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RC3000 MOBILE ANTENNA CONTROLLER
USER’S MANUAL
Contents subject to change
1 December 2005
RESEARCH CONCEPTS INC.
5420 Martindale Road
Shawnee, Kansas 66218-9680 USA
VOICE: (913) 422-0210
FAX: (913) 422-0211
www.researchconcepts.com
support@researchconcepts.com
Serial No________
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REVISION HISTORY DATE MODIFICATION SOFTWARE VERSION 8 March 1999 Preliminary document 1.00 13 April 1999 Initial Release 1.04 1 June 1999 Update 1.07 13 March 2000 Software Update 1.16 15 November 2002 Chapter 2 Update 1.37 10 January 2003 Appendix E Update 1.38 3 January 2005 Manual Format Update 1.46 1 December 2005 Software Update 1.55
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WARRANTY INFORMATION Research Concepts, Inc.(RCI) warrants to the original purchaser, this product shall be free from defects in material and workmanship for one year, unless expressed otherwise, from the date of the original purchase. During the warranty period, RCI will provide, free of charge, both parts and labor necessary to correct such defects. To obtain such a warranty service, the original purchaser must: (1) Notify RCI as soon as possible after discovery of a possible defec
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................................1 1.1 MANUAL ORGANIZATION.....................................................................................................................................1 1.2 RC3000 FEATURES ...................................................................................................................................
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3.0 DETAILED OPERATION ................................................................................................................................ 63 3.1 OPERATION OVERVIEW...................................................................................................................................... 63 3.1.1 Modes......................................................................................................................................................... 63 3.1.2 Key
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3.3.2.5 Limits Maintenance ............................................................................................................................................. 123 3.3.2.6 GPS Serial Port Diagnostics ................................................................................................................................ 124 3.3.2.7 Fluxgate Serial Port Diagnostics.................................................................................................................
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RC3000 Antenna Controller Chapter 1 Introduction 1.0 INTRODUCTION The RC3000 antenna controller is designed for use with elevation over azimuth antennas on mobile satellite uplink vehicles. The RC3000 assists both the technically-oriented and the non-technical operator of a mobile satellite antenna system by automating the process of locating and locking on to a particular satellite. This process can be time-consuming due to several factors. For each shoot, the antenna may be located i
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RC3000 Antenna Controller Chapter 1 Introduction MANUAL CONVENTIONS Throughout the manual, representations of screens the user will see will be shown in the boxed format that follows: AZIM: 0.0 STOW SS1: 50 MANUAL ELEV: -67.5 STOW SAT:TELSTAR 402 POL: 0.0 SPD:FAST CST <0-9>JOG ANTENNA MENU 14:25:47 The following table shows typical abbreviations used both on RC3000 screens and in the manual’s text. ITEM ABREVIATION(S) Azimuth AZ AZIM, Azim E
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RC3000 Antenna Controller Chapter 1 Introduction 1.2 RC3000 Features The RC3000 antenna controller is designed to automate the operation of mobile (both vehicle mounted and deployable) mounts. Features provided include: - Automatic azimuth and elevation pointing solution calculation - Optional GPS receiver for determination of antenna latitude and longitude - Optional fluxgate compass for determination of antenna centerline heading - Optional automatic tracking of inclined orbit satel
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RC3000 Antenna Controller Chapter 1 Introduction Software Configuration. The software configuration (SW:) field is presented in the form RC3K-ab-xyz: RC3K-(Mount Manufacturer/Model #)-(Nav Sensor Option)(Tracking Option)(Remote Option) Descriptions of the software configuration designations are provided in the following tables: Mount Manufacturer/Model # The software within the RC3000 is customized to account for specifics of individual mounts. A particular mount is referred to by
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RC3000 Antenna Controller Chapter 1 Introduction 1.3 Theory of Operation The RC3000 performs its functions via digital and analog electronic equipment interfaced to the antenna’s motor drive and position feedback systems. This equipment is controlled through embedded software algorithms run by the RC3000’s microcontroller. This section provides an overview of the equipment, interfaces and major software functions. 1.3.1 Controller Description The following figure is a block diagram s
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RC3000 Antenna Controller Chapter 1 Introduction - performs communications between the microcontroller and the three (GPS, compass, remote control) serial channels - performs analog to digital conversion of drive position and signal strength inputs - performs automatic antenna movement algorithms (locate, stow, recall, track, etc) FEATURE BOARD. The feature board contains circuitry to implement many of the optional features of the RC3000. The feature board provides the following major
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RC3000 Antenna Controller Chapter 1 Introduction 1.3.3 Operational Overview The RC3000 allows easy antenna operation via its menu based user interface. The screen displayed to the user is based on the current controller mode. Controller modes are divided into two major groups: operational and programming (see mode map in section 3.1.1). The operational modes provide for the normal operation of the antenna. The programming group provides for initial configuration of the controller an
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RC3000 Antenna Controller Chapter 1 Introduction Programming Group Functions The programming group modes provide for initial configuration of the controller and also provide screens to aid in maintenance and troubleshooting of the controller. Configuration mode screens allow the user to customize and calibrate the operation of the RC3000 for use with a particular mount. Note that most configuration items will be factory set for correct operation with a particular mount. REF_VOLT:2.50 OF
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RC3000 Antenna Controller Chapter 1 Introduction 1.3.4 Antenna Pointing Solution The position (latitude and longitude) of the mount and the longitude of a selected satellite are required to calculate a pointing vector from the mount to the selected satellite. Given the mount’s latitude and longitude and the pointing vector to the satellite, the RC3000 calculates the elevation (with respect to local horizontal) required. Feedback from the inclinometer on the elevation axis will b
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RC3000 Antenna Controller Chapter 1 Introduction The azimuth portion of the pointing vector is calculated with respect to local true North. The fluxgate compass is used to determine the heading of the centerline of azimuth travel and the required movement in the azimuth axis is calculated. In the above example a true heading of 135 degrees to the satellite has been calculated. Based on the mount’s latitude, longitude and date, a local magnetic variation (see 1.3.8) of 10 degrees
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RC3000 Antenna Controller Chapter 1 Introduction 1.3.5 Timekeeping There are several versions of time (system, sidereal, referenced and GPS) discussed within this manual. System time is maintained by the RC3000’s real time clock. The real-time clock is backed up by battery so that system time is available as soon as the RC3000 powers up. The system time is used to calculate sidereal time for maintaining track tables. Since satellite’s do not experience time shifts (such as from Stand
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RC3000 Antenna Controller Chapter 1 Introduction In the azimuth axis, movement in one direction is disabled when clockwise and counterclockwise limit switches are activated. There is also typically a region in the center of azimuth travel indicating that the azimuth axis is in a position that will allow for moving the elevation axis down to the stow position. In the elevation axis, there are typically three limit switches. The UP switch prevents further movement up. The “DOWN” switch de
