M obileI nternetS atellite · 2019-01-18 · ii Table of Contents StarBand Installer Certification...

M o b i l e I n t e l l i t e . c o m
e r n e t S a t
StarBand® Installer Certification

MobileInternetSatellite.com

January 2015



StarBand® Installer Certification

Version 1.9.3

MobileInternetSatellite.comTucson, AZ

Table of Contents

StarBand® Installer CertificationIntroduction 2

Preparing to Assemble the Antenna & Commission the Modem 3Determining ERN, Satellite & Transponder, and Satellite Parameters 4Understanding VSAT Radio Frequency (RF) Performance Measures 5

Inbound Signals 5Outbound Signals 6Adjacent Satellite Interference (ASI) 6Consumer VSAT Automated Commissioning System (CVACS) 6

Learning the Four StarBand® System Components 7Antenna 7Rx-Tx Feed Assembly 7StarBand® SkyEdge Modem 8Modem Lights 8Connectors on Rear Panel of Modem 9Interfacility Link (IFL) Cables 10

Shipped Equipment 11Tools needed for Assembly, Commissioning & Future Setups 12

Getting the Cables to the Modem 13Getting the Pointing Parameters 14Selecting the Right Location 15

Assembling the Antenna 16Step 1: Attaching the AZ/EL Assembly to the Reflector 17Step 2 – Assembling the Feed Arm 18Installing the Alternate 1-Watt Transmitter 20Comparing the Two LNB Types 21

Why Is a Needed? 21Step 3: Setting the Polarity to Horizontal 22Step 4: Orienting the Tripod and Checking for a Plumb Mast 24Step 5 – Putting the Dish on the Mast & Pointing in the Azimuth Direction 25Step 6: Adjusting the Elevation 26Step 7: Adjusting the Skew or Polarization Setting 27Step 8 – Attaching the Feed Arm & Adding the Pigtail Cables 28Assembling the GCD Adapter - Nova 1500 Users Only! 29

Pointing the Antenna 30Using the Fine Azimuth Adjustment 31Using a Satellite Meter 32Using SkyManage to Point the Dish 33

StarBand Installer Certification by MobileInternetSatellite.com Table of Contents i

Configuring the Nova SkyEdge Modem 34Items Needed for Configuring a Nova SkyEdge Modem 34Step 1: Configuring the PC’s Ethernet Connection to Use a Static IP Address 35Step 2: Connecting the PC to the Nova SkyEdge Modem 36Step 3: Logging In as Installer 37Step 4: Configuring the Nova SkyEdge Modem 38Changing the Satellite Parameters 39

General Section 39Boot-Time Options Section 39ODU and LNB Section 40Modulation and Coding Section 40

Step 5: Power Down the Modem, Connect the Cables & Power Up the Modem 40Connecting to the Modem 41When the Modem First Connects to the StarBand® Network 42

Rx LED Doesn’t Come On 42Monitoring the Progress 43

Checking Alignment & Commissioning the Modem with CVACS 44

Aligning the Antenna to Meet the Criteria 45Adjusting the Alignment 45

Adjusting Co-pol 46Adjusting Cross-pol 46Adjusting For ASI 47Getting the Confirmation Number 47Completing the Installation and Registration Process 48

Radio-Frequency (RF) Energy & Safety Precautions 49Questions & Answers Regarding Radio-Frequency Energy 49Safety Precautions 50

Electrical 50Wind 50Radio-Frequency Energy 50Other Safety Precautions 51Stable Tripod Setups 51FCC Compliance Notice of StarBand® Equipment 51

Troubleshooting Hints 52Trouble Getting Online In a New Location 52Indoor Unit (Modem) Troubleshooter 53Outdoor-Unit Troubleshooter 56

StarBand Satellite Glossary 58

ii Table of Contents StarBand Installer Certification by MobileInternetSatellite.com

B J C o n s u

StarBand Installer Ce

l

MobileInternetSatellite.comStarBand® Installer Certification

rtification by MobileInternetSatellite.com MobileInternetSatellite.com 1

IntroductionThe objective of this document is to provide the information you will need to prepare for and pass the StarBand® Installer Certification exam.

More importantly, this document will help you learn why it is important to have a setup that doesn’t cause interference on your satellite or a neighboring satellite and how to make sure this is the case! Interference robs bandwidth from yourself and from others!

The following topics are covered:

• Preparing to assemble the equipment, which includes learning some important information, gathering the needed system and pointing parameters, getting the cables to the modem, and unpacking StarBand® system and mobility components

• Assembling the antenna and mobility items

• Setting the antenna skew & elevation & pointing the dish

• Checking the alignment, adjusting as needed, & commissioning the modem

• Additional safety information, including facts about radio-frequency energy, electrical & wind safety factors

2 StarBand Installer Certification by MobileInternetSatellite.com

Preparing to Assemble the Antenna & Commission the ModemBefore we look at the details of assembling the Antenna, pointing it, and commissioning the modem, let’s cover some things you should understand:

• Determining your Equipment Record Number (ERN), your satellite and transponder assignments and your other satellite parameters - You will need this to set up your antenna, to commission the modem, and to check your alignment.

• Understanding the Very-small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) Radio Frequency (RF) Performance Measures - The measurements tell you how much interference you are creating and how good your transmitted and received signals are. The terminology defined here will help you understand the four system components.

• Learning the Four StarBand® System Components: antenna, feed assembly, modem, & Interfacility-link (IFL) cables - Before you can begin to assemble the equipment, you need to know what the parts (components) are.

• Shipped Equipment & Tools - You should know how the four system components and how the tripod and other mobility accessories are packed for shipment.

• Getting the Cables to the Modem - Before you can set up and use your satellite system, you need a way to get the cables from the dish outside, to the modem inside.

• Getting the Pointing Parameters - You will need to know where to point the dish.

StarBand Installer Certification by MobileInternetSatellite.com StarBand® Installer Certification 3

Determining ERN, Satellite & Transponder, and Satellite ParametersThere are several pieces of information you will need. Most of this information will be provided by your dealer:

• Your Equipment Record Number (ERN) - This number, which begins with “60” is linked to your StarBand® account and to your StarBand® service. You will use it to identify your VSAT in the alignment checking system called CVACS.

You will also need an Installer ID and Passcode, to use as the username and password for CVACS. You will be assigned these numbers after you pass the installer certification test.

• Your satellite and cluster (transponder) assignments - The satellite you point at will be Echostar 9, at 121 W.

Your transponder will be assigned, when your account is set up. It doesn’t affect where you point the dish, but it determines most of the other satellite parameters that will be used and sets the transmit polarity. Currently, all StarBand® transponders use a horizontal transmit (vertical receive) polarity.

• The other satellite parameters - This information is needed for configuring the modem for commissioning. The VSAT ID configured is unique to your system. It identifies your VSAT on StarBand’s network. The other parameters are the same for everyone on a given transponder.


Understanding VSAT Radio Frequency (RF) Performance MeasuresThe RF performance of the StarBand® VSAT can be separated in terms of the inbound and outbound signal paths. The terms inbound and outbound, use the StarBand® hub as the point of reference:

• Inbound signals travel from your VSAT to the hub.

• Outbound signals travel from the hub to your VSAT.

The StarBand® VSAT antenna transmits and receives signals in two linear polarizations: horizontal and vertical. This polarization enables the VSAT to transmit and receive signals at the same time; however, these signals can interfere with each other, if the antenna is not properly aligned. Optimizing your antenna alignment to meet the alignment criteria assures the most efficient use of the available bandwidth and, therefore, the best service for you and for others.

Inbound Signals - Co-pol, Cross-pol & ASIThe Inbound link is characterized by measurement of the co-pol (desirable signal) and cross-pol (interfering signal) carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N) at the hub, using test frequencies dedicated for this purpose on both the co-pol and cross-pol transponders. The measurements can be taken by CVACS or manually by StarBand® hub personnel.


When you align the antenna, your goal is to achieve minimum cross-pol. A perfect cross-pol reading is zero. A co-pol reading above the minimum does not appreciably improve performance, but it will increase the margin for rain fade.

• Inbound Co-Pol C/N - The co-pol C/N is a measurement of the signal power transmitted by the VSAT to its assigned satellite and polarization, relative to the RF link noise. Therefore, this measurement must be maximized for optimal inbound link performance. Co-pol should be at least 24.0.

• Inbound Cross-Pol C/N - The cross-pol C/N is a measurement of signal power transmitted by the VSAT into the opposite (wrong) polarization, relative to the link noise level. Since the transponders in the opposite polarization are occupied by other users, cross-pol C/N must be minimized, to reduce interference, which, in turn, reduces usable bandwidth. In other words, a poorly pointed dish can make things slower for you. Cross-pol should be no more than 4.0.

