CODAR Ocean Sensors SeaSonde User manual

Userʼs Guide for:
SeaSonde®Radial Site
Long Range Transmit Antenna
Installation
CODAR Ocean Sensors, Ltd.
1914 Plymouth St., Mountain View, CA 94043 USA
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.codar.com
email: [e-mail]
Copyright © 2008 CODAR Ocean Sensors, Ltd.
2008-09-05
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Table of Contents
Introduction"3
Preparation"4
Site Planning!4
Inventory!5
Inspection!6
Tuning Coil Jumper Strap!8
Ready for Installation!8
Installation"9
Installing Cable!9
Assembling Top Hat Adapter!10
Assembling Antenna!10
Raising and Securing Antenna!12
Checklists"14
Antenna Parts Checklist!14
Tool Checklist (Tools not supplied.)!16
Drawings"18
Concrete Support Pier!18
Antenna Feed!19
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Introduction
This guide describes how to install a CODAR Long Range SeaSonde®transmit an-
tenna.
When assembled and raised, the long range transmit antenna is approximately 9.5 m
(31.25 ft) tall and weighs approximately 45 kg (100 lb). The basic antenna assembly
consists of two long sections with a tuning coil connecting them. A “top hat” adapter is
mounted at the top of the antenna assembly. Nine ground plane wires, 7 m long, are
connected to the base and form a semicircle on the ground.
Not to scale
DATE: 08/12/08
TITLE: LR Transmit Antenna Specifications
REV.
DWG NO.
SCALE:SHEET
PART NO.
1 OF 1
Drawing by: ZB
N/A
1
N/A
ISSUED
Not to Scale
0
.5 Ft
16.5 Ft
17.25 Ft
31.25 Ft Top Hat
Center load
Base
3Ft
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The following chapters include:
Preparation
Site planning, parts inventory, parts inspection, pre-installation assembly.
Installation
On-site assembly and installation.
Checklists
Parts inventory and tools checklists.
Drawings
Drawings and plans for mounting bases and bolt hole patterns.
Preparation
In this chapter:
•Site Planning
•Inventory
•Inspection
•Tuning Coil Jumper Strap
•Ready for Installation
Site Planning
Summary:
•Plan antenna location with respect to receive antenna and other vertical structures.
•Plan cable routes between SeaSonde transmitter and transmit antenna.
•Plan antenna support.
•Plan to protect against animal damage.
•Plan to protect area around antenna.
The long-range transmit antenna should be located at least 60 m away from the receive
antenna.
The transmit antenna should be at least 60 m away from any structures that contain
metal (including wiring of any sort) and are taller than 12 m, for example, fence posts or
light poles.
The transmit antenna should be at least 25m away from vertical structures that do not
contain metal and are taller than 12 m, such as trees and wooden posts.
If you are unable to locate the transmit antenna as recommended, locate it to maximize
the distance to any vertical structure and minimize the number of vertical structures
within 60 m of the antenna.
Ensure that the cable can reach the transmitter. The standard long-range transmit an-
tenna cable is 75 meters long. Ensure there is enough slack at each end for position ad-
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justments and to ease installation. Account for any other reductions in distance imposed
by the cable route.
Animals (rodents in particular) can gnaw through cables. Plan to avoid this potential
damage. Covering the cable with plastic split loom tubing (1/2 inch nominal size) is an
inexpensive way to protect the cable. Running the cable through conduit is also an op-
tion. Conduit can be buried. Schedule 40 PVC pipe can be used as conduit.
People should not touch the antenna or risk tripping over the wires on the ground that
radiate in a semicircle from the base of the antenna. Consider a non-metallic fence,
markers and/or signage, especially if the site is accessible to the public. A minimum
keep-out area is a 7 m radius circle centered at the antenna.
