Software Design of Mobile Antenna for Auto Satellite Tracking Using Modem Correction and Elevation Azimuth Method

Authors

Djamhari Sirat, Departemen Elektro, Fakultas Teknik, Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia
Muhamad Asvial, Departemen Elektro, Fakultas Teknik, Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424, IndonesiaFollow
Arman Djohan Diponegoro, Departemen Elektro, Fakultas Teknik, Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia
Himawan Sidharta, Departemen Elektro, Fakultas Teknik, Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia

Abstract

Software Design of Mobile Antenna for Auto Satellite Tracking Using Modem Correction and Elevation Azimuth Method. Pointing accuracy is important in satellite communication. Because the satellite’s distance to the surface of the earth's satellite is so huge, 1 degree of pointing error will make the antenna unable to send data to satellites. To overcome this, the auto-tracking satellite controller is made. This system uses a microcontroller as the controller, with the GPS as the location indicator of the antenna, a digital compass as the beginning of antenna pointing direction, a rotary encoder as azimuth and elevation censor, and a modem to see Eb/No signal. The microcontroller uses serial communication to read the input. Thus, the programming should be focused on the Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) and serial communication software UART. This controller has 2 phases in the process of tracking satellites. The early stage is the elevation-azimuth method, in which with input from the GPS and digital compass, the position of satellites (both coordinates and height) is stored in the microcontroller. The controller will measure the elevation and azimuth angle, then it will move the antenna according to the antenna azimuth and elevation angle. The next stage is correction modem, in which the controller only uses the modem as the input, and antenna movement is set up to obtain the largest value of Eb/No signal. The results of the controller operation show that there is a change in the value of the original input level from -81.7 dB to -30.2 dB with end of Eb/No value reaching 5.7 dB.

Bahasa Abstract

Keakuratan pointing merupakan hal penting dalam komunikasi satelit. Akibat jarak satelit dengan permukaan bumi yang sedemikian jauh, maka selisih pointing 1 derajat dapat menyebabkan antena tidak dapat mengirimkan data ke satelit. Untuk mengatasi hal ini dibuatlah kontroler auto-tracking satelit. Sistem ini menggunakan mikrokontroler sebagai pengontrol, global positioning system (GPS) sebagai input lokasi dari antena, digital compass sebagai input arah pointing awal antena, rotari enkoder sebagai sensor pergerakkan azimut dan elevasi, serta modem untuk melihat besar Eb/No sinyal. Kontroler ini menggunakan dua tahapan dalam proses tracking satelit. Tahapan awal ialah metode elevasi-azimut dengan menggunakan masukkan dari GPS, digital compass, serta posisi satelit (baik koordinat, maupun ketinggiannya) yang tersimpan dalam mikrokontroler. Kontroler menghitung besar sudut azimut dan elevasi antena terhadap satelit, kemudian menggerakkan antena sesuai dengan sudut azimut dan elevasinya. Tahapan selanjutnya ialah koreksi modem dimana pada tahapan ini hanya masukan modem yang digunakan (keempat masukan lain diabaikan), dan pergerakkan antena diatur hingga didapat nilai Eb/No sinyal yang terbesar. Berdasarkan hasil pengoperasian kontroler, terjadi perubahan nilai pada input level dari semula -81,7 dB menjadi -30,2 dB dengan nilai Eb/No akhir sebesar 5,7 dB.

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Recommended Citation

Sirat, Djamhari; Asvial, Muhamad; Diponegoro, Arman Djohan; and Sidharta, Himawan (2010) "Software Design of Mobile Antenna for Auto Satellite Tracking Using Modem Correction and Elevation Azimuth Method," Makara Journal of Technology: Vol. 14: Iss. 1, Article 3.
DOI: 10.7454/mst.v14i1.444
Available at: https://scholarhub.ui.ac.id/mjt/vol14/iss1/3