• Adjacent Satellite Interference (ASI) - StarBand® uses geostationary Ku-band satellites, which are spaced at intervals of two degrees of longitude. If a customer's antenna is not properly aligned towards the assigned satellite, it could cause adjacent satellite interference (ASI) on the satellite next to it. The RF signal is being transmitted on the correct polarity, but directed onto a transponder on another satellite. In the case of Echostar 9 (121 W), it is the satellite at 123 W. This is normally a slight azimuth adjustment. ASI should be no more than 5.0.

Outbound SignalsThe Outbound performance is characterized by the Signal Quality reading (signal-to-noise ratio, S/N) on the Telemetry page. Signal Quality (shown as Rx signal EbN0) is a measurement of the VSAT's outbound reception performance. This measurement must be maximized for optimal outbound link performance. The minimum value that will reliably receive data is about 5.0. This signal level would likely go offline intermittedly. The modem's “SYNC” and “Rx” indicators show that outbound data is able to be received. This measurement is also taken by CVACS.

Consumer VSAT Automated Commissioning System (CVACS)Commissioning can begin once the antenna is properly peaked and the modem is configured. The Consumer VSAT Automated Commissioning System (CVACS) is an interactive voice response system that enables the installer to activate the site by telephone. Using CVACS to verify the antenna alignment requires the modem to be turned on and the “Rx”, “SYNC”, and “ON-LINE” LEDs to be illuminated. CVACS allows you to verify co-pol, cross-pol and ASI readings. It will also help you adjust the antenna, to ensure minimum criteria are met. This is discussed later.

To access CVACS, you will need a StarBand® Installer Certification Number (also known as Installer ID and as User ID). This is a five-digit certification number that you obtain when you pass the StarBand® Installer Certification Exam. You will also get a 5-digit personal passcode (also called the CVACS password). Finally, you need the unique Equipment Record Number (ERN), also known as the Customer Site Number or the CVACS notification number.


Learning the Four StarBand® System ComponentsThe StarBand® VSAT system comprises four major components, as pictured above:

• An antenna• The Rx-Tx feed assembly, which contains the outdoor electronics • A StarBand® satellite modem, sometimes called the Indoor Unit (IDU)• Interfacility-link (IFL) cables

AntennaThe 75E antenna is a light, fiberglass dish measuring 0.75 meter (35.0” by 24.4“). The 75E antenna operates in the fixed satellite service (FSS) Ku-band 14.0 to 14.5 GHz transmit and 11.7 to 12.2 GHz receive. The antenna uses a three-axis pointing system: azimuth, elevation, and polarization. Larger antennas are circular and also use a three axis pointing system, but uses a different skew adjustment method.

Rx-Tx Feed AssemblyThe Rx-Tx feed assembly is attached to the VSAT antenna. It includes the feed support arm, wave guide assembly, feed horn and the outdoor electronics. The outdoor electronics consist of the LNB, for receiving Ku-band signals from the satellite, and the transmitter or OutDoor Unit (ODU), for transmitting Ku-Band signals to the satellite.


StarBand® SkyEdge ModemThe StarBand® satellite modem supplies the DC power (24 VDC) to the LNB and transmitter. It provides the transmit inbound signal and receives the outbound signal. The inbound can operate in two modes: burst modulated or continuous wave (CW). The normal mode for Internet access is burst modulated mode, while CW mode is used for co-pol, cross-pol and Adjacent Satellite Interference (ASI) testing. Both outbound (receive) and inbound (transmit) signals operate at L-band (950 to 1,450 MHz), between the modem and the outdoor LNB and transmitter.

The modem has an external power supply. The following items are included in the SkyEdge modem box:

• SkyEdge Modem

• RJ-45 Ethernet Cable

• External Power Supply and Power Cable

Modem LightsThe front panel contains five LED indicators. The first generation SkyEdge modem had a sixth light (VPN light) that was not used. Unlike earlier StarBand® modems, Nova SkyEdge modems have no PC light, to indicate connectivity between the


customer's computer and the modem. However, the Link lights on the back of the modem serves a similar purpose. One light is on solid, to indicate a physical connection. the second light blinks, to indicate send/receive activity.

The lights on the SkyEdge modem are shown on the previous page:

• PWR = Power

• Rx = Receive Lock

• SYNC = Hub synchronization

• ON-LINE = Hub Connection - modem is online

• Tx = Transmit activity

Connectors on Rear Panel of ModemFrom left to right, the rear panel contains the following connections, as shown on the previous page:

• RF-IN - Female F-type connector; IFL cable from LNB

• LAN - RJ-45 Ethernet for PC or router connection. This is the location of the Link lights.

• SERIAL - Serial port, which has an RJ-45 Ethernet-style connector, with 2nd generation SkyEdge modems. It was a standard serial port (DB-9) in 1st generation modems. It is sometimes called the “console” port. This is not used in StarBand® applications.

• RF-OUT - Female F-Type connector: IFL cable out to ODU

• DC-IN - DIN connection for External Power Supply: +24vdc/2.8A

Note There is no power switch. To power up or reset the modem, it is necessary to unplug the DIN connector from the modem or unplug the AC plug from the wall.


Interfacility Link (IFL) CablesThe inside cable is typically 3’ to 6’ long and goes from the backside of the RV point-of-entry, to the modem. The outside mobile installation requires two dual coaxial RG-6 cables:

• Short pigtail cables - One of these cables connects to the transmitter and the other one to the LNB, thereby providing a convenient place to connect a satellite meter during setups.

• Long cables - These cables run from the pigtails at the antenna, to the point of entry to the RV. The most common length is 50’, sometimes provided as a dual 20’ and a dual 30’ length.

Getting the cables from the antenna to the modem is discussed in more detail later.

In general, the IFL cables connect the LNB and transmitter to the modem. The IFL cables carry DC power supplied by the satellite modem for the outdoor electronics. They also carry the L-band signals between the outdoor electronics and the modem.

The dual RG-6 coaxial cable must be equivalent to Commscope 5787 for applications requiring burial or Commscope 5786 for applications that do not require burial cable. The use of compression type connectors is recommended, either Snap-N-Seal® SNS6 or PPC EX6XL. These create a watertight connection and prevent signal leakage.


Shipped EquipmentYour tripod and other mobility accessories will vary in appearance and packing, based on where you purchased it.

As shipped from the factory, your StarBand® system will comprise either two or three boxes. Some items may be repackaged by your dealer before shipping to you:

• The complete antenna kit is packed in one carton, as listed and shown above:— .75 meter Elliptical Reflector — AZ/EL Skew Cap Mount Assembly (Phase II or Phase III)— Feed-support arm— Rx-Tx Feed Assembly— Hardware bag— #10 AWG Stranded Copper Grounding Wire

• The second carton contains the StarBand® satellite modem, Ethernet and power cables, along with the antenna electronics, which consist of the LNB and transmitter (ODU).

• The third carton will contain a Wall/Roof mount, if ordered. It is not usually ordered for mobile users.


Tools needed for Assembly, Commissioning & Future SetupsThere are tools and meters that will only be needed for the original assembly of the equipment and others that will be used every time you set up your VSAT. Here is a list of recommended tools:

• BirDog®, First Strike, or other satellite meter or the SkyEdge Telemetry page - You must have a way to know when you are pointed at the satellite and when you have adjusted for the strongest possible received signal. A satellite meter makes the job easier.

• Suunto® (measures azimuth and elevation) or a liquid-filled lensatic compass. An inclinometer is also needed for setting the skew on bigger dishes. The Suunto can help you find the “hole in the trees”.

• 9" bubble/torpedo level & T-level - You will use the torpedo level to assure you have a plumb mast.

• Screwdriver (#2 Phillips) - This is used on the donuts, to adjust polarization.

• 10 mm socket, 13 mm socket, & ratchet wrench (all are 3/8” drive) or 10 mm box ratchet & 13 mm box ratchet - These are used for assembly and for adjusting skew and elevation. As a mobile user, you may have knobs for some of the adjustment points, eliminating the need to use a tool for that adjustment.


Getting the Cables to the ModemYou need to decide where your will keep the modem. Make sure there is sufficient power there. Then, you need a way to get the cables from the dish outside, to the modem inside. Shown above is the most common method of solving this problem.

Here is a description of the dish-to-modem path:

1 The short pigtail cables (1) are attached to the LNB at the end of the arm (blue cable) and to the transmitter (red cable).

2 They connect to the standard 50’ length of coax (3) using barrel connectors (2).

3 The other end of the 50’ length of coax is typically connected to a dual exterior coax connector (4), which is installed on the side of the RV. Two 1/2” holes are drilled in the side of the RV for the installation.

4 The short inside cables (5) are connected to the back of the dual exterior coax connector (4) at one end, and to the modem (6) at the other end.

Although the above describes the most common installation, other approaches are possible. For example, some mobile users prefer to put the modem and a wireless router in a basement compartment, thus avoiding the need to drill holes in the RV. Similarly, the modem and router could be placed in a utility trailer, with easy access for cables. In both possibilities, the user will connect from within the RV via Wi-Fi.