Plan how to support the antenna. Antenna support depends on the characteristics of the
site. If the siteʼs soil can be excavated, it is common to use a reinforced-concrete in-
ground pier. Plans for such a pier are included in this guide. A drawing of the antenna
feed is also included and shows the mounting bolt hole pattern. For temporary or short-
term installations, the antenna can be bolted to a sturdy plywood base (not supplied),
which sits on the ground, and stabilized with guy ropes. The base should be 0.75 - 1 m
in diameter or square, with four holes drilled in the center and matching the antenna
feed bolt hole pattern.
Decide whether guy ropes will be needed. If the support is very stable (for example, a
concrete pier), guy ropes are not needed. Guy ropes should be made of non-conductive
material. Do not use metal guy wire or cable. For long-term installations, Kevlar rope
with UV-resistant outer braid is recommended. To reduce cost, nylon can be used for
short-term installations. If guy ropes are needed, plan how they will be anchored. Sim-
ple or cork screw stakes are commonly used. Metal stakes can be used. Determine the
required length. Guy ropes and stakes are not provided with the transmit antenna and
must be procured separately.
Inventory
If the installation site is remote, a missing part or tool will delay the installation. Ensure
that you have all the required parts, tools and support equipment before departure.
Checklists are provided in this guide.
Pack a clean work surface in your field kit. A piece of cardboard, paper, or cloth will
work. The surface will be placed under threaded antenna parts to keep them clean. In
addition, many small parts are used to assemble the antenna. The small parts are diffi-
cult to find if dropped in grass or dirt. A surface under the work area makes it easy to
find dropped items.
Include spare fasteners in your field kit, in case any are lost. Spare fasteners must be
made of the material specified in the checklists. In particular, do not replace stainless
steel parts with non-stainless steel.
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Inspection
Summary procedure:
•Inspect physical condition.
•Perform electrical continuity checks.
A damaged or malfunctioning part will delay installation. The following inspections and
tests should be performed prior to departure to a remote installation site.
The transmit cable and corresponding connectors on the antenna and transmitter are
Type N coaxial connectors. Each connector has two conductors, a central pin or socket
and an outer hollow cylinder. The conductors are enclosed by a threaded metal body.
Male Type N Connector
Female Type N Connector
Inspect the physical condition of all electrical connectors.
▢Connector bodies should not be bent or damaged.
▢Connectors should be securely attached to cables.
▢Connector pins, sockets and outer conductors should not be bent or loose.
▢Connector pins and outer conductors should not extend beyond the connector body.
Perform electrical continuity checks with an ohmmeter or multimeter. Remember, zero
or low resistance indicates continuity, the ability to conduct electricity. Infinite or large
resistance indicates no continuity. Some meters have a continuity test mode.
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Continuity checks for the spooled cable are performed easily while the cable is on the
spool.
▢On the spooled transmit cable, measure continuity between the connector center
pins at the two ends of the cable. There should be continuity (very low or zero resis-
tance).
▢On the spooled transmit cable, measure continuity between the connector outer
conductors at the two ends of the cable. There should be continuity.
▢On the spooled transmit cable, measure the continuity between a connector center
pin and the outer conductor of the same connector. There should be no continuity
(very high or infinite resistance). Repeat for the antenna cable connector at the other
end of the cable.
▢A lightning arrester with a Type N female connector is mounted on the spool-shaped
ground-plane feed subassembly, attached to the lower antenna section. Measure the
resistance between the center socket of the connector and the lightning arrester
housing. Be careful. Do not bend or damage the center socket when measuring.
There should be no continuity.
▢There is an exposed metal fitting on the lower antenna section, 0.75 m above the
base. Measure the resistance between the center socket of the lightning arrester
connector and the metal fitting. There should be continuity. (There is an epoxy seal
opposite the metal fitting. Be careful. Do not remove or damage the seal.)
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Tuning Coil Jumper Strap
The tuning coil is shipped with a metal jumper strap installed. If you plan to transmit at a
frequency greater than 4.6 MHz, leave the tuning coil installed.
