Sea Tel 3011W-91, Installation Manual

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Setup – Optimizing Polarity & Cross-Pol Isolation 3011W-91 Installation Manual
13-1
13. Setup – Optimizing Polarity & Cross-Pol Isolation
The only way to optimize the polarization of the antenna properly is to peak the polarity angle while the system is in auto-
polarization mode. This automatically adjusts the polarization of the feed by calculating the required polarization angle for the
feed every 2 seconds based on ship's Latitude, Longitude and the desired Satellite Longitude.
13.1. Sat Skew setting
The Satellite Skew setting in the Satellite – Tracking Receiver sub-menu (prior to NID) is used to enter the skew of the
satellite to optimize polarity angle.
This feature is used in conjunction with POL OFFSET to optimize polarization of the feed. POL OFFSET will serve to
calibrate the feed itself (mechanical calibration) Before adjusting the SKEW parameter, target a satellite that is of your
same longitudinal position (ie from Concord, CA at 38N and 122W we would target a satellite value of 122W). Drive
the reflector to 0 or 5 degrees elevation (this is so you can easily view the feed). And verify that the feed is a pure
vertical. This may be visually verified by placing a level bubble on the LNB itself. During Cross-Pol isolation tests, enter
in the known skew value of the satellite, then as instructed by the NOC to drive the feed assembly, increase or
decrease the SAT SKEW parameter. Each digit represented on this screen represents one whole degree of feed drive.
13.2. Polarity Angle (POLANG) Parameters
First of all make sure that the polang parameters are set correctly:
1. POL TYPE – should be set to 0072 (Auto-Pol mode).
2. POL OFFSET – This is initially set to factory default (0040) but will be incremented, or decremented, to
calibrate the feed to the horizon with a level (bubble or digital).
3. POL SCALE – Leave this at the factory default setting of 0090.
4. Go to the TX POLARITY parameter in the Setup menu of the ACU and set this parameter to your assigned
Transmit polarity (2=Horizontal or 4=Vertical).
5. Target your desired satellite (as provided by you airtime provider).
6. Verify the system has acquired the correct satellite, else continue searching until the correct satellite is
acquired, and set your satellite modem (or spectrum analyzer) to view its signal level display.
7. Allow tracking to peak the satellite signal.
8. SAT SKEW – This setting will be incremented, or decremented, to optimize the polarity to peak the received
satellite signal, and later to do cross-pol isolation with the airtime provider, network operation center or
satellite provider.
13.3. Optimizing Auto-Polarization on Receive Signal
This procedure optimizes the linear polarization of the feed based on the received signal level.
1. Verify that tracking is ON and that the antenna is peaked on your targeted satellite (targeting calculates the
azimuth, elevation and polarization angles).
2. Go to the SAT SKEW parameter in the Satellite menu of the ACU. Default setting is 0000 and may be
incremented, or decremented, to adjust polarization while in Auto-Pol mode. Each increment equals one
degree of polarization rotation, decrement below 0000 for minus polarization.
3. Press the RIGHT arrow to edit the current value.
4. While watching the modems signal strength, the ACUs AGC value, or the spectrum analyzer satellite signal
level, press the UP arrow to increment or the DOWN arrow to decrement the value and then hit the ENTER
key to adjust the feed to the new value. Allow 10 seconds between increments or decrements to allow time
for feed assembly to drive to new position.
5. Press the RIGHT key again, make another small change in the same direction and hit ENTER to carry out the
adjustment.
6. Repeat this process of making small adjustments in the same direction until you see the modem signal
strength, ACUs AGC value, or the spectrum analyzer satellite signal level decrease a noticeable amount (10
counts on the signal strength, 10 counts of AGC or ½ dB of signal level).
7. Note the SAT SKEW value.
8. Make a series of small changes in the opposite direction until you see the signal peak and then fall the same