Self-survey calibration of meteor radar antenna arrays

This paper presents the self-surveying technique for calibrating the antenna spacing, orientation, and phase errors in multiple receiver radar antenna arrays. Utilizing a set of source transmitters placed at known locations in the far-field of the array and measurements of the phase present at each antenna, the array's relative antenna locations and phase errors can be determined. The advantage of this technique is that the radar is used in its normal operating mode, providing an end-to-end calibration under true operational conditions. A self-survey calibration was performed with a meteor radar located at Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland, successfully mapping the array. The antenna positions were relatively close the expected locations, although the baselines were rotated approximately 5 [degrees] from the true cardinal directions. The majority of the phase error was introduced by the receivers.