Rhotheta RT-1000 User manual

Installation Manual
RT-1000
Multichannel

RT-1000 Multichannel
RHOTHETA Page 2 of 18 Installation Manual
Edited by:
RHOTHETA Elektronik GmbH
Kemmelpark
Dr.-Ingeborg-Haeckel-Str. 2
82418 Murnau
Germany
Tel.: [phone] - 0
Fax: [phone] - 15
Internet: www.rhotheta.de
E-Mail: [email protected]
Copyright © RHOTHETA Elektronik GmbH
All rights reserved
-Issue: 2016/01/15 [Rev 1.01]
-Document-ID: 12-9-1-0015-3-5-60
Note
The manufacturer reserve the right to make modifications at any time and without previous
information of the here described product.

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Content
1 System Installation Procedure .......................................................................................4
1.1 Installation of the Antenna Mast .............................................................................................................4
1.2 Antenna installation ................................................................................................................................5
1.3 Antenna Cabinet Installation...................................................................................................................7
1.4 DF Main Unit Installation ........................................................................................................................8
1.5 Start Up the DF Commander Software.................................................................................................11
1.6 Phase Adjustment.................................................................................................................................12
1.7 North Alignment of the Direction Finder Antenna.................................................................................13
1.8 Network Integration...............................................................................................................................14
1.9 Remote PC Installation.........................................................................................................................15
1.10 Integration of UPS ................................................................................................................................15
2 Flight Check...................................................................................................................16
2.1 Determining the Position Using a Theodolite .......................................................................................16
2.2 Determining the Position Using a GPS Receiver.................................................................................16
2.3 Simplified Method.................................................................................................................................17
3 Notes...............................................................................................................................18

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1 System Installation Procedure
The following steps have to be done in sequence to use the direction finder system.
In case of any problems during the installation procedure, do not continue the installation
before the problem is eliminated.
1.1 Installation of the Antenna Mast
If an antenna mast is supplied, start the system installation with the mast construction.
Detailed information described in the Antenna Mast User Manual.
Installation of the Antenna Mast
Step Description
Done
1 Choose the right position for your antenna installation. Good conditions are an open area, a position a few meters above the ground
and several 100 meters away from reflecting obstacles.
2 Mount the antenna mast to the ground
3 Tilting the antenna mast
4 Mount the antenna cabinet to the antenna mast
5 Connect the grounding for lighting protection
If an antenna flange is supplied, start with the installation of the flange. Mount the flange to
the ground or on a shelter, pull the antenna cable thru the flange in the same way as
described for the antenna mast and connect the grounding.
Caution:
During installation, the antenna cable has to be pulled from the cabinet through the protection
tube and the antenna tubes before it will be connected to the antenna. (Round plug does not
fit through the protective tube)

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1.2 Antenna installation
Detailed information is given in the Antenna User Manual and in the Figures below
Installation of the Antenna
Step Description
Done
1 Fit the O-ring on mast
tube
O-ring
2 Pull the antenna cable through the mast tube
3 Connect RF cable to the BNC connector
4 Screw cord grip tight to clamp the RF cable
5 Plug the control cables into the connection board
RF connection
Connection board
Cord grip tight
X22
X19
X15
X17
X13
X21
Connection ground
brown
Connection west signal
orange
Connection east signal
yellow
Connection south signal
green
Connection north signal
black
Connection +15 V voltage
red

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Installation of the Antenna
Step Description
Done
6 Screw antenna head onto mast tube
7 Fit O-ring to lightning conductor rod
8 Screw lightning conductor rod onto
antenna head
9
Fix radiators
•Push clamping nut, clamping cone,
washer and rubber seal onto
radiator
•Push radiator fully into recess for
radiator
•Carefully tighten clamping nuts
10 Erect mast tube (if not already done)

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Installation of the Antenna
Step Description
Done
11 Earth mast tube
12 Align antenna
Point north dipole (marked by red point on radiator housing) northwards
1.3 Antenna Cabinet Installation
If an external lightning protection is supplied, install the antenna cabinet to the antenna mast.
More information is given in the antenna mast user manual.
Installation of the Antenna cabinet
Step Description
Done
1 Mount the antenna cabinet to the antenna mast
2 Route the cables through the waterproof flange
3 Connect the Control cables (given in the cable plan for the antenna cabinet)
4 Connect the RF cables (given in the cable plan for the antenna cabinet)
5 Mount the cable anchorage for the four cables in the antenna cabinet
Caution:
All cables should be installed with protection tubes. It is important that no water will stay in the
protection tubes permanent.

