As part of the DLR major investment Tandem-L ground demonstrator (TDL-BoDem), a demonstrator is being set up to demonstrate SAR modes, algorithms, data processing and calibration. For this purpose, a system consisting of a reflector antenna, a feed network with subsequent high-frequency circuit part and a multi-channel digital unit is set up.

As part of the DLR major investment Tandem-L ground demonstrator (TDL-BoDem), a demonstrator is being set up to demonstrate SAR modes, algorithms, data processing and calibration. For this purpose, a system consisting of a reflector antenna, a feed network with subsequent high-frequency circuit part and a multi-channel digital unit is set up. The investment in a Tandem-L floor demonstrator serves the following purposes:

- Development of a representative hardware to demonstrate the multi-channel Tandem-L instrument technology, both digital and analog;

- Evidence of the real-time functionality of digital beam shaping in elevation and azimuth;

- Testing and optimization of algorithms for digital beam shaping in elevation and azimuth;

- Demonstration and optimization of the calibration of a reflector-based SAR system;

- High-frequency circuit part (RF front-end).

With the high-frequency circuit part, the received radar signals after the antenna are to be amplified, filtered and converted to a lower frequency band (IF) in order to enable adequate analog-to-digital conversion. The high-frequency circuit section is to be installed in close proximity to the feed array of the antenna in order to keep the noise figure of the radar reception chain as low as possible (connection with coaxial lines).

The entire high-frequency circuit section is divided into 4 logical units:

- Frequency converter unit (32 pieces);

- calibration network I and calibration network II;

- Local oscillator (LO) with LO distribution network.

These 4 units are to be integrated in a total of 2 housings.