16
StarBand
®
Field Service & Maintenance Bulletins
StarBand
®
Field Service & Maintenance Bulletins
©2004-2013,
IFL Troubleshooting — SB-0020-1.01
The IFL cables carry the signals to and from the StarBand
®
360 satellite modem and
the outdoor receive and transmit equipment.
Symptom
Reduced performance or no receive and/or transmit signal.
Possible Cause
Physical damage to the IFL cable and/or connectors or improper
installation, a cable with an open or short circuit, or a kinked cable. An open circuit
is a break in the cable, while a short circuit is when the center conductor is in contact
with the outer conductor (shorted). Both an open and short circuit will disable the
IFL. A kinked cable is one that has been bent in too tight a turn, which can cause
the center conductor to deform or break, resulting in an open circuit. A deformed
center conductor may not break, but can introduce excessive attenuation (signal
loss), which can affect VSAT performance.
Recommended Action
You will need a multimeter, such as a Fluke 77, a coaxial
adapter (Type F/male-male), and a receive signal strength meter, such as a Digisat
III Pro or a spectrum analyzer. Use the following procedures to identify failed IFL
components and repair and/or replace them, according to StarBand
®
Maintenance
Bulletin MB-0005.
