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Content:
This course covers the core knowledge that all VSAT and small earth station installers need for high-quality, interference-free installations. The student first learns
fundamentals of signals, noise, modulation, antennas, propagation, and link budgets. The key techniques of a high quality installation are then treated in detail, starting with the site survey, continuing with equipment installation and accurate antenna pointing, carrier lineup and cross-pol checks, indoor electronics installation, and IP network configuration concepts. The course concludes with a review of the installation process, troubleshooting tips, and maintenance guidelines.
Review quizzes are given during each lesson and a final test is given at the end of the course.
Audience: All VSAT and earth station installers.
Prerequisites: GVF Installer Level 1 (Introduction to Satcom Technology).
Duration: Approx 180 pages, requiring 15-30 hours study.
Medium: Animated & interactive HTML/Flash, self-paced on-line format.
1. GVF VSAT Training
Certifications; sequence of courses
2. Signals and Noise
Amplitude and frequency review; units you should know; Watts, decibels, and gain; signal power and bandwidth; noise power and bandwidth; C/N and C/No, and Eb/No
3. Antennas
Types and operating principles; gain; patterns; beamwidth and diameter; sidelobes and effects.
4. Propagation
Blockage; free space loss; water loss; rain zones; elevation effects; solar transit outages.
5. Modulation
Analog and digital modulation; BPSK, QPSK, 8PSK, 16QAM; symbol rate and bit rate; forward error correction; bit error rate and packet loss rate; BER and TCP/IP.
6. Satellite Links
Link budget concepts; anatomy of a link budget; fade levels; link margins; availability; fade countermeasures
7. Polarization
Launching linearly polarized waves; matching transmit and receive antenna orientations; cross-polarized signals and XPD; pol frequency re-use and cross-pol transponders; cross-pol interference; circular polarization; pros and cons of LP and CP
8. VSAT equipment
Downconversion and upconversion; VSAT components: LNB, BUC, cables, IDU/modem, feed systems; block diagrams.
9. Site survey and planning
Site survey; etiquette; line of sight; how to find required azimuth and elevation; using a compass and inclinometer; mount types and their applications; checklist.
10. Installing the equipment
Installing the mount; plumbing the mast vertical; pre-setting the antenna
11. Grounding
Lightning strikes; grounding options and rules for VSAT antennas.
12. Antenna az-el pointing
Maximizing link quality and preventing interference; meter types; finding the right satellite; simple peaking; beam balance peaking; simulator exercises.
13. Cross-pol alignment
Preventing cross-pol interference; methods for setting pol angle; manual and automatic cross-pol checks; simulator exercises
14. Carrier lineup and link test
Operator authorizations; carrier lineup and test signals.
15. Data interface concepts
Ethernet; Internet Protocol (IP); configurating gateways, subnets, and netmasks; proxies.
16. Review of the installation process
The key installation steps: site survey, mounting the outdoor equipment, IFL and grounding, dish pointing and cross-pol, indoor eqpt, bringing up the carrier and testing the link, finishing the job.
17. Troubleshooting and maintenance
Common field mistakes; troubleshotting link, network, and interference problems; preventive maintenance.