HyperTrack™
Software Instruction
116
Quasonix, Inc.
Figure 136: GSA
—An Integral Part of each HyperTrack™ Ground Station
8.4.7.1
Go/No-Go
The Go/No-
Go feature of HyperTrack™ allows for the operator to automatically perform any or all of the Ground
Station Analyzer functions. The tests to be performed can be selected from a drop down menu. Then, at any time,
these tests can be run to verify that the ground station is operating properly. For instance, you may want to run the
Interference survey on the channel that you are operating, then an End-to-End RF Verification followed by an
Antenna Dynamic Response. All of the selected tests will be run in order, and the performance will be compared to
the “normal” data to achieve a Go/No
-Go indication.
8.4.7.2
Automatic G/T Measurement
The HyperTrack™ serial protocol includes the received signal strength. This allows G/T measurements to be done
automatically, by simply selecting
G/T on the antenna control GUI. Then, in the span of about 20 seconds…
1.
The HTAC points the antenna toward the sun (using the HTAC’s Sun Designate function).
2.
The receiver reports the sun signal strength to the HTAC via the HyperTrack™ digital
interface.
3.
The HTAC then steers the antenna to a series of locations expected to be “cold sky.”
4.
The receiver reports the cold sky signal strengths to the HTAC.
5.
The HTAC uses the lowest cold sky signal strength and the sun signal strength to compute G/T.
8.4.7.3
Antenna Dynamic Response
In contrast to a static boresight checkout, the GSA can create a virtual RF-based target to track with internally or
externally supplied TM data. This allows the operator to perform realistic HGS testing that ranges from testing the
HGS step response to full realistic flight scenarios. By comparing the results to previous testing and standard factory
measurements, abnormalities in the HGS can be detected and corrected prior to experiencing costly antenna or
telemetry failures.
8.4.7.4
Calibration
The HyperTrack™ Antenna Control System with integrated GSA performs automatic calibrations and system
checks to reduce operator workload and system configuration errors. These features include Automatic Phasing,
End-to-end RF Verification, and Interference Surveys.
