Sea Tel 6009-33, Installation And Operation Manual

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Operation 6009-33 Broadband At Sea
2-1
2. Operation
Operation of your system is accomplished from the DAC-2202 Antenna Control Unit (ACU). Refer to the operation section of
the DAC-2202 Antenna Control Unit manual.
2.1. System Power-up
Turn the Power switch on rear panel of the Antenna Control Unit (ACU) ON.
2.2. Antenna Initialization
A functional operation check can be made on the antenna stabilization system by observing its behavior during the 3
phases of initialization.
Turn the pedestal power supply ON. This will release the elevation and cross-level bakes and the PCU will initialize the
stabilized portion of the mass in the following phases:
1. Elevation axis activates - Input from the LV axis sensors are used to drive the Elevation of the equipment
frame and dish to an elevation angle of 45.0 degrees.
2. Cross-Level axis activates - Input from the CL axis sensors are used to drive cross-level of the equipment
frame to bring the cross-level beam to level.
3. Azimuth axis activates - Antenna drives clockwise in azimuth until the “Home Flag” signal is produced. This
signal is produced when the home switch sensor is in close proximity to the metal home tab mounted under
the power ring. An yellow LED in the back of the home switch sensor flashes when the metal home tab is first
sensed.
This completes the phases of initialization. At this time the antenna elevation should 45.0 degrees and Relative
azimuth should be at home flag (typically this is in-line with the bow of the ship). The PCU will keep the antenna
actively stabilized at its current azimuth and elevation pointing angle
If any of these steps fail, or the Antenna Control Unit reports model number as "xx09" re-configure the PCU as
described in section the Setup section of this manual. If initialization still fails, refer to the troubleshooting section of
this manual.
2.3. Antenna Stabilization
After initialization has completed, real-time stabilization of the antenna is an automatic function of the PCU.
2.4. Stabilized Pedestal Assembly Operation
Operation of the stabilized antenna Pedestal Control Unit (PCU) is accomplished remotely by the Antenna Control Unit
(ACU). Refer to the Operation section of the Antenna Control Unit manual for more specific operation details. There
are no other operating instructions applicable to the pedestal assembly by itself.
2.5. Tracking Operation
Tracking optimizes the antenna pointing, in very fine step increments, to maximize the level of the satellite signal
being received. The mode of tracking used in this antenna is a variation of Conical Scanning called DishScan. Tracking
is controlled by the ACU. You can toggle Tracking ON/OFF from the ACU.
DishScan continuously drives the antenna in a very small circular pattern at 60 RPM. The ACU evaluates the received
signal throughout each rotation to determine where the strongest signal level is (Up, Right, Down or Left) and then
issues the appropriate Azimuth and/or Elevation steps to move the antenna toward where stronger signal is.
The pedestal cannot control tracking. Refer to the ACU manual for more Tracking information.
2.6. Antenna Polarization Operation
Linear feeds are equipped with a polarization motor and potentiometer feedback and are controlled from the Antenna
Control Unit. Circular feeds do NOT require polarization adjustment.
Auto-Polarization mode is the default polarization mode of operation from the ACU. Polarization may be operated
manually from the ACU. Refer to the Antenna Control Unit manual (POL TYPE parameter) for more operation
information.
PRELIMINARY