Installing an Intellian VSAT
Installing Intellian VSAT | Run Aptus PC via USB Cable | Tilt sensor Bias | Check Rate Sensor Bias | Set Conical Range | Initially Set Heading Device to None | Targeting a test Satellite | Set Heading Device to NMEA | Set Bow Offset | El adjust | Configuring openAMIP on iDirect modem | Setup Modem in the ACU | Pol Sensor Calibration | Reset Mechanical Skew Offset | Cross Pol Isolation Test (CPI) | 1dB CompressionTest | Set Blockage Zones | Update Antenna Software | Update Satellite Library | Backup to ACU and PC |1. Remove radome
2. Remove all red shipping restraints
3. Connect Rx and Tx coax and power if applicable
2. Remove all red shipping restraints
3. Connect Rx and Tx coax and power if applicable
1. Install Aptus PC on a laptop from the USB drive supplied with the antenna.
2. If you have internet access, Click on button and update Aptus to the latest version.
3. Connect the special USB - USB cable between laptop and top USB on ACU front panel.
4. Run Device manager to determine the comm port on the PC.
5. Run Aptus and connect using comm port.
2. If you have internet access, Click on button and update Aptus to the latest version.
3. Connect the special USB - USB cable between laptop and top USB on ACU front panel.
4. Run Device manager to determine the comm port on the PC.
5. Run Aptus and connect using comm port.
Tilt sensor bias calibrates the level sensors to make the sensor module level.
1. Go to Setup
2. On Antenna Advanced Info Tab>Tilt Sensor Bias
3. With radome removed, observe level bubble on Sensor Module.
4. Adjust EL and CL tilt sensor bias in Aptus to center the bubble.
5. You must REBOOT the antenna for changes to take effect.
1. Go to Setup
2. On Antenna Advanced Info Tab>Tilt Sensor Bias
click Ready button.
Elevation will move to zero.3. With radome removed, observe level bubble on Sensor Module.
4. Adjust EL and CL tilt sensor bias in Aptus to center the bubble.
5. You must REBOOT the antenna for changes to take effect.
The rate sensors detect movement of the antenna in the azimuth elevation and crosslevel axes and cause the motors to produce a counteracting force. The Rate Sensor Bias zeros the sensors to give a nominal output when the antenna is not moving.
1. Go to Setup mode.
2. Click on button to stabilize the antenna.
3. Click on button.
1. Go to Setup mode.
2. Click on button to stabilize the antenna.
3. Click on button.
While in progress the LED will change to green and then blue once completed.
4. Note the values in the right hand column.
5. Repeat the button again 2 or 3 times and verify that the numbers on the right do not change significantly.
5. Repeat the button again 2 or 3 times and verify that the numbers on the right do not change significantly.
It may require three or four checks before the numbers stabilize. Numbers that continue to fluctuate more than about 10 counts with each check might indicate a failing rate sensor.
6. Press the button to exit setup mode.
The Conical Range optimizes the tracking window parameters for each particular antenna model.
1. In Aptus PC, put the antenna in SETUP mode,
2. On the Monitor tab start DEBUG mode
3. On the left hand side of the screen, turn TRACKING ON.
Monitor Tab
4. In in the monitor logs look for [S] Scan XXXXX. XXXXX , XX XX [ AZ EL].
1. In Aptus PC, put the antenna in SETUP mode,
2. On the Monitor tab start DEBUG mode
3. On the left hand side of the screen, turn TRACKING ON.
Monitor Tab
4. In in the monitor logs look for [S] Scan XXXXX. XXXXX , XX XX [ AZ EL].
The last two numbers in the square brackets are the conical scan azimuth and elevation numbers that need to be optimized for the particular model antenna. see the following table:
Model | [AZ EL] |
v60 | [25 23] |
v80 | [22 15] |
v110 | [17 15] |
v130 | [14 15] |
v100GX/v100 | [13 13] |
v240 | [20 15] |
If the scan numbers [AZ EL] in the monitor logs are not withing a few counts of the recommended numbers, the Conical Range on the Antenna-Advanced Info tab will need to be adjusted.
Varying the conical range numbers on the advanced tab will cause the SCAN numbers on the monitor tab to change. Make note of the numbers before you begin, in case you need to revert.
(Note: The numbers in the conical range box to not match the SCAN numbers on the monitor screen. Changing the numbers in the conical scan box up or down will cause the monitor SCAN numbers to vary up or down, but not on a one to one relationship)
5. Experiment with changing the Conical Range numbers until the Scan numbers are close to the recommended numbers for this antenna model.
Note: To see the Scan numbers in the monitor logs, you must be in SETUP mode, with DEBUG ON and TRACKING ON.
Varying the conical range numbers on the advanced tab will cause the SCAN numbers on the monitor tab to change. Make note of the numbers before you begin, in case you need to revert.