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1.4 DF Main Unit Installation
More information is given in the user manual, General System Description.
Installation of the DF Main Unit
Step Description
Done
1 Install the DF Main Unit cabinet in the shelter. (The unit should not be moved when the direction finder is working.) The flour should be flat and stabile to
handle the weight of the direction finder system.
2 Remove all transport locks
3 Install the additional served component
•UPS

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Installation of the DF Main Unit
Step
Description
Done
4 Connect the installed component described in the connection plan:
•Start with the AC Power-IN and AC-Out of the UPS
(the two cables are fit at the connection panel)
5
Be sure that all components are switched off:
•Main Power Switch (S1, connection panel)
•DF Channels
•RF-Splitter
•DC Power Supply (+5V, -15V, +15V, +15V)
6 Connect the RF cable from the antenna to the connection panel (The cable has to be put through the cable bushing in the bottom of the
cabinet.)
7 Connect the antenna control signals to the connection panel (The cable has to be put through the cable bushing in the bottom of the
cabinet.)
8 Measure the AC Supply voltage 230 V
rms
±10 V
9 Connect the DF Main unit to the AC Power Supply grid. Described in the connection plan.
Attention: 230 V
AC

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Installation of the DF Main Unit
Step Description
Done
10 Switch ON the UPS
The UPS displays “Power ON”
11 Switch ON the Main Power Switch
12
Switch ON the DC power supplies. (from left to right)
•+ 5 V
•- 15 V
•+ 15 V one
•+ 15 V two
The Power-ON LEDs must light up (green and orange)
13 Switch on the RF-Splitter (described in the user manual of the RF-Splitter)
The green Power-ON LED must light up
14
Switch ON the DF Channels successively
If there is a problem in one channel, do not switch on the other channels.
Solve the problem before.
•The 3 Power-ON LEDs must light up green
If a Power-ON LED is Red, control the DC fuses of the DF Channel
If a Power-ON LED do not light up, control the particular Power
supply.
•The Receiver Power LED must light up green.
•Behave the receiver start up sequence described in the DF Channel
user manual. The frequency display started with “88888888”, followed
by the system identification “RT-1000 A” and the actual software
revision.
15 Switch ON the DF Control System, the MOXA NPort device.
The actual IP address should be displayed in the MOXA display.
16 Control the Power On LED of the network switch
17 Control the Power On LED of the DSL Modems
18 Switch on the IPC and the Monitor

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1.5 Start Up the DF Commander Software
The IPC is delivered with a Widows 7 licence. A local user is configured and the DF
Commander software is installed. Detailed information about the software and the
configuration are given in the DF Commander User Manual.
Start Up the DF Commander
Step Description
Done
1 After booting the IPC, start the DF Commander software with the desktop
icon.
2 Configure the Network devices (if supplied) to the local requirements.
Device IP Address
Modem a1
Modem b1
UPS
DF Control System/MOXA
Network Switch
IPC
3 The DF Commander should be licenced and a system should be pre- configured. If Not, follow the description for licencing and system
configuration in the DF Commander Manual.
4 Establish the network connection to the DF Channels
5 After starting up the software, no error or warning notifications should be
present.
6 Configure the DF Commander to your individual requirements
7 Configure the bearing system
8 Set the Administrator password
9 Set the Technician password