Getting the Pointing ParametersYou will need to know where to point the dish. You can use the First Strike meter (see the First Strike document for details) or the Point Dish tool (shown above), to determine the magnetic azimuth, elevation, and skew values based on either the zip code or the longitude and latitude of the location where you will set up.

The Point Dish tool can be downloaded at:

http://www.mobileinternetsatellite.com/Downloads-Utilities/StarBand Spacenet_Point_Dish.zip.

Use the Point Dish utility, to determine the settings for your location, as follows:

Step 1 Type 121 in the popup menu field where the satellite is selected and hit Enter.

Step 2 Select and enter either the zip code or the longitude and latitude and hit Enter.

Step 3 Click Calculate. Write down the values returned.

You will use this information to look for a good line of sight, when you are setting up your tripod. It is recommended that you set up the tripod, with one leg pointing in the magnetic azimuth direction, as a guide. Do NOT use the true azimuth value. A compass will always point at the magnetic azimuth.


http://www.mobileinternetsatellite.com/Downloads-Utilities/StarBand%20Spacenet_Point_Dish.zip

Selecting the Right LocationChoose a site with a clear, unobstructed view facing the azimuth direction. Using a compass, select a site that has an ample amount of clear horizon (about 10-15 degrees east and west of the required azimuth setting), as shown in the graphic above.

Conduct a site survey to identify the best l on the site, to set up your antenna. Observe and take readings approximately 10-15 degrees to the left, right, above, and below your selected look angle. This will allow for any compass interference or compass inaccuracy.

When selecting the antenna location, choose a location that is not easily accessible to children and away from foot traffic. When setting up in an area that is accessible to children, a minimum height of five feet from the ground level to the bottom edge of the dish is required.

If there is no clear horizon, remember that the signal to and from the satellite comes in and goes out, at a relatively steep angle. An object like a building, another RV, or a tree might block the horizon, but a good signal can still be obtained.

Remember that, as you travel, the required elevation adjustment will also change. As this adjustment becomes lower to the horizon, more objects will impede the signal.


Assembling the AntennaAssembling the tripod and other mobility items are not discussed in this document. Your mobility dealer will supply you with training necessary for using your mobility equipment.

This section will discuss the following antenna assembly topics:

Step 1 How to attach the AZ/EL assembly to the reflector

Step 2 How to assemble the feed arm

Step 3 How to set polarity to horizontal

Step 4 How to orient the tripod and check for a plumb mast

Step 5 How to attach the antenna to the tripod offset adapter mast

Step 6 How to set the antenna elevation

Step 7 How to set the antenna skew

Step 8 How to attach the Rx-Tx feed assembly & add the pigtail cables


Step 1: Attaching the AZ/EL Assembly to the ReflectorHere are the substeps, for attaching the AZ/EL assembly (mount), to the reflector, as shown above:

Substep 1 Place the reflector on a flat surface.

Substep 2 Attach the AZ/EL mount to thereflector using (2) M8 x 80 mm (3.15") and (2) M8 x 56 mm (2.20") plow bolts, (4) skew lock clips, (4) lock washers and (4) M8 hex nuts.

Substep 3 Loosely tighten nuts.


Step 2 – Assembling the Feed ArmThis section will describe the substeps to assemble your feed arm. Also discussed are the two LNB types: LNBs with an internal transmit reject filter (TRF) and those with an external TRF.

First, unpack the parts: The empty arm is packed with the dish. The feed horn assembly, the LNB, and the transmitter are usually boxed together.

Substep 1 Attach the LNB to the wave guide assembly with the (4) screws provided, as shown above on the left. Be sure to insert the O-Ring and make sure the rectangular openings on the LNB and feed horn are oriented the same way.

Substep 2 Remove the bolt, washers, and nut from the feed arm end near the two hex-head screws.

Substep 3 Slide the feed horn/LNB assembly onto the arm so that the slotted tabs on the radio mount flange mate with the two hex-head screws. Do not tighten the hex-head screws yet.

Substep 4 Place the nut you removed into the nut pocket in the large cast part that is now covering the bolt hole in the arm and feed the bolt through the hole in the arm that is on the same side of the arm as the two hex-head screws. Turn the bolt to engage the nut. When the nut is engaged, tighten the bolt. Then tighten the hex-head screws.


Assembling the Feed Arm (continued)The fully assembled feed arm is shown above, on the right. Here are the last two substeps for assembling the feed arm:

Substep 5 Now, tighten the (2) 8-32 x ¼ slotted hex-head screws, as shown above on the left.

Caution! Do not over-tighten the hex-head screws. Tighten only until the resistance changes to where you are confident that they are gripping the casting.

Substep 6 Bolt the transmitter (ODU) to the flange using the (4) Phillips head screws packed in the box with the transmitter.

Critical: The “O” ring is packed in the box with the transmitter. It must be in place! If the “O” ring is damaged, a hardware store should be able to provide the same size. While the assembly will work without the “O” ring, it may take on moisture and cause serious internal damage to the wave guide and feed horn.

Nova 1500 users: You may get a 2-watt transmitter with an extra piece, called the BUC GCD Adapter. The steps for proper assembly of this are described later in this document, when they are most easily performed. If you did not get this, follow the steps for the 1-watt on the next page.


Installing the Alternate 1-Watt TransmitterSpacenet/StarBand began shipping a new version of the 1-Watt transmitter (ODU). It is a replacement for all previous 1-Watt transmitters. The new transmitter is interchangeable with previous 1-Watt ODUs. You may get either version.

The AN7042 is a Dual Mode Compact BUC (Block Up Converter). It is capable of operating in SkyEdge II networks, as well as previous Spacenet platforms, including the SkyEdge modem that StarBand uses.

The new transmitter is smaller in size than previous ODUs (see figures above, on the left). It has a magnetic switch, which is used to change its function from SkyEdge II to SkyEdge (or other legacy Spacenet equipment).

This is indicated on the BUC as SE and SEII (see the graphic on the right). You must use the SE setting, for StarBand Nova (SkyEdge) modems.

The switch will normally be in the SE position when shipped, but please check its position prior to installing. Attempting to bring the modem online with the switch in the wrong position will not allow it to connect.

A comparison between the two different LNB options is covered next.


Understanding the Transmit Reject Filter (TRF)First, you should understand what a transmit reject filter (TRF) is and why it is used. Then, you will learn how to tell which LNB type you have.

Why Is a TRF Needed?The purpose of the TRF is to prevent the energy coming from the transmitter, from interfering with the received signal that is down converted by the LNB. Without a TRF, the modem will often experience problems with losing the SYN light on their modem, and possibly the Rx light as well. If you use an LNB that has an internal TRF, with an external TRF also, the received signal can be significantly weakened.

Comparing the Two LNB TypesSome older StarBand® equipment used an LNB model without an internal TRF. Therefore, an external TRF was required. Later LNB models included an internal TRF.

In July, 2010, StarBand® again began using a model without an internal TRF. This model LNB is P/N LN2190. A separate TRF component will come with the feed horn assembly, when this model LNB is supplied. The LNB is 2 1/2” long.

The TRF sits between the LNB and the feed horn assembly, as shown on the right, above. On the left, you can see an LNB with an internal TRF. This LNB is longer than the LNB with an external TRF. It is 3 1/4” long.


Step 3: Setting the Polarity to Horizontal The feed horn is set to vertical transmit polarity for shipping from StarBand®, because this is how it fits in the box. However, since all current StarBand® assignments on 121 are horizontal, it will be necessary to change the transmit polarity setting from vertical to horizontal.

The larger photo above illustrates the polarity, when set to vertical. In the blowup, you can see the “V” for vertical polarity, is lined up with the zero.

Note that the LNB is on top.

Changing the polarity is a two-step process:

Substep 1 Loosen the 4 Hex or Phillips screws, using the T-handled hex driver or a Phillips screw driver. The two red arrows in the picture indicate 2 of the 4 screws.

Substep 2 Rotate the entire LNB/feed horn assembly 90o to set the polarity. Although the large arrow on top indicates that the feed horn assembly should be rotated counterclockwise, it can be rotated clockwise instead, if desired.

The “H” marks are on the shoulders, next to the Hex/Phillips screws.


Setting the Polarity to Horizontal (continued)The photos above show how it looks after rotating to the “H” position. For a horizontal setting, either of the H marks can be aligned with the zero.

Note that the LNB turns with the wave guide when setting polarity or when fine-tuning for cross-pol. This can be seen in the photo, on the right. The LNB, which was on top when set for vertical transmit polarity, is now off to one side.

Set the feed arm assembly aside for now.


Step 4: Orienting the Tripod and Checking for a Plumb MastIt is recommended that the front leg of the tripod be aligned with the azimuth direction, as shown above. Use your compass to align the front leg with the desired azimuth. The offset adapter will also be aligned with the azimuth, but extending in the opposite direction, midway between the two rear legs.