(Note: The numbers in the conical range box to not match the SCAN numbers on the monitor screen. Changing the numbers in the conical scan box up or down will cause the monitor SCAN numbers to vary up or down, but not on a one to one relationship)
5. Experiment with changing the Conical Range numbers until the Scan numbers are close to the recommended numbers for this antenna model.
Note: To see the Scan numbers in the monitor logs, you must be in SETUP mode, with DEBUG ON and TRACKING ON.
1. Set the heading source to NONE and press SET.
This will cause the antenna to do a gyro-free, sky search (SEARCH 1) until it finds the satellite.
If targeting a DVB TV satellite, the antenna will positively identify the satellite using the DVB tuner. If targeting a VSAT satellite, using the NBD tuner, the antenna will identify the satellite by receive lock on the modem.
Later, once the satellite has been located, the heading device will be set to NMEA
Later, once the satellite has been located, the heading device will be set to NMEA
While setting up the antenna it is best to target a known TV DVB satellite from the satellite library.
1. Select Tracking information from Library.
2. Select a known DVB satelite from the library that can be seen from your location.
3. Click on button.
4. Observe the antenna graphic on the right and the Signal Level meter.
1. Select Tracking information from Library.
2. Select a known DVB satelite from the library that can be seen from your location.
3. Click on button.
4. Observe the antenna graphic on the right and the Signal Level meter.
The antenna will begin a gyro-free sky search (SEARCH 1) by rotating counter clockwise in Azimuth until it detects a signal above the red line detect threshold. It will then go into SEARCH 3 spiral search and attempt to peak the signal above the green line tracking threshold. On a DVB satellite, it will look for DVB receive lock and the dot on the right of the signal Level meter will go blue.
1. Once it is confirmed that you are on the right satellite, switch the heading source to NMEA.
2. Connect the NMEA heading to the gyro connection at the back of the ACU.
2. Connect the NMEA heading to the gyro connection at the back of the ACU.
The heading on the front panel of the ACU will change from dashes, Example AZ: - - -.- (162.5), to showing the correct gyro heading AZ: 362.5 (162.5). If not, try reversing the gyro input connections on the back of the ACU.
3. Continue on to set Bow offset
The antenna can be mounted at any angle to the bow, with the hatch facing in the most convenient direction for safe access to the antenna. The offset angle will be compensated by the bow offset.
1. With the antenna tracking a satellite with DVB receive lock, or with modem receive lock, click the button on the top of the APTUS screen.
1. With the antenna tracking a satellite with DVB receive lock, or with modem receive lock, click the button on the top of the APTUS screen.
This will set the bow offset to compensate for any misalignment of the antenna with respect to the bow of the vessel, or any inacuracy of the gyro compass.
You can also press the FUNCTION button on the front panel of the ACU to save satellite.
You can also press the FUNCTION button on the front panel of the ACU to save satellite.
This sets the calculated target elevation to the same as the real tracking elevation, to target the satellite more quickly.
To check and adjust El Adjust setting,
1. Go to the Graphs tab and look at the EL GRAPH while the antenna is tracking.
2. Enter setup mode and look at the EL GRAPH again. (In setup mode the antenna moves to the target elevation)
3. If the EL graph did not change, then the El Adjust setting is good.
4. If the graph moved down 2 degrees in setup mode, adjust El adjust by + 2 degrees.
If the graph moved up 2 degrees in setup mode adjust El Adjust by - 2 degrees.
5. Restart and go back to tracking, and then repeat setup mode until the EL Graph remains the same when switching to setup.
To check and adjust El Adjust setting,
1. Go to the Graphs tab and look at the EL GRAPH while the antenna is tracking.
2. Enter setup mode and look at the EL GRAPH again. (In setup mode the antenna moves to the target elevation)
3. If the EL graph did not change, then the El Adjust setting is good.
4. If the graph moved down 2 degrees in setup mode, adjust El adjust by + 2 degrees.
If the graph moved up 2 degrees in setup mode adjust El Adjust by - 2 degrees.
5. Restart and go back to tracking, and then repeat setup mode until the EL Graph remains the same when switching to setup.
1. Connect modem LAN A to a network switch.
2. Connect Ethernet port (not Intellian LAN) to the network switch.
3. Load image and option file on the modem.
4. View option file in a text editor and note ACU IP address under [ANTENNA].
5. Note modem IP and subnet mask under [ETH0_1]
6. Connect ACU Ethernet port to switch.
7. Connect laptop Ethernet set to DHCP to ACU front panel port behind the door.
Login user name intellian and enter password.