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1.6 Phase Adjustment
There are two alternative methods for the phase adjustment. If an antenna model is supplied
use method 1 if not, the second method is necessary. The Phase adjustment must be done
for every DF Channel separately.
Phase Adjustment
Method 1
with Antenna Model
Step
Description
Done
1 Connect the antenna model to the TEST-IN port of the RF-Splitter
2 Feed in a RF-Signal in the ATC band range with a signal level of approx.
-7 dBm at the antenna model RF input
3 The north adjustment on the controller should be set to 0°.
4 Adjust the receiver to the appropriate frequency.
5 Move the antenna signal switch on the antenna model
to the 000° (QDM 180°) position
6 Turn the two rotary switches till the middle of the Phase Adjust LED light up
are is reached. (Detailed description in the DF Channel manual)
Phase Adjustment Method
2
without Antenna Model
Step
Description
Done
1 Position a test transmitter (e.g. walkie-talkie) approx. 100 m away, exactly to the north of the direction finder antenna (dipole north with label pointing
towards the transmitter).
2 The bearing display should show QDM 180° and QDR 0°.
3 The north adjustment on the controller should be set to 0°.
4 Turn the two rotary switches till the middle of the Phase Adjust LED light up
is reached. (Detailed description in the DF Channel manual)
Note:
The transmitter has to be exactly in the north of the Antenna. The bearing display has to show
QDM 180° / QDR 000°. A deviation of more than ±1° will make it impossible to execute the
phase adjustment. The receiving level should be greater > 80%.
Phase Adjustment
Step
Description
Done
1 Do the phase adjustment for every DF Channel described in the DF Channel
user manual.
2 Note the phase adjustment values in connection to the DF Channel numbers
Channel Number Coarse Fine
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

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1.7 North Alignment of the Direction Finder Antenna
Start Up the DF Commander
Step
Description
Done
1
Set up a transmitter at an adequate distance (at least 100 m). From there,
use a compass to determine the direction to the direction finder antenna.
Caution:
When measuring using the compass, ensure that during the measurement
there are no objects (transmitters, cars...) in the vicinity of the compass which
could affect the magnetic field.
2
Activate the transmitter and transmit a continuous signal.
Caution:
When transmitting with a monopole antenna (e.g. a hand held unit), care
must be taken due to undefinable radiation conditions to ensure that the
antenna is as free as possible from disturbance, i.e. vertically installed.
Note:
For hand held radio units it is advisable to hold the unit above your head. In
this case the antenna points vertically upwards
3
Rotate the direction finder antenna in the mast mounting until the controller,
which is set to the transmitter frequency, indicates the QDM value
determined by the compass (set the north adjustment to zero). In this case
correcting the antenna setting by rotating clockwise (viewed from above the
single dipole moves in the north -- east -- south -- west direction) reduces the
indicated QDM value, a counter-clockwise rotation causes an increase.
Note:
The direction finder antenna should be rotated slowly with pauses because a
considerable lag error occurs in the determination in the direction finding unit.
For the final adjustment, the person rotating the antenna must move away
from the antenna after each correction so as not to disturb the near field of
the antenna and therefore influence the direction finding.
Caution:
When carrying out the above measurements there must be no objects
(vehicles, parking aircraft, buildings etc.) in the vicinity of the transmitter or
the direction finder which could disturb the wave propagation.

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1.8 Network Integration
To use a remote control PC, it is necessary to integrate the DF-System into the local network.
RHOTHETA recommended doing this with the local network administrator using the Network
Configuration manual.
Integration in the Loca
l Network
Step Description
Done
1
Connect the supplied Network interface
•LAN
•DSL
•Optical Fibre
2 Configure the Tower IP-Address
3 Set the Network Switch User Name
4 Set the Network Switch PW
5 Configure the Network Switch IP-Address
6
Configure the IP-Addresses of the DSL modems (if supplied)
Modem IP-Address
Modem A2 (Tower)
Modem B2 (Tower)
Caution:
If you change, the DF Control System IP-Address has to be set in the DF Commander in the
IPC in the DF Main Unit.
Caution:
All steps must be done for the components in the DF Main unit and for the equipment next to
the Remote PC.

