Systems and methods of antenna orientation in a point-to-point wireless network

A first parabolic antenna configured to be:

• positioned to a first position relative to a second parabolic antenna to receive a signal from the second parabolic antenna, the first position of the first parabolic antenna corresponding to a first antenna alignment orientation of the first parabolic antenna relative to the second parabolic antenna, the second parabolic antenna comprising:
• a first diaphragm coupled to a rim of the second parabolic antenna, the first diaphragm comprising a first energy absorbing material configured to modify a beamwidth of the signal from the second parabolic antenna to a first beamwidth value;
• and
• a second diaphragm coupled to the rim of the second parabolic antenna, the second diaphragm comprising a second energy absorbing material configured to modify the beamwidth of the signal from the second parabolic antenna to a second beamwidth value less than the first beamwidth value;
• moved relative to the first position, while using a meter coupled to the first parabolic antenna to measure a signal characteristic of the signal;
• repositioned to a second position relative to the second parabolic antenna after detecting an acceptable threshold in the signal characteristic of the signal, the second position of the first parabolic antenna corresponding to a second antenna alignment orientation of the first parabolic antenna relative to the second parabolic antenna;
• moved relative to the second position, after the first diaphragm has been removed, while using the meter to measure the signal characteristic of the signal from the second parabolic antenna;
• and
• repositioned to a third position relative to the second parabolic antenna after detecting an improvement in the signal characteristic of the narrowed signal over the acceptable threshold, the third position of the first parabolic antenna corresponding to a third antenna alignment orientation of the first parabolic antenna relative to the second parabolic antenna, and the third position of the first parabolic antenna causing improved communication with the second parabolic antenna relative to the second position of the first parabolic antenna.

A method comprising:

• positioning a first parabolic antenna to a first position relative to a second parabolic antenna to receive a signal from the second parabolic antenna, the first position of the first parabolic antenna corresponding to a first antenna alignment orientation of the first parabolic antenna relative to the second parabolic antenna, the second parabolic antenna comprising:
• a first diaphragm coupled to a rim of the second parabolic antenna, the first diaphragm comprising a first energy absorbing material configured to modify a beamwidth of the signal from the second parabolic antenna to a first beamwidth value;
• and
• a second diaphragm coupled to the rim of the second parabolic antenna, the second diaphragm comprising a second energy absorbing material configured to modify the beamwidth of the signal from the second parabolic antenna to a second beamwidth value less than the first beamwidth value;
• moving the first parabolic antenna relative to the first position, while using a meter coupled to the first parabolic antenna to measure a signal characteristic of the signal;
• repositioning the first parabolic antenna to a second position relative to the second parabolic antenna after detecting an acceptable threshold in the signal characteristic of the signal, the second position of the first parabolic antenna corresponding to a second antenna alignment orientation of the first parabolic antenna relative to the second parabolic antenna;
• removing at least some of the energy absorbing material from the second parabolic antenna to narrow the beamwidth of the signal;
• removing the first diaphragm to expose the second diaphragm and to modify the beamwidth of the signal from the second parabolic antenna to the second beamwidth value;
• moving the first parabolic antenna relative to the second position after the first diaphragm has been removed, while using the meter to measure the signal characteristic of the signal from the second parabolic antenna;
• and
• repositioning the first parabolic antenna to a third position relative to the second parabolic antenna after detecting an improvement in the signal characteristic of the narrowed signal over the acceptable threshold, the third position of the first parabolic antenna corresponding to a third antenna alignment orientation of the first parabolic antenna relative to the second parabolic antenna, and the third position of the first parabolic antenna causing improved communication with the second parabolic antenna relative to the second position of the first parabolic antenna.