Research Concepts RC1500 - Manual (Page 22)

Antenna Setup
RC1500B Quick Start Guide 22
Adjusting the East- West Bearing Angle/Varying Antenna Declination
Angle via the Actuator
13. Locate the inclined orbit satellite by adjusting the East – West bearing angle and by
varying the antenna Declination angle via the actuator (see the Polar Mount diagram
earlier in this document). On the Patriot 1.2 and 1.8 meter single axis tracking mount
this is accomplished by loosening the mount clamp that secures the mount to the
vertical pipe and rotating the mount in small increments. Small increments will result in
hitting the arc without over-shooting. After each small rotation, adjust the Declination
angle via the RC1500 looking for a signal. If no signal is found move the Declination
angle back to the original count value on the RC1500 and rotate the mount clamp
another small increment and jog the Declination angle again.
Once the satellite is located, without moving the pole mount, tighten down the mount
clamp bolts. Be sure to tighten the bolts securely because a strong wind can move the
mount around on the pole.
Geostationary satellites in the vicinity of the inclined orbit satellite that the mount was
setup for should be found at or near the actuator position found in step 11, the
Base_Elevation ACU Position Count.
The declination actuator has an 11 count per degree characteristic, i.e. if the declination
actuator is positioned 11 position counts above the Base_Elevation ACU Position Count
the antenna is pointing 1 degree Above the Geostationary Arc when the East – West
Bearing angle is adjusted so that the antenna is pointing at or near the inclined orbit
satellite
Figure 23 – Loosen Mount Clamp Bolts to Adjust East-West Bearing Angle