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TRANSPORTABLE Ku-BAND EARTH STATION OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATION "CENTER-1,2Ku-P"

Transportable earth stations of satellite communication “CENTER-1,2Ku-P”  have been developed and  manufactured taking into account its likely placing on the both car-top and any other base (ground, cargo container etc.). Also it is possible to transport the earth station by plane or helicopter. Fast installation of the earth station “CENTER-1,2Ku-P” (about 10 minutes from transportation position) makes an opportunity to use the station for delivery of the hot news and actualities from any point of Russia, covering by “Express”, “Yamal”, “Intelsat”, “Eutelsat” and other satellites, to the central or nodal HUBs operating within both corporate (such as HughesNet and Gilat) and public networks. Multitudinous applications of the small earth stations (VSAT) confirm this evident solution.

Antenna post along with the  Radio-frequency equipment are situated in the hermetic plastic fully encapsulated pod (optional) consisting of  the base and the upper lid attaching to the base by safety catches. Total weight of the full pod not exceed 80 kg.  Automatic control system of the station along with the satellite modem are placed into the hermetic case equipped by Microclimate Control System.

Key features of these stations are as follows: small weight, compact design, fast setting-up, high operational reliability.   

Earth station “CENTER-1,2Ku-P” is intended for operation within VSAT networks (HughesNet, Gilat) as well as within allocated networks. It is possible to use this station as a Transportable Communication Nodal  (transmitter power is up to 20 W) or  as a Transportable TV earth station such as SNG  (transmitter power is up to 100 W).

Earth station “CENTER-1,2Ku-P” provides:

• deployment of the regional corporate data networks;
• development of the Transportable TV earth stations;
• introduction of the telephony and Internet into the remote affiliates;

• broadband Internet/Intranet access with channel data rate up to 48 Mbps;
• real-time digital multimedia transmission – broadband IP-broadcasting and multiple access;
• setting-up of the high quality telephony, including VoIP, for small and medium business as well as for the office at home;
• associated support of the pay telephony and the Internet connection for public call offices;
• rendering of the services concerned with an access to the global communication networks for communications operators and Internet service providers (ISP);
• reservation of the base broadband access channel;
• support of the CRM and ERP systems;
• distance on-line learning using VoIP duplex connection;
• support of the streaming multimedia data and large file distribution;
• Video services.

Automatic antenna pointing system

Earth station “CENTER-1,2Ku-P” is equipped by automatic system intended for pointing of the antenna located in any ground point towards any visible geostationary satellite (at the minimum elevation angles).

      The core of the system is the central processor along with the specialized software “Orbita”, including the following modules:

·         motor drives control system;

·         input-output unit;

·         navigation mini-complex with attached magnetic compass and sensors of the following  quantities: 

­          antenna position (GPS/GLONASS auto guidance),

­          antenna tilt,

­          pitch,

­          yawing.

One is not required to be a specialist to point full angular coverage (±190°) antenna towards the specified satellite. You should know just orbital location (in degree) of this satellite, for example:

• Express AM1    -   40.0  °E
• Express AM11  -   96.5  °E
• Express AM2    -  80.0   °E
• Express AM22  -   53.0  °E
• Express AM3   -  140.0  °E
• Yamal – 200    -    90.0  °E
• INTELSAT 904 -   60.0   °E
• INTELSAT 902 -   62.0   °E
• INTELSAT 906 -   64.0   °E
• etc.

After the above-mentioned data input (only numerical symbols are inserted) the system is ready for automatic search of the satellite.

 Brief description of the automatic pointing system execution algorithm 

     The system is ready for operation when the power is turned on. Then a special menu will be called up at the LCD monitor. The options of this on-line menu are as follows:

• autotracking mode;
• coordinates input;
• manual pointing;
• calibration of the compass;
• positioning.

Option “autotracking mode”.

The following actions are performed:

­          Automatic transition form the transportation condition to the serviceable condition;

­          Automatic search of the satellite;

­          Extreme pointing;

­          Automatic transition form the serviceable condition to the transportation condition.

Option "coordinates input”.

Selection of any satellite is performed.

     Option “manual pointing”.

Control of the antenna is performed manually: by pressing appropriatekeybutton it’s possible to move the antenna either to the right or to the left, or up, or down.

    Option “calibration of the compass”.

This Option provides calibration and adaptation of the electronic compassto any vehicle (taking into account that the iron that comprises the vehicle affects the earth magnetic field).

    Option “positioning”.

The current coordinates, altitude and Coordinated Universal Time aredisplayed.

Earth station equipment

Earth station equipment is situated within the crashproof case (degree of protection IP-67) including:

- antenna monitoring and control unit;

- heat setting device;

- navigation mini-complex;                                             

- satellite tuner ÏÑÌ-1

- power unit;

- modem iDirect or DirecWay or Gilat or PSM (as you prefer).

Concealed wiring is located under the upper panel. Controls buttons, connectors and LCD monitor displayed the antenna pointing information are brought out to this panel.

Number of cases is defined by equipment set. It is possible to make separate case including the UPS unit in conjunction with the battery. In this context you will get the following set of the equipment: a total of two cases, portable petrol(diesel)-generator set and the antenna post itself along with the Radio-frequency equipment. Besides it will be possible to install this antenna post both on the roof of any vehicle and on any other surface.

This Figure shows a design of the HUGHES Network (DirecWay) equipment placed inside the case. As outlet units the Ethernet and telephone set are used.

Antenna post of the transportable earth station “CENTER-1,2Ku-P”  

The antenna post with 1.2 m offset reflector is intended for using by Drive-Away (Hand Portable) earth station of satellite communication “CENTER-1,2Ku-P” as well as by similar transportable earth stations, SNG stations or any other VSAT stations.  

Antenna post of the earth station “CENTER-1,2Ku-P”  is situated in the hermetic plastic fully encapsulated pod, consisting of  the base and the upper lid attaching to the base by safety catches. The Picture below demonstrates the case of the transportation. The pod is mounted either on a boot of any automobile or on any other suitable surface. Dead-weight of the antenna post is 50 kg. The weight of the antenna post, encased in the pod, not exceed 80 kg.  The power supply and the radio-frequency equipment are connected to the antenna post by means of appropriate plugs.

1.       Composition of the antenna post:

1.1. Offset reflector 1.2 m in diameter.

1.2. Azimuth and elevation antenna drive mechanism.

1.3. Base frame designed by using special lightweight materials.

1.4. The Ku-band feedhorn.

1.5. The Low noise amplifier (LNB).

1.6. Sensors of the navigation mini-complex along with GPS receiver.

1.7. Position sensors.

1.8. Block of the management and control (BMC-3Ì) including controller, satellite tuner and appropriate software.

1.9. Protective pod applied during transportation (optional).

2.        Functional capabilities of the automatic antenna post:

2.1. Determination of the azimuth and coordinates of the antenna post location.

2.2. The automatic rise of the antenna from transport position in working.

2.3. Calculation of the azimuth and elevation for the direction towards certain satellite.

2.4. Automatic pointing of the antenna towards the satellite based upon GPS receiver data (current location). It implements by program search of the satellite signal within the spatial bearing sector given by operator.

2.5. Extreme pointing when the satellite signal is captured.

2.6. Switching on the Ku-band power amplifier when the extreme pointing program will be completed (if the satellite modem is available)

2.7. Automatic stowing the antenna into the transport position when the communication session will be over.

2.8. Manual antenna control using manual pointing console – in an emergency.

2.9. Application of the protective pod insures prompt setting-up/stripping of the transported antenna post, also it provides hand-portable usage.

Technical specifications:

  Operation conditions

Operation conditions: