A point-to-point, wireless, millimeter wave communications link between
two stations at least one of which is a mobile station. A millimeter wave
transmitter system operating at frequencies higher than 57 GHz with a
tracking antenna producing a beam having a half-power beam width of about
2 degrees or less and a millimeter wave receiver also with a tracking
antenna having a half-power beam width of about 2 degrees or less. In
preferred embodiments each mobile station has a global position system
(GPS) and a radio transmitter and both tracking antennas are pointed
utilizing GPS information from the mobile station or stations. The GPS
information preferably is transmitted via a low frequency, low data rate
radio. Each millimeter wave unit is capable of transmitting and/or
receiving, through the atmosphere, digital information to/from the other
station at rates in excess of 155 million bits per second during normal
weather conditions. In preferred embodiments actually built and tested by
Applicants digital information has been transmitted at rates of 1.25
gigabits per second. Preferred communication links described here are
millimeter wave links operating at frequencies of 71-73 GHz and 74-76 GHz
mounted on simple two-axis gimbals. Pointing information of the required
accuracy is provided by GPS receivers and standard radio links which send
the GPS calculated positions to the millimeter wave systems at the
opposite end of the link. In these embodiments there is no need for any
complicated closed loop pointing information derived from received signal
intensity or phase. On moving platforms locally generated inertial
attitude information is combined with the GPS positions to control
pointing of the gimbaled transceivers.