You should plumb the mast at this point. Starting with a plumb mast generally results in a much easier pointing process.

You can plumb the mast with a mast level, as shown above. Check along the azimuth angle and at 90 degrees to it.

Once you have a plumb mast, you can attach a T-level to the offset adapter, as shown above on the left, to make it easier to achieve a plumb mast in the future.


Step 5 – Putting the Dish on the Mast & Pointing in the Azimuth DirectionNow you will put the dish on the offset adapter mast. Remember that the front tripod leg is pointed in the azimuth direction.

The Phase III dish which comes with the Nova may have either the Phase II AZ/EL skew cap mount or the Phase III design.

First, loosen the clamp bolts: there are three on the Phase II mount and four on the Phase III mount. On the Phase III mount, the two front top-locking plate bolts also need to be loosened, as shown above.

Install the reflector/AZ/EL Skew Cap Mount assembly onto the mast. The Rx-Tx feed assembly will be added later.

Align the reflector/AZ/EL skew cap mount, mast to the azimuth, as illustrated in the graphic, on the right. Use the front tripod leg as a guide. Tighten the bolts on the mount assembly, that were loosened earlier.

The Phase III mount includes an azimuth fine-tuning adjustment feature, which isn’t really needed with tripod setups. With a tripod-mounted dish, the entire antenna assembly is swiveled on the tripod, to achieve fine-tuning of the azimuth.

Now that you have set the general azimuth direction, you will complete the initial alignment by setting the elevation and the skew to the recommended values.


Step 6: Adjusting the ElevationIt is easier to set the elevation and skew before attaching the feed arm. The weight of the feed arm makes these two steps more difficult. Use the following substeps to adjust the angle of elevation, to the recommended value plus one to two degrees. Refer to the figure above, for the location of each adjustment:

Substep 1 Loosen the elevation lock bolts one-half turn. These bolts are located in the curved slot on each side of the AZ/EL Skew Cap Mount.

Substep 2 Loosen the pivot bolts a quarter turn. The pivot bolts are also located on each side of the AZ/EL Skew Cap Mount. For a mobile application, these bolts can be left in this state, for future setups.

Substep 3 Now, turn the elevation adjustment bolt clockwise, to decrease elevation. Turn the bolt counterclockwise, to increase elevation.

Substep 4 Align the edge of the bracket with the appropriate elevation mark on the AZ/EL housing and slightly snug the elevation locking bolts only.

Note Per the StarBand® Field Services Bulletin (SB-0013-1.00), when setting the antenna elevation, add 1-2 degrees elevation correction to the value obtained from the Point Dish Tool. Once you have peaked your signal, note the variation, from the elevation given by Point Dish. This will be helpful in future setups.


Step 7: Adjusting the Skew or Polarization SettingThe skew or polarization is probably the most critical setting. It is this setting that should be validated via the CVACS cross-pol test, after each move. In this step, you will adjust the setting, per the Skew/Polarization value provided by the Point Dish utility.

Complete the following substeps, to set the skew. Refer to the figure above, for the location of these adjustments:

Substep 1 Loosen the four skew locking bolts, until they are just finger-tight. These bolts are located on the AZ/EL skew cap mount, where the mount is attached to the antenna. This is illustrated above, on the left.

Substep 2 Rotate the AZ/EL skew cap mount, to align the indicator mark with the correct number on the skew scale. The scale is marked in two-degree increments.

Substep 3 Tighten the skew locking bolts to a torque of 8 foot-pounds. Don't over tighten.

Later, CVACS will be used to check the alignment. If your settings do not meet the criteria, the polarization can be fine-tuned, with the help of CVACS.

Remember! Skew markings are in 2o increments.


Step 8 – Attaching the Feed Arm & Adding the Pigtail CablesThe elevation and skew settings were made earlier, because it is easier to make the adjustments, without the Rx-Tx feed assembly (feed arm) attached.

Use the following substeps to attach the feed arm and the short pigtail cables:

Substep 1 Insert the feed support arm into the notch on the bottom of the reflector and put the large bolt into the hole in the end of the arm. Feed the bolt downward from behind the dish, opposite to what is shown above.

Substep 2 Secure the feed arm to the dish with either a large flat washer and knob or with the M8 x 70 mm hex-head screw, lock washer, flat washer and M8 hex-head nut. Tighten securely, but don’t over tighten.

Substep 3 Attach the short pigtail cables to the feed arm. The cable with blue tape is for the receive side and should be connected to the LNB. Run the Rx feed cable from the LNB through the feed support arm to the reflector. The cable with red tape should be connected to the transmitter. If you have a GCD, see the next page before connecting this cable. If you use a BirDog or other satellite meter, you will connect it to the blue cable.

Substep 4 You should now check plumb on the mast again. The weight of the feed arm will frequently change the plumb. And, don’t forget to add ballast and then check plumb yet again!


Assembling the GCD Adapter - Nova 1500 Users Only!A BUC (Block Up-Converter) takes the L-band input from the modem and transmits it upstream to the satellite on Ka, Ku, or C band. The BUC is also referred to as the ODU, the TXB (Transmission Block), or simply, the transmitter.

BUCs are rated according to their output power. A Nova 500 or 1000 system will include a 1-watt transmitter; a Nova 1500 system will include a 2-watt transmitter. StarBand® sometimes includes a linear 2-watt transmitter. A linear transmitter requires a gain control device (GCD) adapter.

The GCD adapter is just an extra item that goes inline, between the transmitter and the transmit cable. It is shown above.

Add it to your feed arm assembly as follows:

1 Connect the short cable that is in the box with the BUC adapter to the transmitter and to the side of the BUC adapter that is labeled “BUC”. This is circled in the photo of the BUC GCD Adapter (lower right) The arrow points to the transmitter.

2 Connect the short pigtail cable with red tape to the other side of the BUC adapter. The longer pigtail with blue tape connects to the LNB, as discussed earlier.

3 Connect the long coax cables to the two pigtails, with barrel connectors.


Pointing the AntennaThe antenna will be aligned towards 121 W, by monitoring the received signal with a BirDog or other satellite meter or with SkyManage, while slight changes in elevation are made and the antenna is slowly rotated through the azimuth.

Here is a list of steps that can be used to properly point the antenna to Echostar 9 at 121 W:

Step 1 Rotate the antenna assembly through the azimuth, starting way off to the west and rotating towards the east (counter-clockwise from behind the dish). Use the tripod leg that points in the azimuth direction as a reference.

Step 2 If the StarBand® satellite cannot be located, increase (or decrease) the elevation by one degree and again move the antenna through the azimuth, from west to east.

Step 3 Continue increasing or decreasing the elevation in one degree increments, followed by a slow sweep through the azimuth, until the satellite is found.

Step 4 Once the satellite has been located, continue adjusting the antenna in azimuth and elevation, to obtain the maximum received signal strength. When the signal is “peaked”, you will be able to pull back slightly at each of the four corners (top, bottom, left side, right side) and the signal strength displayed will decrease in every case.


Using the Fine Azimuth AdjustmentA fine azimuth adjustment screw has been added to the rear of the AZ/EL cap assembly of the Phase III mount. This screw can be used to make fine adjustments to the azimuth of the antenna ... much like the elevation is adjusted by turning the elevation adjustment bolt.

After sweeping the azimuth and locating the proper satellite using the procedure mentioned earlier, tighten the large knob on the top of the tripod.

You will need to loosen the four top plate locking bolts on the AZ/EL mount. Do not loosen the four locking bolts. You can then make any further adjustments by tightening or loosening the Azimuth fine tune nut.

The placement of the bolts and nut are shown in the graphic above. Be sure to again tighten the top plate locking bolts.

Note To facilitate the action of the fine azimuth adjustment, turn the adjustment nut two full turns clockwise, prior to making adjustments. This will put the proper tension on the spring.


Using a Satellite MeterThe BirDog and First Strike meters or a spectrum analyzer can all be used to locate and fine-tune a specific signal. This section assumes a BirDog satellite meter.

Use a fully charged BirDog meter. Attach the pigtail cable from the LNB (blue tape) on the Rx-Tx Feed Assembly to the connector marked input on the BirDog.

With a BirDog meter, when you point at the selected satellite, you will be alerted by beeps and the display will change from Searching to Found. You will then know you have located the satellite! With the First Strike meter, you will hear beeps and the display will show LOCKED.

Note When using a self-powered satellite meter, the cables are not connected until after you have located and peaked the signal. However, when using SkyManage or a meter that gets power from the modem to find and peak the signal, the cables must be connected first.


Using SkyManage to Point the DishIf you will be using SkyManage to find and peak the satellite signal, you need to hook up the cables before you can begin the pointing process. Once the cables are connected and power has been applied to the modem, you can monitor the received signal.