If you plan to transmit at a frequency less than or equal to 4.6 MHz, the jumper strap
must be removed.
The tuning coil jumper strap is held in place by screws and star washers at its upper
and lower ends. To remove the jumper strap:
▢Loosen, but do not remove, the lower screw (nearest the female end of the tuning
coil).
▢Remove the upper retaining screw (nearest the male end of the tuning coil).
▢Rotate the strap 180 degrees around the lower screw.
▢Replace and tighten the upper screw and star washer. Tighten enough so that the
screw stays in place. Do not overtighten.
▢Tighten the lower screw enough so the strap does not move. Do not overtighten.
Ready for Installation
A crew of at least three strong people is needed to raise the antenna.
Transport all the parts and tools to the installation site.
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Installation
In this chapter:
•Installing Cable
•Assembling Top Hat Adapter
•Assembling Antenna
•Raising and Securing Antenna
Installing Cable
Summary:
•Locate antenna site.
•Unspool and route cable.
Exercise care when installing the cable. Do not sharply bend the cable. (Minimum bend-
ing radius is 4 inches.) Do not exert excessive pulling tension on the cable. (Maximum
pulling tension is 230 lb.) Do not pull on the connectors. Do not damage the connectors.
Do not crush the cable or allow it to kink.
▢Find the desired transmit antenna location. Ensure that the distance between the
SeaSonde electronics and antenna is as planned. Pace off the distance or measure
with a rangefinder or tape.
▢Start at the SeaSonde electronics and ensure the transmit cable can be mated to the
transmitter (or optional LP-100 lightning protection kit, if installed) and is properly
routed.
▢Unspool the transmit cable from the SeaSonde electronics to the antenna site. The
easiest way is to insert a 1 m pipe through the spool and have two people walk the
pipe and spool to the antenna site.
▢Double-check the routing and ensure there is enough slack to mate the connectors
at each end.
▢If needed, install split loom tubing or other protection around the cable to avoid dam-
age by animals.
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Assembling Top Hat Adapter
The top hat adapter is so named because it fits over the top of the antenna. It consists
of a metal sleeve and four stiff wire elements. The wire elements are held in place by a
washer-like retainer and four fasteners. The top hat adapter is secured to the antenna
with set screws.
Summary:
•Mark wire elements for safety.
•Loosen retaining washer screws.
•Insert wire elements.
•Tighten retaining washer screws.
Injury warning: the wire elements may cause injury to eyes or other parts of the body.
Mark the end of each wire, so that it is seen easily. Safety glasses are recommended.
▢Place a piece of adhesive tape on one end of each wire, so that it is seen easily.
▢Using a 9/64 inch hex (Allen) driver or key, loosen the four cap screws that hold the
retaining washer in place at the end of the top hat adapter. Loosen just enough to
slip the wire elements snugly between the retaining washer and one of the grooves
in the top hat adapter.
▢Insert a wire element between the retaining washer and a groove in the top hat
adapter. Repeat for all four wire elements.
▢Tighten the four cap screws on the top hat adapter.
▢Set the top hat adapter aside. It will be installed on the antenna a few steps later.
Assembling Antenna
Summary:
•Arrange antenna sections.
•Lubricate and screw together upper antenna section and tuning coil. Tighten set
screws.
•Lubricate and screw together lower antenna section and tuning coil. TIghten set
screws.
•Install guy rope collar and guy ropes if used.
•Install top hat adapter.
▢Lay out the two antenna sections on the ground and arranged end-to-end for as-
sembly. The tuning coil is installed between the lower and upper antenna sections.
Ensure that the connecting parts remain clean by placing a clean surface (card-
board, paper, a towel or rag, etc.) under them.
▢Ensure that the tuning coil jumper strap is in the correct position. It should be in-
stalled (secured with both screws) when transmitting greater than 4.6 MHz. It should
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