2. Connect Ethernet port (not Intellian LAN) to the network switch.
3. Load image and option file on the modem.
4. View option file in a text editor and note ACU IP address under [ANTENNA].
5. Note modem IP and subnet mask under [ETH0_1]
6. Connect ACU Ethernet port to switch.
7. Connect laptop Ethernet set to DHCP to ACU front panel port behind the door.
The ACU will give an IP address of 192.168.2.2.
8. Browse to AptusWeb at 192.168.2.1Login user name intellian and enter password.
9. Go to Firmware&Configuration
>Administration
>Network Setting
>Modem Port Configuration
>Modem Port Configuration
10. Set to the IP Address to the ACU IP from option file [ANTENNA]
11. Set Subnet Mask to subnet under option file [ETH0_1]
12. Set Gateway to modem Ip from option file [ETH0_1]
13. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen click button
14. Under Administration menu on left click iArm Save and Reboot
15. Click
11. Set Subnet Mask to subnet under option file [ETH0_1]
12. Set Gateway to modem Ip from option file [ETH0_1]
13. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen click button
14. Under Administration menu on left click iArm Save and Reboot
15. Click
Save & Reboot
button.1. Enter Setup mode
2. Go to Modem Setting
4. Reboot modem and and watch ACU screen for Satellite Change from Modem message, to confirm openAMIP operation.
2. Go to Modem Setting
Select Modem IDIRECT-AMIP,
Modem Port Ethernet,
Modem Protocol Open AMIP
GPS Out Sentence GPGLL
3. Click button Modem Port Ethernet,
Modem Protocol Open AMIP
GPS Out Sentence GPGLL
4. Reboot modem and and watch ACU screen for Satellite Change from Modem message, to confirm openAMIP operation.
You should only need to do this at initial installation, or after work has been done on the feed.
It is advisable to do this before doing Cross pol isolation setup with the Teleport.
1. Simply press the button.
It is advisable to do this before doing Cross pol isolation setup with the Teleport.
1. Simply press the button.
The feed will rotate CCW to the -95 endstop, then CW to the +95 endstop and to calibrate the alignment of the feed.
The Mechanical Skew is the pol alignment with the satellite conducted with the Network Operations Center (NOC).
This should only be reset back to zero if one intends to do a Crosspol Isolation test (CPI) with the NOC.
1. To reset mechanical skew in preparation for a CPI, press button.
This should only be reset back to zero if one intends to do a Crosspol Isolation test (CPI) with the NOC.
1. To reset mechanical skew in preparation for a CPI, press button.
This will set the mechanical skew back to zero.
One must do a CPI with the NOC after resetting the mechanical Skew Offset.
One must do a CPI with the NOC after resetting the mechanical Skew Offset.
Before doing CPI, you should be tracking the correct satellite and have a green receive light on the modem.
1. Call your satellite network provider Network Operation Center and inform them that you have a green receive lock on the satellite and are ready to do a crosspol isolation test.
3. When requested by the NOC, adjust the Mechanical Skew Offset one degree at a time while reading the value back to the NOC.
1. Call your satellite network provider Network Operation Center and inform them that you have a green receive lock on the satellite and are ready to do a crosspol isolation test.
In some cases the NOC may need to schedule this in advance with the satellite provider.
In some cases, the NOC may require you to set up iSite software on the modem to control the CW carrier.
In other cases the NOC will command the modem remotely and put up the carrier.
In either case, you should be ready to adjust the POL on the Antenna basic info tab under antenna angle.
2. Set the POL adjustment value to 1 degree between the and buttons.In some cases, the NOC may require you to set up iSite software on the modem to control the CW carrier.
In other cases the NOC will command the modem remotely and put up the carrier.
In either case, you should be ready to adjust the POL on the Antenna basic info tab under antenna angle.
3. When requested by the NOC, adjust the Mechanical Skew Offset one degree at a time while reading the value back to the NOC.
They may ask you to continue in the same direction, or go back in the other direction until an optimum pol isolation is achieved.
In most cases, an isolation between horizontal and vertical pols should be greater than 30dB.
When completed, note the resulting Mechanical Skew Offset for your records. No further action is necessary on the pol adjustment..
In most cases, an isolation between horizontal and vertical pols should be greater than 30dB.
When completed, note the resulting Mechanical Skew Offset for your records. No further action is necessary on the pol adjustment..
Normally the NOC will also do a 1dB compression point test after doing the CPI. They will adjust the CW carrier in 1dB steps up to the point where a 1db increase in modem power does not correspond to a 1dB gain in output power due to the transmitter amplifier in the antenna (BUC) going into saturation. The 1dB compression point is the modem Tx level where the BUC output is 1dB below the linear theoretical output. This determines the maximum output of the modem that the BUC can transmit.
The NOC will then push a new option file to the modem with the new maximum power setting.
The NOC will then push a new option file to the modem with the new maximum power setting.