Important! If you are preparing to commission the modem, you will need to configure the modem before connecting the cables. This is discussed next.

Step 1 Open Internet Explorer and type 192.168.1.1 in the address bar, as shown above. Make sure you do NOT have a proxy set. If you use Internet Explorer 10, you must set Browser mode to Internet Explorer 10 Compatibility View.

Step 2 If necessary, click on the Status link at the top of the SkyManage page and then click on Telemetry on the left. There will be no green displayed in the Rx signal EbN0 until you are pointed well enough to lock onto the received satellite signal. After you lock the signal, you should continue to adjust the azimuth and elevation, until you have the largest possible Rx signal EbN0.

Some prefer to take their laptop out to the dish to monitor the received signal as they point the dish. Others use Walkie-Talkies: one person watches the SkyManage display and relays the status (red or green) and the signal level to the other person, who is adjusting the dish.


Configuring the Nova SkyEdge ModemIf you will be commissioning your own Nova modem, this section will tell you what you should know about configuring the modem.

The StarBand® SkyEdge modem requires configuration via an onboard web based utility called SkyManage which is accessed via a PC web browser. Microsoft Internet Explorer is the StarBand® supported and recommended browser.

Items Needed for Configuring a Nova SkyEdge ModemProgramming a SkyEdge modem requires the following:

• Personal computer running the Windows OS, with an available Ethernet adapter

• RJ-45 Cat-5 Ethernet cable. (Either a crossover or straight-thru cables will work.)

• StarBand® SkyEdge modem

• SkyEdge external power supply and power cord

• The customer's VSAT ID and a complete list of configuration parameters

The steps for configuring the SkyEdge modem are listed in the graphic above and will now be looked at in more detail.


Step 1: Configuring the PC’s Ethernet Connection to Use a Static IP AddressIn order to configure your modem, you must first connect to it, which requires that you give the PC’s Ethernet connection a static IP address of 192.168.1.2. The modem will use the IP address of 192.168.1.1. After your modem has been commissioned, you can communicate with it, using automatic IP addressing.

After you boot the computer, go to the Ethernet (LAN) connection properties and to the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) properties. How to find this varies, based on the version of Windows you are using. Search the Help text for “TCP/IP properties”.

Configure a static IP address of 192.168.1.2, with a Subnet Mask of 255.255.255.0. The default gateway and DNS information should be left blank. It is recommended by Spacenet that configuration be done by the dealer or installer earlier, so the customer’s TCP/IP settings do not have to be changed.

Note After the modem has all 4 lights on, don’t forget to set the TCP/IP properties back to the “obtain automatically” setting, top and bottom. Otherwise, you will not be able to browse the Internet.


Step 2: Connecting the PC to the Nova SkyEdge ModemComplete the following tasks, to connect to the modem:1 Connect the RJ-45 Ethernet cable between the modem and the computer. 2 Go to Tools > Internet Options > Connections > LAN Settings and ensure all

proxy settings are OFF [Unchecked]. Click OK (twice) and leave browser open.3 Connect the power cable to the wall outlet and to the DIN power base unit. Next,

connect the DIN power cable to the modem. The PWR indicator will illuminate. The lights will strobe one time and after approximately 20-35 seconds the Tx indicator will blink 10 times. Wait five seconds after the Tx blinks and continue.

4 In the Internet Explorer address line type: 192.168.1.1 and hit Enter or click Go, to browse to the modem at 192.168.1.1. The page shown above should appear.

Troubleshooting Tips: If you have Internet Explorer 10 or 11, you must be in Compatibility mode. If the SkyManage page does not appear, reboot the SkyEdge modem and try to reload the page, after the Tx light blinks 10 times. If you still cannot connect, verify the adapter is set to 192.168.1.2. If the adapter shows a Media disconnected message, verify that the Ethernet cable is connected between the modem LAN port and the PC.


Step 3: Logging In as InstallerLog in to SkyManage as an installer, as follows:

1 Click on Installer in the header line of the web page. You will see a smaller login window, as shown above.

2 Enter the username: inst and the password: $Sat2598$

Note The password must be entered exactly as shown.


Step 4: Configuring the Nova SkyEdge ModemShown above are the parameters that may need to be changed, for each of the clusters (transponders). Parameters not shown above should be left at the default values. Your dealer will supply you with the correct parameters to configure.

Here are the tasks to be completed, to configure the SkyEdge modem:

1 If necessary, click on Setup. You should see the window shown on the next page.

2 Change any values that are different from the parameters your dealer provided.

3 Once all of these parameters have been set click the Submit button in the upper left corner. You will be presented with a Windows dialog asking “Are you sure?” When you click OK, the parameters will be loaded and you should receive a Succeeded message. Click OK to complete the process.

4 Once you have received the Succeeded message, the modem is configured. Disconnect the power.

Note The SkyEdge IP modem MUST be power cycled after programming, for the new parameters to take effect. This MUST be done each time any setting within the modem is changed.


Changing the Satellite ParametersHere is some additional detail about which parameters need to be changed.

General SectionThe following parameters in the General section may need to be changed:

• VSAT ID = This is unique for every installation and must always be set.

• Workgroup Address = For Nova 500 and 1000, it is 256; for Nova 1500, it is 257.

• Software Group Address = This depends on the cluster assigned, as shown above.

• Manage PID = This is 516, for cluster 090 and 515 for clusters 091, 092 and 093.

• Outbound ID = This is always 5.

Boot-Time Options SectionThe following are the default values, which are all used:

• Software Download = Enable

• Software Download Timeout = 30 seconds

• DHCP = Disable


ODU and LNB SectionThe following are the default values, which are all used:ODU Constant Drift = 0 KHzLNB Installation = 22 VODU Type = Saturated

Modulation and Coding SectionDepending on your assigned transponder (cluster), some or all of these parameters may change:• Frequency = This depends on the cluster assigned.• Data-Rate = This depends on the cluster assigned.• Modulation = This depends on the cluster assigned.• Coding Rate = This depends on the cluster assigned.• DVB Reduce Latency = This is always set to Disable, the default.

Step 5: Power Down the Modem, Connect the Cables & Power Up the ModemYou should now power down the modem, connect the modem to the satellite antenna via the IFL cables, and power up the modem.

If you use a BirDog or First Strike satellite meter, you have already aligned the antenna and the modem should connect to the StarBand® network, as described later.

If you are using SkyManage Telemetry, you will now point the dish, as described earlier. Then, the modem will connect to the StarBand® network.


Connecting to the Modem Either after you peak the signal (if you use a meter) or before (if you will use SkyManage), you must connect the coaxial cables between the antenna and the modem. The illustration above shows the typical cable path, from antenna to modem. Always make sure the modem is powered OFF, before you connect or disconnect the cables.

The following items exist in the end-to-end cable path. The numbers are referenced in the description below:

1 The long cables (3) will connect to the pigtail cables (1) via barrel connectors (2). If your cables have colored tape for color coding, make sure you maintain the same color, from LNB to modem RF-IN and from transmitter to modem RF-OUT.

2 The other end of the long cables will connect to the exterior dual coax connector (4).

3 The short inside Tx or transmit cable will connect to the back of the coax connector box (4) on one end and to the modem connector marked RF-OUT (6) on the other end.

4 The short inside Rx or receive cable will connect to the back of the coax connector box (4) on one end and to the modem connector marked RF-IN (7) on the other end.

5 Reconnect the power cable. There is no On/Off switch on the Nova modem.

How to use SkyManage to find and peak the satellite signal was covered earlier.


When the Modem First Connects to the StarBand® NetworkWhen the modem is configured and connected to a properly pointed antenna, it will take an initial software download from the hub. During this download, only the Rx light will be on. This software download may take up to 10 minutes. Once completed, the Rx light may go out for up to one minute, after which the SYNC and ON-LINE lights will come on.

You can check the status of the software download on the Telemetry page of the SkyManage application. You can also check the Rx signal levels on this page.

If the modem fails to go online after the initial configuration and the Rx light has been on for 10 minutes, verify if the software download is progressing. If not, please reboot the modem. If it still fails to begin the software download, you should recheck all of the configuration parameters. If you cannot get the Rx light on, call your dealer.

Rx LED Doesn’t Come OnIf the Rx indicator does not come on during the first 3 minutes the modem is connected to the RF (coaxial) cables and powered up, please remove the DIN power connector from the rear of the modem, allow the unit to sit for 30 seconds, and reconnect the power. Rx should now come on and the download will begin. If it still doesn’t come on, check your configuration and the cables. Verify that you are still pointed at the satellite. If you are using SkyManage Telemetry, you won’t see the Rx LED come on yet.


Monitoring the ProgressThis section details what information can be obtained from the SkyManage web page, after successfully configuring the modem and pointing the antenna.

