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18 

Antenna parts and recommended tools 
1037749-0001 Revision F 

 

The main components of the antenna kit are: 

 

Az/El mount assembly 

 

Reflector bracket and tilt plate 

 

Antenna reflector 

 

Feed support arm 

 

Radio assembly (shipped separately) 

 

Feed horn 

The following sections describe and illustrate each component of the antenna kit. 

Az/El mount assembly 

The Az/El mount assembly, shown in Figure 2, includes components that allow you 
to adjust the antenna elevation and azimuth—the Az/El canister, the elevation 
scale, and the azimuth and elevation adjustment tools. 

The Az/El canister supports the antenna and secures it to the mast. The elevation 
scale is used to measure the angle of antenna elevation. The azimuth and elevation 
adjustment tools are used to finely adjust the azimuth and elevation of the reflector 
during antenna pointing. See the HughesNet 

Ka-Band Antenna Pointing Guide

 

(1037663-0001) for detailed instructions. 

 

Figure 2: Az/El mount assembly

 

 

 

 

Summary of Contents for AN8-074P

Page 1: ...0 74 m Ka Band Antenna Installation Guide Model AN8 074P 1037749 0001 Revision F 3 26 2013 11717 Exploration Lane Germantown MD 20876 Phone 301 428 5500 Fax 301 428 1868 2830 ...

Page 2: ...ort to ensure the correctness and completeness of the material in this document Hughes Network Systems LLC shall not be liable for errors contained herein The information in this document is subject to change without notice Hughes Network Systems LLC makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a p...

Page 3: ... Chapter 2 Antenna parts and recommended tools 17 Antenna kit components 17 Az El mount assembly 18 Reflector bracket and tilt plate 19 Antenna reflector 19 Feed support arm 20 Radio assembly 20 Feed horn 21 Polarizer clamps 21 Small hardware parts list 22 Tools 23 Chapter 3 Installing the antenna and radio assembly 25 Determining the pointing values 25 General instructions for assembling the ante...

Page 4: ...eceive cables 44 Connecting the transmit cable 44 Connecting the receive cable 45 Ground connection 45 Pointing 45 Chapter 5 Adjusting antenna azimuth and elevation 47 Adjusting elevation 48 Adjusting azimuth 50 Checking the azimuth base starting position 51 Coarse azimuth adjustment 52 Fine azimuth adjustment 52 Final steps 53 Remove the pointing tool 53 Weatherproof the cable connections 53 Chec...

Page 5: ...hat could result in personal injury or in some cases death as explained below Each of these signal words indicates the severity of the potential hazard DANGER indicates a potentially hazardous situation which if not avoided will result in death or serious injury WARNING indicates a potentially hazardous situation which if not avoided could result in death or serious injury CAUTION indicates a pote...

Page 6: ... DANGER WARNING or CAUTION to indicate a specific type of hazard for example fire or electric shock If other hazard symbols are used in this document they are identified in this section Additional symbols This document uses the following hazard symbols Indicates a safety message that concerns a potential electric shock hazard Indicates a safety message that concerns a potentially hazardous situati...

Page 7: ... on sound roof structures Make sure the antenna assembly and installation surface are structurally sound so that they can support all loads equipment weight ice and wind Use safety equipment for example a lifeline appropriate for the work location Follow all manufacturer safety precautions for all safety and other equipment used Perform as many procedures as possible on the ground To avoid electri...

Page 8: ... strong forces on the antenna surface If the antenna or mount assembly begins to fall during the installation do not attempt to catch it Move away and let it fall Antennas that have been improperly installed or attached to an unstable structure are susceptible to wind damage which can be very serious or even life threatening The product owner and installer assume full responsibility that the insta...

Page 9: ...ich a person might be expected to stand and 3 ft 3 inches from any opening such as a door or window in a building or adjacent structure The antenna must be mounted such that no object that could reasonably be expected to support a person is within 6 ft 7 inches of the edges of a cylindrical space projecting outward from the antenna reflector toward the satellite If the above distance requirements ...

