Parabolic antenna

Is a satellite dish antenna parabolic to aid in transmission,
reception, or both?

wrote:
Is a satellite dish antenna parabolic to aid in transmission,
reception, or both?

Both. Reflection works the same in either direction. Light (or radio)
waves coming down the axis of the paraboloid are focused at a point;
light (or radio) waves emanating from that same focal point bounce off
the paraboloid and are parallel thereafter.

Of course, the satellite dish on your roof isn't configured to do any
transmitting. But the big antennas of the Deep Space Network certainly
are (their megawatt transmitters will fry birds), and of course the
antennas on our spacecraft have to receive and transmit both.

-- Bill Owen,

Generally, various antenna properties apply equally, regardless of
whether you use the antenna for receive or transmit.
see antenna reciprocity
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...na+reciprocity