Selecting Status from the left hand toolbar shows the current status of many of the functions. If the Outbound is not locked, the modem is unable to see the satellite or has not been configured correctly. If the Outbound and SYNC are green, but the Satellite link is red, there is most likely a problem with the transmit side of the installation or an incorrect parameter configured. If the Satellite link status is green but the Authentication and Backbone link status are red, there is most likely a problem at the StarBand® hub.

Under normal operating conditions, HTTP Acceleration will also be ON.

Prior to contacting CVACS for commissioning, all four modem indicator LEDs should be on: PWR, Rx, SYNC, and ON-LINE. Allow at least 10 minutes from connection to an aligned antenna for the modem to have all four lights on.

You can now call into CVACS for commissioning of the modem. The number to call is 1-888-424-4855.


Checking Alignment & Commissioning the Modem with CVACSCommissioning is done by calling 1-888-424-4855, to access the StarBand® Consumer VSAT Automated Commissioning System (CVACS). CVACS is also used to validate and fine-tune the co-pol and cross-pol and to check the Adjacent Satellite Interference (ASI). Low co-pol means your transmitter could be too weak to transmit in a heavy storm. High cross-pol means you’re creating interference on the transponder. This robs bandwidth from everyone and should be corrected. High ASI means you are causing interference on a neighboring satellite.

The CVACS menu structure is shown in the figure above. The beige option is the one you must complete, to commission the modem: Main Menu Option 3

This option will first do an alignment check, after which the co-pol, cross-pol & ASI alignment values will be recited, in that order. If any measurement does not meet the criteria, the message will tell you it doesn’t, immediately after reciting the value for the failing measurement. In this case, you will have to adjust, as described next.

If all measurements meet the criteria, a confirmation number is provided.

After the modem is commissioned, future setups will still need to be checked, but you will instead use the following path, which will do the same alignment check, but no confirmation number will be generated:

Alignment Check => Main Menu Option 2 => Alignment Menu Option 1


Aligning the Antenna to Meet the CriteriaThese are the criteria your alignment must meet:

• Co-pol - The desirable transmitted signal should be at least 24.

• Cross-pol - The interfering transmitted signal should be no more than 4.

• ASI - Adjacent satellite interference from the transmitted signal should be no more than 5.

If any of the measurements do not meet the criteria, a confirmation number will not be generated and the failing component should be adjusted to meet the criteria. An error message will be given, immediately after the failing measurement is recited.

Adjusting the AlignmentTo check all three measurements (co-pol, cross-pol, ASI) do the following:

1 Call CVACS and from the CVACS main menu, press 2 to align the antenna.

2 Press 1 to perform the alignment check.

CVACS will generate a continuous wave (CW) to measure the co-pol and cross-pol. ASI will also be measured. This process lasts approximately 50 seconds. While the CW is generated, the “ON-LINE” light on the satellite modem will be off.


If the alignment criteria are met, CVACS will give you the co-pol and cross-pol carrier-to-noise (C/N) readings, followed by the ASI west co-pol reading.

If the alignment criteria are not met, CVACS will give you the co-pol and cross-pol carrier-to-noise (C/N) and ASI readings, with an indication of the error.

3 Press the pound (#) to return to the main menu.

Adjusting Co-polThe CVACS system supports continuous measurements of the VSAT co-pol performance, which allows you to adjust the azimuth and elevation of the antenna to get maximum co-pol C/N. Here are the steps:

1 From the Alignment menu, Press 3 to measure the VSAT's co-pol performance. CVACS takes a series of readings and reports them to you over the phone.

2 Move the antenna slowly in azimuth and listen for the reading over the phone. The minimum acceptable reading is 24. Stop adjusting at the highest reading.

3 Adjust the antenna in elevation to obtain the highest co-pol reading.

Adjusting Cross-polThe CVACS system also supports continuous measurements of the VSAT cross-pol performance, which allows you to adjust the azimuth and elevation of the antenna to get minimum cross-pol C/N. Here are the steps:

1 From the Alignment menu, Press 4 to measure cross-pol. CVACS takes a series of readings and reports them to you over the phone.

2 Loosen the four m4 Phillips head clamp bolts one turn on the horn neck assembly, as shown earlier.

3 Slowly turn the horn neck in one degree increments and wait for the cross-pol readings from CVACS to be updated.

4 If the cross-pol readings from CVACS increase, turn the horn neck in the opposite direction.

5 Rotate the horn neck until CVACS returns the lowest value.

6 If adjusting the polarizer does not lower cross-pol to an acceptable limit, perform the following: Make small adjustments to the skew angle, and if necessary, the azimuth and elevation, until CVACS reports a minimum value.

7 Do not stand directly in front of the antenna when adjusting for cross-pol ... stand to the side. Your body will block the satellite signal and affect the readings.

8 The maximum acceptable reading is 4.0. A perfect reading is 0.


Note Cross-pol and ASI problems can be minimized if the mast is plumb, the polarizer points to the correct “H” or “V” setting, skew is set to the correct angle, and the elevation and azimuth angles have been peaked on the receive signal.

Adjusting For ASIThe CVACS ASI adjusting option has not yet been implemented. However, you can still determine if you need to adjust the ASI, by listening to the ASI value given during the alignment check.

For those assigned to Echostar 9, at 121 W, if CVACS reports “Alignment criteria not met for ASI west co-pol”, make a small azimuth adjustment and try another alignment check measurement. “ASI west” tells us that the measurement is being made on the west, which means it is the nearest neighbor to the west to which we are too close. Therefore, we should rotate the dish to the east, away from that neighbor to reduce the ASI. Move it a few degrees and then check the alignment again. Remember that ASI is the third number reported.

Note If you are unable to adjust to meet the alignment criteria, either your mobility dealer or StarBand® Tech Support can assist. For StarBand® Tech Support, please call 1-800-478-2722 and take the option for technical support.

Getting the Confirmation NumberOnce your alignment meets the criteria, press 3 from the CVACS main menu, to activate the site. The system automatically performs the final alignment check. If the alignment criteria is met, CVACS generates a Confirmation Number. Record this number and then take the option to exit.


Completing the Installation and Registration ProcessAfter the site has been commissioned, you, as the customer, need to complete the registration process. Opening Internet Explorer should automatically redirect you to the registration page, but if it doesn’t, you can manually go to the following URL:

http://www.starband.net/newregistration

You may be asked to do any or all of the following, while completing registration:

• Enter the confirmation number obtained during the commissioning process.

• Verify your acceptance of the StarBand® End User Agreement (EUA).

• Create a StarBand® Primary account member name and password. All communications from StarBand® will be directed to this primary email address.

Once the registration process is complete, verify that you can access the Internet. This sometimes takes a few minutes.

Also, be aware that your speeds may be slow for the first few hours. This is related to getting your connection assigned to the appropriate network pipe for your service. Please be patient and your speeds should soon reach their normal level.

Next, you will see some facts about radio-frequency (RF) energy and a few safety precautions.


http://www.starband.net/newregistration

Radio-Frequency (RF) Energy & Safety PrecautionsIn this section, you will see some common questions and answers, about RF energy. Then, some safety precautions will be presented.

Questions & Answers Regarding RF Energy - PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL

Question How does the StarBand® VSAT antenna communicate with a satellite?

Answer The StarBand® Antenna both sends requests to the Internet and receives the requested Internet content via a Ku-band satellite in geostationary orbit approximately 22,300 miles above the equator. The StarBand® Antenna uses a low-power microwave signal to send such requests and receive such content. The satellite communicates with the StarBand® hub facility, which has a direct connection to the Internet.

Question Will the StarBand® Antenna harm me?

Answer Not if used in accordance with the installer's manual. The strength of the microwave signal that is used to communicate with the satellite has been measured and there is no health risk in front of, beside, or behind the StarBand® Antenna. Only in the region between the feed horn and the reflector can the signal occasionally be strong enough that StarBand® warns you to avoid placing any body part in that region when the StarBand® Antenna is operating. There is a warning label on the feed arm.


Question Can you be more specific?

Answer The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) and the American National Standards Institute have safety standards for devices such as the StarBand® Antenna. In each case, the safety standard is a power density of up to 1 milliwatt per square centimeter of a person's body (averaged over 30 minutes for the general public; 6 minutes in occupational settings). According to the FCC, this power density limit is well below levels generally accepted as having the potential to cause adverse health effects. The StarBand® Antenna emits radio-frequency energy at levels below 1 mW/cm2 at all locations in front of, beside, and behind the antenna. In the region between the feed horn and the reflector, the signal strength exceeds 1 mW/cm2 when the StarBand® Antenna is transmitting data (though not when it receives data).

Safety PrecautionsThis section provides some safety issues, of which you should be aware.

ElectricalObserve the following electrical precautions:

• Stay a minimum of 20 feet from all power lines. Not only is this for your safety, but large sources of electrical (or magnetic) energy can disrupt your signal.