Page 10: ...tion in a commercial industrial or institutional environment must carry a Radiation Hazard Caution sign on the access door gate or permanently mounted access ladder within plain sight of anyone approaching the antenna from the front or sides of the reflector Failure to observe these cautions could result in injury to eyes or other personal injury Note Some installations may require additional prec...

Page 11: ...band antenna It is written for qualified installers who are familiar with satellite antenna installation practices and are capable of properly applying the information presented This chapter includes the following sections Model AN8 074P antenna description on page 12 Antenna installation summary on page 13 Tasks related to antenna installation on page 14 ...

Page 12: ...a satellite modem or a satellite router The IDU communicates with both the HughesNet satellite and the Network Operations Control Center NOCC via the antenna and radio assembly The antenna is connected to the IDU by an intra facility link IFL consisting of two cables a transmit cable and a receive cable Figure 1 shows the AN8 074P antenna with radio assembly assembled and installed on a trimast mo...

Page 13: ...st suitable method for mounting the antenna then install the antenna mast Note The antenna mast must be plumb The antenna cannot be adjusted to correct for a mast that is not plumb Installing the antenna mount on page 14 and Antenna Site Preparation and Mount Installation Guide 1035678 0001 5 Assemble the antenna Az El mount feed support arms reflector and other parts Chapter 3 Installing the ante...

Page 14: ...odes Installing the antenna mount Before installing the antenna itself you must first install a suitable antenna mount If the system requires a pole mount installation be sure to obtain information about the underground utilities in the proposed location Have the appropriate utility company mark the location of any underground telephone wires storm drains etc Also because soils vary widely in comp...

Page 15: ...ation FSB 050518_01 and applicable parts of the National Electrical Code NEC Approved cables For a list of approved coaxial cable types for the IFL between the antenna and the IDU see the Hughes FSB IFL Cable Approved List with lengths for SPACEWAY Domestic Installations FSB 080202_01 The FSB lists the maximum cable length for each approved cable type for all relevant radio types Because it is imp...

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Page 17: ... the antenna components and hardware to make sure all parts have been received in good condition Metal components may contain sharp edges Use care when unpacking and handling antenna parts If any parts appear to have been damaged in transit immediately contact the freight carrier If any parts appear to be missing or damaged but not as a result of handling in transit contact your dealer or distribu...

Page 18: ...wn in Figure 2 includes components that allow you to adjust the antenna elevation and azimuth the Az El canister the elevation scale and the azimuth and elevation adjustment tools The Az El canister supports the antenna and secures it to the mast The elevation scale is used to measure the angle of antenna elevation The azimuth and elevation adjustment tools are used to finely adjust the azimuth an...

Page 19: ...ports the antenna reflector The reflector bracket and tilt plate allow the reflector to rotate so it can be adjusted for proper tilt See also Figure 9 on page 27 Figure 3 Reflector bracket and tilt plate Antenna reflector The antenna reflector shown in Figure 4 focuses the transmitted and received RF signals It attaches to the reflector bracket Figure 4 Antenna reflector ...

Page 20: ...age Feed support arm Figure 5 shows the feed support arm which supports the radio assembly and feed horn Figure 5 Feed support arm Radio assembly The radio assembly shown in Figure 6 consists of the radio transmitter low noise block converter LNB transmit receive isolation assembly TRIA and polarizer waveguide Figure 6 Radio assembly ...

Page 21: ...he polarizer on the radio assembly Figure 7 Feed horn Polarizer clamps Two identical clamps with spring loaded screws attach to each end of the radio polarizer One clamp pre installed secures the polarizer to the TRIA the other shipped in the radio assembly box secures the feed horn stem to the polarizer Figure 8 Polarizer clamps ...

Page 22: ...e bolts 4 Figure 11 on page 29 5 16 inch hex head serrated flange nuts 4 inch inch Phillips head screw 1 Feed support arm to reflector bracket inch 1 inch hex bolts 2 Figure 12 on page 30 inch flat washers 2 inch lock washers 2 inch hex nuts 2 Feed horn support bracket and long adapter bracket to feed support arm inch 1 inch hex bolt 1 Figure 13 on page 31 inch flat washer 1 inch lock washer 1 Rad...

