Operational Overview - RESEARCH CONCEPTS RC3000 User Manual

RC3000 Antenna Controller

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 and will typically not be used on a day by day basis. The following example highlights the basic
modes of operation provided by the RC3000.
Operational Group Functions
MANUAL. In MANUAL mode the user may jog the antenna in azimuth, elevation and polarization. Upon
power up, the fluxgate compass and GPS receiver initialize and begin providing data.
AZIM:
ELEV: -67.5 STOW
POL:
<0-9>JOG ANTENNA
AUTOMATIC LOCATION OF A SATELLITE. In LOCATE mode, azimuth and elevation pointing angles
are automatically calculated based on position (lat/lon), heading and the selected satellite. Position may
be obtained automatically from the optional GPS, selected from a preset list of user defined positions or
entered manually. Heading may be automatically obtained from the optional fluxgate compass or entered
manually. The user selects which satellite to locate from either a preset user defined list of commonly
used satellites, a provided extensive list of satellites or by manually entering satellite data. The RC3000
checks that the calculated pointing solution is within the mount's range of movement and prompts the
user to automatically position the antenna.
POS:
SAT:GALAXY 6
<1>SELECT NEW SAT
STORING SATELLITE LOCATION. After verifying the antenna is precisely on the satellite, the user may
STORE the satellite's azimuth and elevation angles along with horizontal and vertical polarization data. If
the satellite has been identified as having an inclined orbit, the TRACK mode will be automatically
entered as described below.
SAT
BRASIL A1
VERIFY SATELLITE DATA OK FOR STORING
1-CORRECT, 2-INCORRECT
RECALLING STORED SATELLITES. The user may quickly and precisely move between previously
STOREd satellites via RECALL mode.
STORED SATELLITE: BRASIL A1
SELECT SAT(SCROLL UP/DOWN) <ENTER>
AUTOMATIC ANTENNA STOWING. From STOW mode, the user may ask for the antenna to be
automatically moved to the stow position.
AZIM: -42.5 (
ELEV:
MOVING TO (TARGET),<STOP> TO HALT MOTION
0.0 STOW SIG: 50
SAT:TELSTAR 402
0.0 SPD:FAST
<MODE>MENU
38°56N 94°44W 180.0
74.0W
LON INCLIN BAND
79.0 2
0.0)
23.4 (-67.5)
7
Chapter 1
MANUAL
CST
14:25:47
LOCATE
AZ:-31.1
EL: 40.0
READY TO LOCATE
STORE
C
RECALL
STOW
Introduction