• If any part of the antenna or mast assembly comes in contact with a power line, call the local power company. Do not attempt to remove it by yourself.

WindThe following safety precautions apply to wind:

• Do not assemble, move, or install an antenna or mast assembly on a windy day.

• The size of the total antenna surface is large, and even a mild wind will generate a strong force against it. Be prepared to safely handle these forces at unexpected moments, even on a calm day.

• An improperly installed antenna is susceptible to wind damage.

Radio-Frequency EnergyHere are some precautions related to RF energy:

• The StarBand® antenna emits radio-frequency energy at levels below the 1 milliwatt (1 mW/cm2) safety standard set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for one square centimeter of a person's body at all locations in front of, beside, and behind the antenna. According to the FCC, this power density limit is well below levels generally accepted as having the potential to cause adverse health effects.


• However, in the region between the feed horn and the reflector, the signal strength exceeds 1 mW/cm2 when the StarBand® antenna is transmitting data.

• StarBand® has placed an RF warning label on the feed arm, as shown earlier.

Other Safety PrecautionsStarBand® is not responsible or liable for damage or injury resulting from antenna installations.

Stable Tripod SetupsThe tripod feet should have a wide stance and be well-planted. The dish should be ballasted with at least 40-50 lbs of ballast.

As a Rule of Thumb, the footprint should equal the height of the dish. For example, if the bottom lip of the dish is 62 inches from the ground, the feet of the tripod should be set at least 62 inches apart. With this geometry, you’ll still need ballast and it is always better to err on the heavy side. Use 5 gallons of water or more ... 50 lbs or more is highly recommended. This should be stable in winds gusting up to 40 mph. The more weight it has and the wider the stance, the more wind it will withstand.

FCC Compliance Notice of StarBand® EquipmentThis equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.

However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the (radio or TV) receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Copyright 2006 Spacenet Inc. All rights reserved. This document may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of Spacenet Inc.

Spacenet®, StarBand® and SkyEdge are trademarks of Spacenet Inc. All other product names referenced herein are trademarks of their respective owners.


Troubleshooting HintsThis section includes troubleshooting hints for when you’re having trouble getting back online in a new location and the troubleshooting checklist for commissioning.

Trouble Getting Online In a New LocationHere are some of the most common causes of the inability to get back online:

• Cables & connectors - A problem with the cables and/or connectors is by far the most common cause of not being able to get online. Double-check your cable path, from the dish to the modem. Make sure there are no loose or corroded connections. Also verify you haven’t crossed any of the cables.

Do the cable test: Take the short cables off both ends. Use a single longer piece of cable from the dish to the modem, going through a window or the door. Note any change. Next, reverse the transmit and receive cables. If there is no change in the symptoms, cables are likely not the problem.

• Run Point Dish again and double-check your elevation and skew settings on the back of the dish. Take a compass reading from several feet away from your tripod setup and make sure the azimuth setting of the tripod and dish are consistent.

• Polarity setting - Make sure the transmit polarity is set to horizontal. Current assignments on both Echostar 9 and Galaxy 18 use horizontal transmit polarity.


Indoor Unit (Modem) Troubleshooter

Symptom Problem ResolutionPWR light is not illuminated

No power to modem

• Check that modem power cord is securely plugged in.

• Check to ensure the DIN connector is securely plugged into the modem.

• External power adapter may be defective.

• If other LED indicators are on, or it looks as if the modem is working properly, but the PWR indicator is not on, it may be that the LED is at fault. A modem with a faulty LED should be returned and replaced

Rx light is not illuminated

Receive signal is not “locked on”

• Antenna is not aimed correctly.

• Faulty LNB (requires service call).

• Problems in the IFL cable connecting the LNB to the modem (receive cable) - loose connectors, long cable run, corrosion, etc.

• Bad local weather (temporary lose of signal).

• Bad weather at the uplink facility (temporary lose of signal - not a single modem problem).

• Non-weather related uplink outage at Hub (not a single modem problem).

• IDU not providing 24 VDC

• Faulty LED

• See ODU troubleshooter

• Wrong Modem ID or other configuration parameter(s)

• Reset of modem did not result in parameters becoming active. Power cycle a second time.

Note 1: It is possible that while other indicators (SYNC and ON-LINE) are on, Rx will briefly blink and will come back on. Usually, this will indicate a temporary loss of the received signal, or a low quality of the signal if it happens often.

Note 2: A modem that does not have its received signal locked will not try to transmit, will not connect with the hub, and will not support any data exchange (no ping, no browsing, etc.)

SYNC light is not illuminated when Rx is illuminated

Modem unable to synchronize

• Low quality of the received signal (due to any of the following: antenna is not aimed correctly, bad LNB, problems with IF cable, local weather, etc.), which results in intermittent reception of the synchronization messages.

• Hub problem: This is not a single modem problem.

• In very rare situations, if the Rx indicator will come on as a result of a modem locking on another signal (DVB signal of similar characteristics from another satellite - because the antenna was aimed at the wrong satellite). The modem will never synchronize since no synchronization messages are carried over this carrier. This is a rare scenario, which does not happen in normal operation (post-installation)

• Faulty LED

Note 1: The SYNC indicator will not come on, if the Rx indicator is not on.

Note 2: A modem that does not synchronize with the hub will not try to transmit, will not connect with the hub and will not support any data exchange (no ping, no browsing, etc.)


ON-LINE light is not illuminated when Rx and SYNC are illuminated

Modem unable to establish connection with the hub

• Bad transmitted signal (due to any of the following: antenna is not aimed correctly, polarization not set appropriately, bad ODU (Out-door unit), problems with IFL cable, local weather, etc.), which results in data not transmitted to the hub, and thus no connection is established.

• IDU not providing 24 VDC

• See ODU troubleshooter

• Hub problem: (RF downlink at the hub) - not a single modem problem.

• Bad configuration: if the modem parameters were entered incorrectly the modem will not connect.

• Hub problem that has to do with the single modem: modem not built on the Network Management System (NMS), etc.

• Faulty LED

Note 1: Do not expect to see the ON-LINE indicator on, if the Rx and the SYN indicators are not on.

Note 2: A modem that does not connect with the hub will not support any data exchange (no ping, no browsing, etc.).

Tx light not flashing

Modem unable to establish connection with the hub

• Bad configuration: if the modem parameters were entered incorrectly the modem will not connect.

• Faulty LED

• Faulty Modem

Note: A modem that does not synchronize with the hub will not try to transmit, will not connect with the hub and will not support any data exchange (no ping, no browsing, etc.)

Cannot browse

Cannot ping

No IP connectivity • Run ipconfig and verify ip information

• Reboot PC

• Restart modem

• Run ipconfig /renew

• Confirm RJ-45 Ethernet connection between Modem and Computer.

• Remove any hardware between Modem and Computer i.e. router/switch.Cannot browse Not authorized to

use network• StarBand® Technical Support needs to be contacted to verify modem info.

• Verify site commissioning completed.Unable to access SkyManage when modem is Off-line

“Page cannot be displayed” message in web browser.

• Recycle power on modem and wait for “Tx” light to stop flashing (approx. 30-45 seconds). At this point 192.168.1.1 will be required to be entered into the address line of the Internet browser, however prior to doing this, additional steps must be performed:

1 Right click on Network Neighborhood or My Network Places (depending on OS). Click on properties, when Network Connections window opens, right click on Local Area Connection and click on Properties.

2 Scroll down the list until Internet Protocol appears (TCP/IP). Click on it and then click on Properties.

3 Record current settings in this screen.

4 Click on “Use the following IP address” and enter 192.168.1.2 on the IP address line. Enter 255.255.255.0 on the Subnet mask line.

5 Click OK twice and close Network Connections window.

6 Open the web browser and enter 192.168.1.1 on the address line and press Go, which will take you into the SkyManage menu.

7 When finished with SkyManage repeat steps 1 and 2 above and re-enter the settings recorded in step 3 above. Click OK twice and close Network Connections window.

8 Disconnect IFL cables from modem

Symptom Problem Resolution


Note If unable to resolve any of the above problems, call your mobility dealer or StarBand® Technical Support at: 1-800-478-2722. Take the option for technical support.

Unable to access SkyManage when modem is ON-LINE

“Page cannot be displayed” message in web browser.

• The IP address of your modem is required to access SkyManage. If this was not given to you at the time of install, please contact StarBand® Technical Support.



Outdoor-Unit Troubleshooter

Symptom Problem ResolutionRx light not illuminated

Receive signal is not “locked” on

• It is possible to be receiving a signal from one of the other satellites located near customer's assigned satellite. Move the antenna in azimuth and elevation slightly until you locate the assigned satellite and re-check receive lock. This may have to be repeated a couple times.

• Verify polarization is set correctly for the satellite assigned to this site.

• Verify there is not a LOS issue, if so a satellite change is needed (if available).

