INTRAC Support for INTELSAT IESS-412 and NORAD ... - Advantech

INTRAC Support for INTELSAT IESS-412 and NORAD* EPHEMERIS DATAIntroductionTo facilitate the tracking of high inclination orbits Intelsat now makes available ephemeris data as 11-parameter elementsets and also provides programs to convert this data into Azimuth and Elevation pointing data. NORAD also makesavailable ephemeris data, in the form of two line orbital element sets, to facilitate the tracking and acquisition of highinclination, low earth orbiting (LEO) and other satellites. The INTRAC algorithm is entirely autonomous and will trackorbits of any inclination with the same high accuracy and robustness. In this respect it does not require any assistancefrom Intelsat IESS-412 or NORAD data. However, this data can be used by INTRAC controllers to provide a rapidgeneration of a full model or to provide a back up program track mode when no beacon signal is available to learn on.This document describes the Intelsat IESS-412 and NORAD facilities provided as standard on all INTRAC controllersexcept the INTRAC-105. The INTRAC controllers also provide the facility to transfer an internally learned orbit via remotecontrol, in Intelsat IESS-412 format, for the purpose of assisting another antenna controller to rapidly learn a satellite orbit.Rapid Full Model GenerationRapid full model generation is an auxiliary function that generates a full INTRAC model from a given Intelsat IESS-412 orNORAD element set. This generation process takes a few minutes. The INTRAC controller automatically transfers toAUTOTRACK and then executes its track algorithm using this model which will be refined by measurement cycles enabling itto retain the INTRAC advantages of correction for wind, station keeping maneuvers, mechanical errors and for the inevitablesmall inaccuracies from the IESS-412 or Norad data. The advantage to be gained from this approach, instead of the normalINTRAC 24-hour learning period, is that immunity to long beacon losses is present immediately.The IESS-412 or Norad 11 parameter ephemeris data, together with geographic position and time data, is entered from thefront panel keypad or via the remote control port. A PC program is available to interface a PC to the remote control port toperform this function. The PC program also uplinks a Learned Transfer Model from the INTRAC controller, in Intelsat IESS-412 format.An Advantech AMT TM Company

INTRAC Support for INTELSAT IESS-412 and NORAD* EPHEMERIS DATAIESS 412 and Norad Internal Program TrackIn situations where there is no beacon signal available to learn from or to refine the model from, the IESS-412 or NORADdata can be used by an auxiliary function program track mode. In this mode the INTRAC uses the IESS-412 or NORADdata to calculate the required pointing information and then uses this to repoint the antenna at the intervals requested inthe REPORT.DAT or NORAD.DAT file.The IESS-412 or NORAD 11 parameter ephemeris data, together with geographic position and time data, is entered fromthe front panel keypad or via the remote control port. A PC program is available to interface a PC to the remote controlport to perform this function.External Program TrackProgram tracking can also be performed using Intelsat IESS-412 or NORAD ephemeris sets by using an external PCcompatible computer. A PC program is available which takes the Intelsat IESS-412 or NORAD data together withgeographic position and outputs regular remote control position commands to an INTRAC via the PC serial port. Thisprogram uses the real time clock in the PC and care must be taken that this is initially set correctly and keeps sufficientlyaccurate time.PC ProgramsA PC program is available to read automatically the Intelsat IESS-412 or NORAD data from a floppy disk and to generatethe entire string of remote control commands required to command an INTRAC-2 or 3 to perform the Rapid full modelgeneration from the Intelsat IESS-412 or NORAD data and begin Auto tracking or to execute the IESS-412 or NORADinternal program track mode. The remote control commands are issued from the COM1: serial port of the PC. As well asthe standard Intelsat data files EPHEM.DAT, REPORT.DAT and STATION.DAT and also NORAD.DAT for NORAD, theprogram also requires another data file named CONFIG.DAT. This file contains at least one integer which determineswhat command strings will be sent.An Advantech AMT TM Company

INTRAC Support for INTELSAT IESS-412 and NORAD* EPHEMERIS DATAFirst Parameter0 Performs the external program track function (IESS-412).1 Downloads the data and commands INTRAC internal program track.2 Downloads the data and commands rapid model generation followed by auto track.3 Simply causes downloading of NORAD data to the INTRAC.4 Performs the external program track function (NORAD).5 Downloads the NORAD data and commands INTRAC internal program track.6 Downloads the NORAD data and commands rapid model generation followed by auto track.7 Uploads the Transfer Model from the INTRAC in Intelsat IESS-412 format to the PC disk file TRANSFER.DAT8 MANUAL Az/El Demand (reads MANUAL.DAT)9 POLAR Polarization Demand (reads POLAR.DAT)Second Parameter:0 Az/El Mount1 Polar MountThird Parameter:a. Keyboard Command Controlb. Visual Basic Control4th Parameter:0 No IBRL Frequency Control1 IBRL Frequency Control5th Parameter:0 COMPORT11 COMPORT26th Parameter:0 Allowed to Set INTRAC Time1 Never Sets INTRAC TimeA copy of this program is available free of charge from SPL-ACT wireless. Please contact us for further information.SPL-ACT wireless Europe Ltdoperates an ISO9001 compliantQuality Management System, whichis approved bySPL-ACT wireless reserves the right toalter this specification without noticeAn Advantech AMT TM Company