Pointing Loss
The reduction in antenna gain resulting from misalignment between the antenna boresight and the direction of the target satellite or ground station.
Full Definition
Antenna gain is maximised when the antenna is perfectly aligned with the target; any angular offset from boresight introduces a pointing loss, measured in decibels. Pointing losses arise from mechanical inaccuracies in the antenna mount, thermal deformation of the reflector, or tracking errors. In link-budget documents, pointing loss is typically itemised as a separate line entry on both the transmit and receive sides. Editors should ensure pointing loss is recorded as a positive number (a loss, subtracted from the gain) and that the assumed pointing error angle (in millidegrees or degrees) is stated. The term is hyphenated only as a compound modifier ('pointing-loss budget').
Usage
Usage note: Record as a loss (positive dB value subtracted in the budget). State the assumed pointing error angle. Hyphenate only as a compound modifier.
In Context
- "A pointing loss of 0.5 dB was assumed in the link budget based on the ground antenna's specified tracking accuracy of 0.03°." — Link-budget document
- "Post-event analysis showed that thermal deformation had caused a 1.8 dB pointing loss during the eclipse period." — Mission anomaly report