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StatusOngoing
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Status date2010-06-16
The project goal is to develop a motorised antenna mount for bi-directional satellite user terminals. The primary purpose of the motorised mount is to aid the process and cost of installing satellite user terminals.
Many consumers are today able to install DTH terminal antennas themselves. If the complexity of installing a DVB-RCS terminals can be reduced to the same level or easier than that of a DTH antenna, DVB-RCS terminals could also be installed by consumers. This project seeks to reduce the cost of installation by avoiding professional installation.
The objective of this activity is to design, manufacture, test and demonstrate a prototype of a low cost motorised antenna mount to point a parabolic dish of diameter up to 0.8m to an accuracy consistent with bi-directional communication in Ka and Ku band.
- Design, develop and produce a Low Cost motorised antenna mount for bi-directional satellite user terminals,
- Design, develop and produce an interface for communications between motorised antenna mount and DVB-RCS terminals,
- Software development for easy installation of the complete system.
- Easy installation by customers in every part of the world,
- Automatic bi-directional pointing to every satellite,
- Low cost by eliminating professional installer.
STAB is designing and developing a motorised mount containing a 2 axis engine that could be part of a complete consumer package with transceiver, antenna, DVB-RCS modem and installation software.
The motorised mount along with the installation software will allow a user to install a DVB-RCS terminal without needing a professional installer. The motorised mount must be characterized by a low cost, versatility and simplicity to allow non-professional installation anywhere in the world.
The project consists of 4 tasks:
- Task 1 is related to the trade off of different motorised antenna mount solutions and the baseline definition of the preferred concept,
- Task 2 is the detailed design of the motorised mount,
- Task 3 is the manufacturing of the motorised mount,
- Task 4 is the test and demonstration of the motorised mound.
The project is now finished after having successfully developed and tested 5 antenna prototypes. The motors are based on low cost DiSEqC technology, but can move in 2 directions (azimuth and elevation). The motors are able to align antennas up to about 1m diameter and operate in both Ku- and Ka-band.