a subscriber antenna assembly comprising a directional antenna which is operable in different modes of operation;

• wherein, in a first mode, the antenna is operable as a scanning antenna to scan in azimuth and thereby determine a communication link with a selected one of a plurality of base stations and in a second mode is operable as a communication antenna to communicate with the selected one of the plurality of base stations, wherein the assembly further comprises control means, wherein the control means are operable to receive data from the antenna when operating in a scanning mode, determine which base station should be used for future data communication and move the orientation of the antenna such that the antenna is operable to communicate with selected one of the base stations.

The subscriber antenna assembly according to 9, wherein the antenna or antennas are mounted on the support whereby the antenna or antennas are pivotable.

In a fixed wireless communication system using multiple access techniques, comprising a plurality of base stations connected to a known transmission network and a plurality of subscriber stations, the base stations and subscriber stations transmitting signals solely by wireless means, a subscriber terminal, said terminal comprising a directional antenna, a transceiver coupled to the antenna, and an antenna controller coupled to the transceiver and the antenna, wherein the antenna is operable by the controller in a first mode to scan in azimuth the broadcast signals of the base stations and thereby identify one of the plurality of base stations and is operable by the controller in a second mode as a communication antenna to provide a communication link between the subscriber and the network via said selected base station.

A method of operating a fixed wireless communication system using multiple access techniques, comprising a plurality of base stations connected to a known transmission network and a plurality of subscriber stations, the base stations and subscriber stations transmitting signals solely by wireless means, said subscriber terminals comprising an antenna, a transceiver coupled to the antenna, and an antenna controller coupled to the transceiver and the antenna, said method comprising the following steps:

• in a first mode causing the controller to control the antenna whereby the antenna scans in azimuth the broadcast signals of the base stations, and identifies one of the plurality of base stations, and then, operating the antenna in a second mode as a communication antenna, providing a communication link between the subscriber and the network via said identified base station.