• Verify cables are not crossed going into the house. Verify the receive cable (from the LNB) goes to RF-IN, and transmit cable (from the ODU) goes to RF-OUT on the IDU. If cables are not crossed, use an Ohm meter and check for continuity and/or shorts in the cabling. Please reference FSB SB-0020-1.00 at training.starband.com for additional information.

• Occasionally RF interference from towers, airports, car radar detectors or military bases may interfere with the receive signal. If this is suspected, this should be verified with a spectrum analyzer. Re-location to shield the VSAT antenna from the interference may be required. Please reference FSB SB-0022-1.00 at training.starband.com for additional information.

Using a qualified sat meter such as a BirDog. Make sure the latest frequency's are installed in the meter and ensure the correct satellite profile has been selected.

• If signal is strong at antenna but there is no Rx light at modem, verify all barrel connectors, cables and in-line components such as grounding blocks and wall plates are installed properly and fully functioning. Replace components as necessary.

Rx light not illuminated

Rx signal EbNo is low

Weak Receive Signal strength at Antenna or Modem or low Co-Pol reading

• Antenna may not be peaked. Adjust azimuth and elevation for maximum signal strength. The polarization can be adjusted at the antenna feed if required but DO NOT adjust the skew, this setting must be locked down, no fine-tuning is needed. Note: Skew can be adjusted for high cross-pol readings (see section below on High Cross-pol).

• Verify there is not a LOS problem. What might look like tree branches that partially block the LOS when the wind blows may actually obstruct a clear LOS.

• If signal strength is strong at the antenna, but weak inside the house, it may be due to a long cable run. If the cable run exceeds 150', an in-line amplifier may be required. Please reference FSB SB-0015-1.01 at: training.starband.com for this information.

• Verify that the weather is not heavily overcast or raining, as this will affect the signal.

• If signal is strong at antenna but week at modem verify all barrel connectors, cables and in-line components such as grounding blocks and wall plates are installed properly and fully functioning. Replace components as necessary.


Note If unable to resolve any of the above problems, call your mobility dealer or StarBand® Technical Support at: 1-800-478-2722. Take the option for technical support.

ON-LINE light not illuminated

Failed ODU

Modem unable to establish connection with hub

• This will normally indicate a transmit problem. Verify the cabling is ok going to the ODU. A continuity check may be necessary.

• Verify the modem has Receive Lock and SYNC, this will indicate that the antenna is pointed at the correct satellite.

• Verify no minor LOS obstructions i.e. tree branches, power lines, etc.

• Verify modem configuration. Reconfigure the modem ensuring close observance of all parameters.

• Please reference FSB SB-0018-1.00 at: training.starband.com for ODU Troubleshooting.

• Call Tech Support and have them give the installer a frequency that can be used to initiate a manual CW test from the site. If they do not see his transmit, and cabling is ok, could be a faulty ODU. If they see it, but still no CON led when CW test is terminated, have Network Surveillance check the site parameters.

Reduced performance or no performance

Interference with adjacent transponder or satellite

High Cross-Pol reading

High cross-pol or ASI reading

• Verify that the mast (pole) of the antenna is plumb (straight on the vertical scale). Installer should use a level to check this. Check it on one side, then move level 90o and check again. Any leaning one way or the other needs to be corrected.

• Verify that the adjustment is set to “H=0” for horizontal polarity, and “V=0” for vertical polarity. This may have to be adjusted slightly to reduce the cross-pol, but must be set here initially as a reference starting point.

• Verify the skew setting using Point Dish for the assigned satellite and the customer's Zip Code.

• To correct high cross-pol, the installer should make small adjustments in azimuth and elevation. If further adjustment is required, small adjustments can be made to the skew angle until VACS reports a minimum cross-pol value.

• Make small adjustments to the polarizer until VACS reports a minimum cross-pol value. Please reference FSB SB-0019-2.00 at training.starband.com for additional information.



StarBand® Satellite GlossaryMany thanks to "Leprechaun" Tom Young, Dish It Up Internet, for this glossary!

Word Brief DefinitionASI Adjacent Satellite Interference, to be minimized < 5 dBAUP Acceptable Use Policy for Terminal, related to FAPAZ Azimuth direction for antenna pointing, measured in degreesBUC Block Up-Converter, BUC, ODU, & Transmitter are sometimes used

interchangeably, because they all relate to transmittingGCD Gain Control Device Adapter for ODU/transmitter/BUCBurst Mode Burst Modulation, used by BUC for transmitting data C/N Carrier-to-Noise Ratio (dB) for satellite signalsCo-Pol Co-Polarization C/N, the good transmitted signal, to be peaked > 24 dBCross-Pol Cross-Polarization C/N, the intereferring transmitted signal, isolation,

to be minimized < 4 dBCVACS Consumer VSAT Automated Commissioning System, used to

commission modem and to check/adjust alignmentCW Continuous Wave, used by BUC for pointing antennaDHCP Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, used to automatically assign an

IP address to devicesDownlink Portion of communications link used to transmit signals from a satellite

down to an Earth Terminal (VSAT or HUB)EbN0 Energy per bit to noise power spectral density ratio, normalized S/N

ratio, measure of noise densityEL Elevation for antenna pointing, measured in degreesERN Equipment Record Number used by StarBand®, serves as the customer

Site NumberEULA/EUA End User License Agreement/End User AgreementFAP Fair Access Policy defines the limit on download/upload in MBytes per

weekGILAT® Gilat Satellite Networks, was the parent corporation of SpaceNet® that

owns StarBand®, until it was sold to Sagenet in August 2013HUB The satellite communicates with the Network Operation Center (NOC)

of StarBand®, called the hub. It has a direct connection to the Internet. IDU The InDoor Unit comprises the modem and Power Supply.IF Signal An Intermediate Frequency (L-Band) Signal is used between the

modem and the transmitter and LNB, i.e., on the coaxial cables.IFL InterFacility Link, RG-6 coaxial cables with type F connectors

that connect the modem to the transmitter and LNBInbound Signals Sent from your VSAT to the HUB via satellite


Installer ID When an mobile user or installer passes the installer certification exam, StarBand assigns and installer ID and passcode. They identify the installer to CVACS (user ID and password).

Ka-Band Frequency range used by newer spot-beamed satellite services, 26.5 - 40 GHz, Wavelength range 1.11 cm - 7.5 mm

Ku-Band Frequency range used by satellite services, coverage can be an entire continent, 12 - 18 GHz , Wavelength range 2.5 - 1.67 cm

L-Band IF signal used on coaxial cables, between modem and transmitter/LNB, 950 - 1450 MHz for StarBand

LAN Local Area Network, Connector Socket on Modem for link to computer via RJ-45 cable

LNB Low Noise Block, frequency down-converter for RxLOS Loss of SignalModem Modulator/Demodulator, converts data stream to/from computer

to IF signal for LNB/transmitter, StarBand® uses the SkyEdge™ IP VSAT Modem, it also supplies 24 VDC/2.8A

Nova SkyEdge

Nova SkyEdge Modem from GILAT® is the most recent modem family offered by StarBand®

ODU OutDoor Unit, another name for transmitter/BUCOn-Line LED on Modem indicating Hub Connection & Modem is OnlineOutbound Signals Received by your VSAT, from the Hub via satellitePWR LED on Modem indicating Power is OnRF Radio Frequency Energy, signals used for communications via

“radio”RF-IN Modem input connected to the LNB via IFL cableRF-OUT Modem output connected to the transmitter via IFL cableRG-6 Coaxial cable type used for IFL cablesRJ-45 Connector used with Cat 5 data cable on digital link from modem

to computer, defined by Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 standardRx Receive Signal, LED on modem indicating a receive lock from

the satelliteSerial Connector socket on the modem, it could be an RJ-45 or a

standard 9-pin serial socket, it is not used by StarBand®.Skew Antenna dish rotation to adjust polarizationSkyManage Web interface in modem, it provides status and tools for configuring,

testing, and monitoring the received signal.Telemetry SkyManage display of received signal quality and CPU usage, it

can be used to point the antennaStarBand® Satellite Internet Provider using Ku-bandS/N Signal-to-Noise Ratio for satellite signals, in dB, aka SNR

Word Brief Definition


Sync LED on Modem indicating synchronization with the HubTRF Transmit Reject Filter, prevents the energy coming from the

transmitter, from interfering with the received signal that is down converted by the LNB, It can be internal or external, to the LNB

Tx Transmitting, LED on Modem indicating transmit activity from modem to transmitter

Uplink Portion of communications link used to transmit signals from an Earth Terminal (VSAT or Hub) up to a satellite

VSAT Very Small Aperture Terminal

Word Brief Definition


Date post:	18-Mar-2020
Category:	Documents
Upload:	others
View:	5 times
Download:	1 times

M obileI nternetS atellite · 2019-01-18 · ii Table of Contents StarBand Installer Certification...

Documents