As the follow-on course to GVF510 (Core Skills) and GVF520 (Sactom Fundamentals theory), GVF521 covers the range of practical tips, techniques, and knowledge that field technicians and installers need to perform a high-quality, reliable VSAT installation job.

Certification: This course is one of a series required for the GVF Advanced VSAT Installer and all other GVF certifications.

Prerequisites:Course GVF510 and GVF520.

Duration: Approx 300 pages, requiring 5-15 hours study.

Delivery: Animated & interactive HTML/Flash, self-paced, on-line format. Requires Internet access while studying the course material. High speed access is preferred but is NOT required. Student's computer must be capabable of running the Adobe Flash player, version 10.

Contents:
1. Learning system orientation.
2. Course introduction, including review of GVF Certification requirements.
3. Site survey and planning, including compass skills with interactive exercises, clearance calculations, antenna mounts, and safety issues.
4. IFL planning, with review of dB theory, cable loss calculations, DC loop resistance, voltage drop, return loss, and VSWR.
5. Tools and test equipment, including a real-time interactive spectrum analyzer simulator and tutorial on measurement of C/N.
6. Outdoor equipment assembly, including waveguide flange identification and mating, OMT port identification, and impact of antenna assembly errors.
7. IFL installation, covering building entry points, cable dressing, and review of crimp and compression connector attachment.
8. Grounding, including lightning discharge concepts, power grounding, and grounding techniques.
9. Peak and pol review, with a review of the accurate antenna pointing and cross pol alignment methods covered in GVF510 and interactive 3-D simulator exercises.
10. Carrier lineup and link test, reviewing mandatory and optional tests required before activating a VSAT for transmit.
11. Data networking, including Ethernet, IP addressing, routing, DHCP, DNS, NAT and the ping and tracert tools.
12. Safety, covering potential hazards to the technician and the public, proper equipment, and technique.
13. Troubleshooting and maintenance, including common and unusual problems, fade margin and sidelobe checks, interference, and preventive maintenance.
14. Finishing the job, covering review, pictures, and cleanup.

Learning Objectives: a. Understand typical installation instructions and specifications b. Describe practical configurations for VSAT indoor and outdoor hardware c. Proper site selection and cable routing choices d. Describe cable resistance & calculate DC voltage drops e. Define splitter RF losses and calculate IF level changes through cables and splitters f. Describe the proper mounting of VSAT antennas g. Identify proper connector and cable entry waterproofing techniques h. List the proper techniques and etiquette for activating a VSAT on a satellite i. List the required tools for VSAT installation and describe their proper use j. List the test equipment used for VSAT installation (VOM, signal meter, spectrum analyzer) and describe its proper use. k. Describe how to a field technician should properly interface with a customer l. Troubleshoot basic IP networking problems using ping and tracert. m. Demonstrate correct technique for accurately pointing a VSAT antenna. n. Demonstrate correct technique for accurately aligning polarization in a VSAT antenna. o. Describe the proper installation of indoor equipment p. Describe proper grounding technique for VSATs. q. List the key safety issues for VSAT field technicians r. Describe troubleshooting methods for VSAT links s. List the main preventive maintenance tasks for a VSAT.