Page 23: ... measuring torque to 8 ft lb Torque wrench open end inch pounds 7 16 inch capable of tightening to 20 inch lb such as the Ripley model TW 207 AH B torque wrench which is preset to 20 inch lb Used to connect IFL cables to the radio assembly or ground block 7 64 inch Allen wrench For Allen screws on polarizer clamps Phillips head screwdriver inch For screw used in securing antenna reflector to refle...

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Page 25: ...nto the mast on page 39 Before you install the antenna read all safety information in Understanding safety alert messages on page 5 Determining the pointing values Before installing the antenna you must install and power up the IDU Refer to the appropriate IDU installation guide for instructions Once the IDU is fully powered up connect it to your laptop using an Ethernet cable then use your global...

Page 26: ...hen you assemble the antenna be sure to follow the instructions in this chapter in the order they are presented For rooftop installations assemble the antenna on the ground and then carry the fully assembled antenna up to the roof Tightening hardware Do not tighten any nuts or other hardware until instructed to do so See also the next item Torque Torque To ensure successful installation of the ant...

Page 27: ...ing in the reflector bracket 4 Rotate the tilt plate so that each of the five holes in the Az El mount is aligned with a hole in the tilt plate There are extra holes in the tilt plate that will not line up with holes in the Az El mount Figure 9 Attaching the reflector bracket and tilt plate 5 Insert five carriage bolts through the tilt plate and into the holes in the Az El mount 6 From the opposit...

Page 28: ...ning the pointing values on page 25 set the scale to the proper reading and lock down the five bolts Installing the antenna reflector Follow the steps below to attach the antenna reflector to the reflector bracket While attaching the reflector bracket do not place the reflector face down on a hard surface The weight of the reflector bracket and any additional pressure during assembly could bend th...

Page 29: ...ure 11 Attaching the antenna reflector 3 Insert the Phillips head screw through the hole near the bottom of the reflector and into the corresponding hole in the reflector bracket but do not tighten this screw yet 4 From the back of the reflector bracket secure the four bolts with four inch hex flange nuts and tighten the nuts Note Make sure the carriage bolts are firmly seated before tightening th...

Page 30: ... 1 Insert the feed support arm into the housing at the bottom of the reflector bracket as shown in Figure 12 Figure 12 Attaching the feed support arm to the tailpiece 2 Insert two inch 1 inch bolts down through the tailpiece into the feed support arm 3 Place one flat washer lock washer and hex nut onto each bolt and tighten the nuts ...

Page 31: ...om underneath 2 Position the long adapter bracket and feed horn support bracket on the feed support arm as shown in Figure 13 so the bolt passes through the long bracket and into the feed horn bracket Figure 13 Positioning the radio and feed horn brackets 3 Tighten the bolt 4 Position the radio assembly above the long adapter bracket so that the polarizer on the radio is nearest to the reflector a...

Page 32: ...dapter bracket 7 Place the short adapter bracket in position near the end of the feed support arm and lower the radio onto it as shown in Figure 15 Figure 15 Securing the rear of the radio assembly 8 Insert one 5 16 inch 1 inch bolt with flat washer and lock washer up through the feed support arm and the short adapter bracket into the threaded socket at the rear of the transmitter 9 Tighten the bo...

Page 33: ...polarization setting and the current polarization of the radio 1 Check the installation reference sheet to determine whether the installation requires LHCP or RHCP 2 Refer to Figure 16 and check the position of the polarizer on the radio If the marker aligns with L the polarizer is set for LHCP If the marker aligns with R the polarizer is set for RHCP Figure 16 Determining the polarization setting...

Page 34: ...he clamp is shown in Figure 18 on page 35 2 Separate the polarizer from the TRIA and reposition it so the marker aligns with L for LHCP or R for RHCP Refer to Figure 17 Note Make sure the O ring in the circular groove in the end of the polarizer remains in place Figure 17 Notches and key for changing the polarization setting Attaching the clamp Re attach the clamp that secures the polarizer to the...

