KVH Industries TracVision L3 User manual

Sat el l i t e Tel evi si on
KVH Tr a c Vi s i on
®
L3
owner ’s manual
•InstallationInstructions
•User’sGuide
•TechnicalManual
A Gui de t o Tr a c Vi s i on L3

Congrat ul at i ons!
You have selected one of the most advanced land-mobile satellite
tracking systems available today. KVH®Industries’ TracVision®L3
is designed for use with European and North American DVB-
compatible satellite services as well as DIRECTV®. This manual
provides detailed instructions on the proper installation, use, and
maintenance of your TracVision L3 system.
Throughout this manual, important information is marked for
your attention by these icons:
Direct questions, comments, or suggestions to:
KVH Industries, Inc. KVH Europe A/S
50 Enterprise Center Ved Klaedebo 12
Middletown, RI 02842 USA 2970 Hoersholm Denmark
tel: [phone] tel: [phone]
fax: [phone] fax: [phone]
e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]
internet: http://www.kvh.com internet: http://www.kvh.dk
KVH Part # 54-0157 Rev. C
© 2000, KVH Industries, Inc.

Tra cVi si on ®and KVH®are registered trademarks of
KVH Industries, Inc.
DIRECTV®is an official trademark of DIRECTV, Inc.,
a unit of GM Hughes Electronics.
DISH™Network is an official trademark of
EchoStar Communications Corporation.
ExpressVu is a property of Bell ExpressVu, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Bell Satellite Services.

Ta bl e of Cont e nt s
1Introduction...............................1-1
1.1 Digital Satellite Television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-1
1.2 TracVision L3 System Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-2
1.2.1 TracVision L3 Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3
1.2.2 Integrated Receiver Decoder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-4
1.3 Materials Provided with TracVision L3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-4
1.3.1 Additional Materials required for TracVision L3 Use . . . . . . .1-5
2Installation................................2-1
2.1 Choosing the Best Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-2
2.2 Mounting the Antenna Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-2
2.3 Wiring the TracVision L3 System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-6
2.3.1 Wiring the Antenna Data Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-8
2.3.2 Wiring the Antenna Unit Power Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-9
2.3.3 Connecting to Vehicle Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-10
2.3.4 IRD Ground Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-11
2.3.5 Installing the Switchplate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-11
2.3.6 Connecting the Antenna RF Signal Cable to the IRD . . . .2-12
2.3.6.1 Installing Two IRDs and TVs (North American
Systems Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-13
2.3.6.2 Connecting Three or More IRDs and TVs
(North American Systems Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-13
2.4 Selecting the Active Satellite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-15
2.4.1 Installing Your Selected Satellites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-16
2.4.2 Programming User-defined Satellites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-17
2.5 Setting the Skew Angle (European Systems Only) . . . . . . . . .2-21
2.6 Checking Out the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-22
2.7 Configuring TracVision L3 for Remote
Satellite Dish Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-23
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54-0157 Rev. C

ii
3UsingYourTracVisionL3.......................3-1
3.1 Turning on the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-1
3.2 Changing Channels and Switching to the Second Satellite . . .3-2
3.3 Watching TV on the Move and at Rest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-3
4Troubleshooting.............................4-1
4.1 Causes and Remedies for Common Operational Issues . . . . . .4-1
4.1.1 Blown Fuse or Improper Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-2
4.1.2 Incorrect Satellite Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-2
4.1.3 Satellite Signal Blocked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-2
4.1.4 Dew or Rain Pooling on Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
4.1.5 Outside Satellite Coverage Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
4.1.6 Vehicle Turning During Startup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
4.1.7 Incorrect or Loose RF Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
4.1.8 Using a Passive Multiswitch (North American Systems Only)4-4
4.2 IRD Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-4
4.2.1 IRD Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-4
4.2.2 IRD Faulty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-4
4.3 Antenna Gyro and LNB Faults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-4
4.4 Computer Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-4
4.5 Maintenance Port Parser Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-5
5Maintenance...............................5-1
5.1 Warranty/Service Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-1
5.2 Preventive Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-1
5.3 Replaceable Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-2
5.4 Field Replaceable Unit Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-3
5.4.1 PCB Removal and Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-5
5.4.2 RF Detector/DVB Decoder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-6
5.4.3 Antenna Gyro Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-6
5.4.4 Antenna LNB Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-7
5.5 Preparation for Shipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-8

