User guide

87
Pedestal Preventative Maintenance
While the antenna pedestal is designed to be maintenance free, some
common practices and scheduled preventative maintenance will help
ensure your satellite antenna experience is safe and trouble free.
Following the steps below will help ensure that your next deployment has
no last-minute undiscovered problems that prevent operation. To
paraphrase a SEALs phrase (the 6P’s), “Proper Previous Planning Prevents
Poor Performance.”
After Each Use – check your antenna for physical damage from wind
and / or trees and obstacles that may have been obstructing
clearances, e.g., trees, buildings, power lines. Check for physical
debris, lodged in the antenna mechanisms.
Monthly – Deploy the antenna. Check for:
a) The word LOCK to appear in the TracStar ACU display window
indicating it is locked onto a satellite
b) The ability to reach the internet with your computer systems /
onboard network
c) Proper Operation of the primary VoIP channel for phone calls over
the satellite link
Stow the antenna. Check for:
a) The word STOW to appear in the TracStar ACU display window
indicating it is securely stowed
b) Physical damage
c) Proper operation of 3
rd
party external STOW sensors (vehicle
integrators / manufacturers)
Semi-Annually – Deploy the antenna. Check for:
a) All monthly items
b) Abnormal cable wear or corrosion due to exposure to harsh
chemicals
c) Abnormal cable wear due to excessively high salt content (coastal
regions)
d) Loose cable connections
e) Loose hardware on the boom / feed assembly
General Check List
1. Any small chips on the reflector front surface should be cleaned,
filled with aluminum-loaded car body filler, rubbed down, primed
and touched in with two-pack polyurethane paint.
2. The feed horn should be checked for cracks or damage.
Azimuth:
3. Check for unusual noise in the azimuth bearing, azimuth gearbox,
and azimuth motor
4. Run in azimuth and check for unusual noise in azimuth motor
5. Check position of azimuth drive cables on capstan at 0°# Az
6. Check drive cables for damage
7. Run both Az limits and observe cable tracking
8. Check for excessive backlash in gearbox
9. Inspect cable terminations
10. Inspect Az potentiometer
Elevation:
11. Check for unusual noise in elevation pivot bushings and elevation
gearbox
12. Run in elevation and check for unusual noise in elevation motor
13. Run up to limit
14. Check tracking of elevation drive cables
15. Check drive cables for damage
16. Check for excessive backlash in gearbox
Polarization:
17. Check for unusual noise in polarization pivot bearings and
polarization gearbox
18. Run in polarization and check for unusual noise in polarization
motor