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1.9 Remote PC Installation
The installation, licencing and configuration of the DF-Commander software for the remote
PC are described in the user manual of the DF Commander.
Installation of the DF Commander on a Remote PC
Step Description
Done
1 Install the DF Commander software
execute the “setup.exe” file
2 Licencing the software
3 Configure the DF Commander software
4 Create a System System Name
5 Create an Setup DF Channels Number of Channels
6 Connect the DF Channels to the DF Control System
Channel Socket (IP::Port)
7 No Error or Warning should be displayed
8 Change the frequency in all Channels
9 Individualization of the Display
10 Set Password for Administrator
11 Set Password for Technician
1.10Integration of UPS
Integrate the UPS in the local network. RHOTHETA recommended doing this with the local
network administrator and the UPS manual.
Integration of the Uninterruptable Power Supply
Step
Description
Done
1 Configure the UPS IP-Address
2 Configure the individual error management

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2 Flight Check
For exact north alignment under operating conditions and for determining the system
accuracy at the actual installation site, a flight check should be carried out.
To do this, a continuous-signal transmitter is fitted in the aircraft, which then performs circular
flights about the site of the direction finder. If the communication system of the aircraft is used
as a transmitter, check beforehand whether this is suitable for continuous operation.
The radius of the circle and the flight speed shall be selected such that the "lag error" effect
when determining the bearing is negligibly low. It must therefore be ensured that the angular
velocity does not exceed 0.3°/s.
In the case of all flight checking measurements, it must be ensured that adequate reception
field strength is present at the site of the direction finder antenna. Because of the quasi-
optical wave propagation characteristic of VHF signals, there must also be a theoretical sight
contact to the transmitter. If the transmitter is masked by hills, mountains, buildings or woods,
the direction finder antenna cannot evaluate the directly transmitted signal, but instead
assesses a signal which reaches the direction finder antenna via reflections. This normally
leads to considerable bearing errors.
The instantaneous position of the aircraft can be determined by tracking with a theodolite or
using a GPS receiver on the aircraft.
2.1 Determining the Position Using a Theodolite
Determining the Position Using a Theodolite
Step
Description
Done
1 Set up the theodolite in the immediate vicinity of the direction finder antenna,
aligned with magnetic north.
2 The calibration aircraft then flies a circular flight path around the direction
finder antenna and transmits a continuous signal.
3 Track the aircraft using a theodolite.
4 If the aircraft flies through a 10° mark, report this from the theodolite to the
controller (e.g. by radio).
5 Record the instantaneous bearing at the controller.
2.2 Determining the Position Using a GPS Receiver
Determining the Position Using a GPS Receiver
Step
Description
Done
1 Store the site coordinates of the direction finder antenna in the GPS receiver.
2 During the circular flight around the direction finder antenna record the QDM
values deter-mined by the GPS receiver
3 Transmit the positions by radio to the direction finder
4 Compared the GPS data with the bearing.

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2.3 Simplified Method
If no theodolite or GPS receiver is available, a simplified measuring procedure must be used
at the actual antenna installation site to precisely north align the system and determine its
accuracy.
Route points:
With this method, the calibration aircraft overflies prominent landmarks (route points) the
position of which has been previously determined from conformal maps (scale approximately
1: 200000). Note that the angular values determined using the map are relative to
geographical north and must there-fore be corrected with the magnetic declination.
As the aircraft overflies the route point this is transmitted to the direction finder. At the
direction finder the instantaneous bearing is recorded and compared with the desired value
from the map. To achieve a constant bearing during the over-flight, the aircraft must fly
radially relative to the direction finder antenna, i.e. must fly either towards the direction finder
antenna or away from it.
Due to the unavoidable errors when overflying, the route points chosen should be at least 10
km from the direction finder antenna (at a distance of 10 km a lateral offset of 175 m, with
regard to the direction finder, when overflying the route point produces an error of 1°).
The PTT button should be pressed and held for at least 10 seconds before and after the over-
flight, to enable the "before" and "after" history of the direction finding to be evaluated

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3 Notes