Page 35: ...t are not threaded against the clamp half that is already in place 4 Start each screw spring loaded Allen screws by hand being careful not to cross thread them Because the screws are long they can easily be cross threaded if they are misaligned If the screw does not turn easily when first inserted back it out and start again 5 Use a 7 64 inch Allen wrench do not use a power driver to alternately t...

Page 36: ...arizer protective seal 2 Insert the O ring into the circular groove at the small end of the feed horn as shown in Figure 20 Figure 20 Insert O ring into groove at end of feed horn stem Note Depending on when the feed horn was manufactured there may be a transparent moisture seal on the small end of the feed horn Newer feed horns do not have this seal If there is a seal on the small end of the feed...

Page 37: ...er end fits into the feed horn stem Figure 21 Place the feed horn on the support bracket b Place the feed horn onto the feed horn support bracket so the two holes nearest the feed horn fit into the pegs on each side of the bracket Note If you have difficulty loosen the clamp where the polarizer joins the TRIA or loosen it more Attaching the clamp With the feed horn in place attach the clamp that s...

Page 38: ... that is already in place 3 Start each screw spring loaded Allen screws by hand being careful not to cross thread them Because the screws are long they can easily be cross threaded if they are misaligned If the screw does not turn easily when first inserted back it out and start again 4 Use a 7 64 inch Allen wrench do not use a power driver to alternately tighten the two screws on the feed horn cl...

Page 39: ...that is not tight except leave nuts that are used for pointing adjustments just snug Installing the antenna assembly onto the mast Follow these steps to install the assembled antenna assembly onto the mast pipe 1 Before you install the antenna assembly onto the mast pipe use a bubble level to make sure the mast is plumb Check the mast at two perpendicular locations as shown in Figure 23 Note The a...

Page 40: ...ust have an outside diameter of 2 88 inches Figure 24 Installing the Az El mount assembly This completes assembly of the antenna Depending on the antenna orientation and mount the antenna should look similar to the one shown in Figure 1 on page 12 Next you must route the IFL transmit and receive cables between the antenna and the IDU See Chapter 4 Cabling and connections ...

Page 41: ...g requirements For a list of approved coaxial cable types for the IFL between the antenna and the IDU see the Hughes FSB IFL Cable Approved List with lengths for SPACEWAY Domestic Installations FSB 080202_01 The FSB lists the maximum cable length for each approved cable type for all relevant radio types Because it is impossible to predict the requirements specific to each installation site you mus...

Page 42: ...nd connections 1037749 0001 Revision F Routing the cables at the antenna Route the coaxial transmit and receive cables at the antenna as illustrated in Figure 25 Figure 25 Transmit and receive cable configurations ...

Page 43: ...ation adjustment nuts on the Az El mount assembly 3 Coil any extra cable and secure the transmit cable with cable ties Where IFL cables connect to the radio or to a ground block tighten the cable connector to the torque specified in Table 4 on page 26 Overtightening the radio connectors can result in damage to the radio assembly Routing the receive cable 1 Route the receive cable marked with red e...

Page 44: ...til pointing is complete before taping the outdoor connections Connecting the transmit cable Connect the transmit cable to the radio transmitter as follows 1 Make sure the IDU is powered off 2 Apply a small amount of dielectric grease to the inside of the transmit cable connector marked with blue electrical tape 3 Connect the transmit cable to the transmitter connector marked IFL shown in Figure 2...

Page 45: ...cable ties 6 After the transmit and receive cables are connected to the radio and the IDU reapply power to the IDU as instructed in the IDU installation guide Ground connection Ground the antenna as instructed in the documents listed in Grounding on page 15 Use of the ground screw on the radio assembly is optional The radio is grounded through the shield in the coaxial cable and the ground block P...