Appe ndi x A Syst e m Speci f i cat i ons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A- 1
Appe ndi x B Funct i onal Bl ock Di agram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B- 1
Appe ndi x C Swi t chpl at e Templ at e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C- 1
Appe ndi x D Pr edef i ned Sa t el l i t e Conf i gura t i ons . . . . . . . . . D- 1
Appe ndi x E St art up Dat a Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E- 1
Appe ndi x F Ma i nt enance Por t Parser Commands . . . . . . . . . F- 1
F.1 System Co mmands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F-1
F.2 Manual Positioning C ommands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F-2
F.3 Operati onal Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F -4
F.4 Tracking a nd Conical Scan Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F-4
F.5 RF Board Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F-5
F.6 Install ation Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F-6
F.7 Debug Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-8
Li st of Fi gures
Figure 1-1 TracVision L3 System Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-2
Figure 1-2 Primary Components of the TracVision L3 . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3
Figure 2-1 Proper Orientation of the Antenna Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3
Figure 2-2 Elevation Shipping Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3
Figure 2-3 Baseplate Shipping Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3
Figure 2-4 Mounting the Unit on a Curved Surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-4
Figure 2-5 Baseplate Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-4
Figure 2-6 Connectors Facing Rear of Vehicle –
Factory-drilled Drain Hole Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-5
Figure 2-7 Connectors Facing Front of Vehicle –
Recommended Drain Hole Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-5
Figure 2-8 Proper Wire-to-Terminal Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-6
Figure 2-9 Moving the Antenna Reflector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-6
Figure 2-10 Cable Port Assignments (Exterior of Baseplate) . . . . . . . .2-7
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54-0157 Rev. C

Figure 2-11 Cable Overlap within the TracVision L3 Baseplate . . . . . . .2-7
Figure 2-12 Switchplate Panel Cutout Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-8
Figure 2-13 Proper Terminal Strip Wiring Arrangement
– Data Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-8
Figure 2-14 Antenna Data Cable Wiring Arrangement . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-9
Figure 2-15 Proper Terminal Strip Wiring Arrangement
– Power Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-9
Figure 2-16 Power Cable Wiring Arrangement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-10
Figure 2-17 Vehicle Power Wiring Arrangement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-10
Figure 2-18 Mounting the Switchplate Support Frame
and Front Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-11
Figure 2-19 Connecting the RF Cable to TracVision L3 . . . . . . . . . . .2-12
Figure 2-20a-d Attaching the KVH-provided F-connector
to an RF Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-12
Figure 2-21 Installing Three or More IRDs Using an Active
Multiswitch (North American Systems Only) . . . . . . . . . .2-14
Figure 2-22 Skew Adjustment (European Systems Only) . . . . . . . . . .2-21
Figure 2-23 Remote Dish Wiring Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-23
Figure 3-1 Be Aware of Objects that Might Block
the Satellite Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-1
Figure 3-2 Turning on the TracVision L3 Using the Switchplate . . . . .3-1
Figure 5-1 Antenna, PCB, and Rotating Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-3
Figure 5-2 Close-up of Linear Actuator, Pivot Bracket, and Pin . . . . .5-3
Figure 5-3 Antenna Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-4
Figure 5-4 Close-up of RF Detector and PCB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-4
Figure 5-5 PCB and RF Detector Board Connector Locations . . . . . .5-5
Figure 5-6 LNB Skew Angle Setting (European Systems Only) . . . . .5-7
Figure 5-7 Attaching the Shipping Restraints to the
Antenna Baseplate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-8
Figure 5-8 Placing the Elevation Axis Shaft Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-8
Figure 5-9 Securing the Elevation Axis Shaft Restraint . . . . . . . . . . .5-9
Figure 5-10 Repackaging the TracVision L3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-9
iv

