Description
The used Vertex RCI RC3000 Antenna Controller that we own was designed to work with a Vertex 2.4M truck mounted antenna. The RC3000 allows even non-technical personnel to automatically locate and position a mobile antenna within minutes from power up.
The controller works as a satellite locator, but then once locked onto the satellite, the RC3000 has inclined orbit tracking capability.
This controller was designed by RCI for Vertex RSI to run a military MVO vehicle mount 2.4m antenna system.
The RC3000 is designed for use on mobile satellite uplink vehicles. The RC3000 combines the satellite location and antenna control capabilities of the RC8097 Satellite Locator with the inclined orbit satellite tracking and serial communications capabilities of the RC2000C. The RC3000 supports optional interfaces to an electronic compass and a GPS receiver.
The RC3000 antenna controller is designed for use with elevation over azimuth antennas on mobile
satellite uplink vehicles. The RC3000 assists both the technically-oriented and the non-technical operator
of a mobile satellite antenna system by automating the process of locating and locking on to a particular
satellite. This process can be time-consuming due to several factors. For each shoot, the antenna may
be located in a different location, with its own local magnetic variation, and oriented in a different
direction. Since the beamwidth of the antenna is extremely narrow, the elevation and azimuth pointing
angles require a significant degree of accuracy to even be in the neighborhood of the satellite.
The design and function of the RC3000 is derived from two other proven antenna controllers from
Research Concepts Inc.: the RC8097 satellite locator and the RC2000C tracking antenna controller.
This pedigree allows the RC3000 to automate all operational steps within one piece of equipment. First,
a microcontroller based calculator function provides an accurate pointing solution through a collection of
sensor data. The RC3000 then uses the data from the sensors to accurately steer the antenna to the
calculated azimuth and elevation angles. The RC3000 also optionally automates the function of tracking
inclined orbit satellites.
