Aircraft in-flight entertainment system having wideband antenna steering and associated methods

An aircraft in-flight entertainment system comprising:

• an antenna;
• a satellite television (TV) receiver connected to said antenna for receiving a plurality of satellite TV programming channels from at least one satellite TV transponder;
• a plurality of video displays for displaying satellite TV programming channels;
• a plurality of signal distribution devices;
• a cable network connecting said satellite TV receiver to said signal distribution devices, and connecting said signal distribution devices to said video displays;
• an antenna steering positioner connected to said antenna;
• and
• an antenna steering controller connected to said antenna steering positioner and comprising
• a signal strength detector for generating a received signal strength feedback signal based upon signals received over a relatively large bandwidth of the at least one satellite TV transponder,
• a processor for controlling said antenna steering positioner based upon the received signal strength feedback signal during aircraft flight, and
• at least one inertial rate sensor calibrated by said processor based upon the received signal strength feedback signal.

An aircraft comprising:

• a fuselage and a plurality of passenger seats arranged therein defining a single passenger aisle;
• an in-flight entertainment system carried by said fuselage and comprising
• an antenna mounted on the fuselage,
• a satellite television (TV) receiver connected to said antenna for receiving a plurality of satellite TV programming channels from at least one satellite TV transponder,
• at least one video display connected to said satellite TV receiver for displaying satellite TV programming channels,
• an antenna steering positioner connected to said antenna, and
• an antenna steering controller comprising a signal strength detector for generating a received signal strength feedback signal based upon signals received over a relatively large bandwidth of the at least one satellite TV transponder, and a processor for controlling said antenna steering positioner based upon the received signal strength feedback signal during aircraft flight.