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Page 47: ...nna see the HughesNet Ka Band Antenna Pointing Guide 1037663 0001 To successfully point the antenna you must follow the procedure detailed in the pointing guide This chapter contains the following sections Adjusting elevation on page 48 Adjusting azimuth on page 50 Final steps on page 53 Do not try to make antenna pointing adjustments by pulling on the antenna reflector or feed support arm Doing s...

Page 48: ...llustrates how to adjust the antenna elevation by moving the antenna up and down relative to the horizon Figure 28 Adjusting antenna elevation To adjust the antenna elevation 1 Loosen the elevation lockdown nuts on each side of the Az El mount See Figure 29 Figure 29 Elevation adjustment components ...

Page 49: ...se the lower nut to adjust the elevation The black line shown in Figure 30 points to the elevation value on the elevation scale For example the antenna shown in the figure is adjusted to 26 Figure 30 Elevation marker 4 Spin the top elevation adjustment nut clockwise until it is snug against the base plate 5 Lock down the elevation by tightening the two lockdown nuts on either side of the Az El mou...

Page 50: ... antenna azimuth and elevation 1037749 0001 Revision F Adjusting azimuth Figure 31 illustrates how you adjust antenna azimuth by moving the antenna horizontally from side to side Figure 31 Adjusting antenna azimuth ...

Page 51: ...rom underneath the azimuth base make sure the four 5 16 inch azimuth lockdown nuts are loose 2 Use a inch wrench to turn the fine azimuth adjustment bolt until the lockdown bolts are centered in the curved slots You should not have to turn the two inner nuts on the adjustment bolt but if they are loose tighten them Because this is a fine adjustment bolt you may have to turn it many times Leave the...

Page 52: ...ction indicated on the installation reference sheet 3 Tighten the three Az El canister nuts just enough so the antenna does not rotate freely Fine azimuth adjustment For fine azimuth adjustment use the azimuth adjustment bolt 1 Make sure the Az El canister nuts are tight enough to prevent the antenna from rotating on the mast 2 Using a inch wrench rotate the azimuth adjustment bolt shown in Figure...

Page 53: ...e DiSEqC antenna pointing tool DAPT if used 1 Disconnect the DAPT 2 Reconnect the receive cable to the radio Weatherproof the cable connections Weatherproof and secure all cable connections as shown in Figure 34 1 Wrap the connector and cable with weatherproofing tape 2 Secure the tape with a cable tie Figure 34 Weatherproofed connections with cable ties The tape and cable tie must be ultraviolet ...

Page 54: ...el is present legible and visible on the feed support arm and on the rear of the antenna reflector If the antenna is enclosed by a fence make sure a Radiation Hazard Caution sign is present legible and visible on the entrance gate If the antenna is installed on a roof with a permanently mounted access ladder make sure a Radiation Hazard Caution sign is present legible and visible on or near the la...

Page 55: ... Foot pound G GPS Global positioning system H hr Hour I IDU Indoor unit IFL Intra facility link inch lb Inch pound L LHCP Left hand circular polarization LNB Low noise block converter LOS Line of sight M m Meter N NEC National Electrical Code NOCC Network Operations Control Center R RHCP Right hand circular polarization Rx Receive T TRIA Transmit receive isolation assembly Tx Transmit ...

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Page 57: ...ting at the antenna 42 service loops 43 transmit cable 43 Clamps polarizer 34 37 description 21 Connectors cable and ground 45 E Elevation adjusting 48 F Feed horn description 21 installing 36 Feed support arm description 20 installing 30 Final steps 53 G Grounding 45 H Hardware parts list 22 I IDU installing 15 IFL 12 41 Installation related tasks 14 Installation site determining 14 Installation ...

Page 58: ...ng 31 Receive cable connecting to the LNB 45 routing 43 Reflector description 19 installing 28 Reflector bracket description 19 installing 27 S Safety labels and or signs 54 Setting tilt 28 Site survey conducting 13 Summary of installation steps 13 T Tasks related to installation 14 Tilt plate installing 27 Tilt setting 28 Tool list 23 Torque values table 26 Transmit cable connecting 44 routing 43...

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