Li st of Tabl es
Table 1-1 Ava ila ble Eur o p e an Sa t e l lit e Pa i rs
(European LNB Required) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-1
Table 1-2 Ava ila ble N. Ame r i c a n S ate l l i te Pai r s
(U.S.-style LNB required0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-2
Table 1-3 TracVis i o n L3 Packing Li s t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Table 2-1 Ins t a l lat i o n P roc e s s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-1
Table 2-2 Kit p a ck Co n t e nts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-2
Table 2-3 Ava ila ble Eur o p e an Sa t e l lit e Pa i rs
(European LNB Required) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-15
Table 2-4 Ava ila ble N. Ame r i c a n S ate l l i te Pai r s
(U.S.-style LNB Required) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-15
Table 2-5 Sat e l l ite I n s t all a t i on Nam e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-17
Table 2-6 Defa ult Tra n s pond e r Val u e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 - 1 9
Table 2-7 Sam p l e U ser - d e fin e d S a tell i t e Conf i g uratio n . . . . . . . . 2 - 2 0
Table 4-1 Trou blesh o o t ing M a t r i x . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4- 1
Table 5-1 Fie l d R e pla c e a bl e Uni t s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 - 2
Table A-1 TracVis i o n L3 Sys t e m Spec i f icat i o ns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A -1
Table F-1 Sys t e m C omm a n d s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-1
Table F-2 Manual Pos i t i oni n g C o mman d s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F -2
Table F-3 Ope rat i o nal Co m m ands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F -4
Table F-4 Track ing a n d C o nic a l S c an Co m m a nds . . . . . . . . . . . . .F- 4
Table F-5 RF Bo a r d C omm a n d s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-5
Table F-6 Ins t a l lat i o n C omm a n d s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-7
Table F-7 Debug Comm a n d s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F - 8
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54-0157 Rev. C

1Introduction
1.1 Digital Satellite Television
Your new TracVision L3 satellite antenna is fully compatible with
the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) satellites, which use the
international standard for digital TV transmission, as well as
Digital Satellite Service (DSS) services, such as DIRECTV®. As a
result, you will be able to receive and decode signals from your
chosen satellite services with the proper programming and
hardware (e.g., the Integrated Receiver Decoder [IRD]). Your
TracVision L3 comes with a pre-programmed “satellite library” of
European and North American satellite services. If the satellite
service you wish to receive is not already in the “satellite library,”
you may also add two additional satellites of your choice to the
library.
When configuring the TracVision L3 you may choose a pair of
satellites from the entire library to be active in the system and
with your IRD. Selecting one satellite or the other is as simple as
changing the television channel using the IRD remote control. For
the antenna to track and receive signals from two satellites, they
must be within 10˚ longitude of each other in orbit. As a result,
certain satellites can be paired only with certain other satellites.
Tables 1-1 and 1-2 list the possible satellite pairs that may be
selected in Europe and in North America.
1-1
Introduction
54-0157 Rev. C
As t r a 1
As t r a 2 N
As t r a 2 S
Hi s pa s a t
Hot bi r d
Si r i us
Thor
As t r a 1 As t r a 2 N As t r a 2 S Hi s pa s a t Hot bi r d Si r i us Thor
Ta bl e 1 - 1
Available European Satellite Pairs
(European LNB Required)
Tr a c V i s i o n L 3 ’s d e fa u l t s a t e l l i t e
pairs are:
Europe: Astra 1 & Hotbird
N. America: DSS_101 & DSS_119
Refer to Section 2.4 for instructions
on selecting different satellites.