Sea Tel 6012-71 C-BAND User manual

Sea Tel, Inc.
4030 Nelson Avenue
Concord, CA 94520
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Web: http://www.cobham.com/seatel
Sea Tel Europe
Unit 1, Orion Industrial Centre
Wide Lane, Swaythling
Southampton, UK S0 18 2HJ
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Web: http://www.cobham.com/seatel
Sea Tel Inc is also doing business as Cobham Antenna Systems
May 3, 2013 Document. No. 139107 Revision A
INSTALLATION MANUAL
FOR SEA TEL 6012-71 C-BAND
BROADBAND-AT-SEA VSAT ANTENNA SYSTEM

ii
These commodities, technology or software were exported from the United
States in accordance with the Export Administration Regulations. Diversion
contrary to U.S. law is prohibited.
Sea Tel Marine Stabilized Antenna systems are manufactured in the United
States of America.
Sea Tel is an ISO 9001:2008 registered company.
Certificate Number 13690 issued March 14, 2011.
R&TTE
CE
The Series 12 Maritime Satellite Earth Station complies with the requirements of directive
1999/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 1999 on Radio
equipment and Telecommunication Terminal Equipment. A copy of the R&TTE Declaration of
Conformity for this equipment is contained in this manual.
This Sea Tel C Band antenna will meet the spectral density, stabilization accuracy and, when properly connected
to the modem, the automatic cessation of transmission requirements of the 2005 version of FCC 47 C.F.R. §
25.221. Please refer to the declaration included in this manual.
Copyright Notice
Copyright © 2013 Sea Tel Inc All Rights Reserved. The information contained in this document is proprietary to Sea Tel,
Inc.. This document may not be reproduced or distributed in any form without prior written consent of Sea Tel, Inc. The
information in this document is subject to change without notice. Sea Tel Inc, is also doing business as Cobham Antenna
Systems.
This document has been registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.
Revision History
REV ECO# Date Description By
A N/A May 3, 2013 Production Release. MDN

Document Number 128482 Revision D
Sea Tel Inc.
4030 Nelson Ave., Concord
California, 94520, USA
T: [phone]
F: [phone]
R&TTE Declaration of Conformity
Sea Tel Inc. declares under our sole responsibility that the products identified below are in conformity
with the requirements of:
DIRECTIVE 1999/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 1999 on Radio
equipment and Telecommunication Terminal Equipment and the mutual recognition of their
conformity.
Product Names: 9797 C Band Tx/Rx Maritime Satellite Earth Stations.
9711 C Band Tx/Rx Maritime Satellite Earth Stations.
6006 C Band Tx/Rx Maritime satellite Earth Stations.
6009 C Band Tx/Rx Maritime satellite Earth Stations.
6012 C Band Tx/Rx Maritime satellite Earth Stations.
The products have been assessed to Conformity Procedures, Annex IV, of the above Directive by
application of the following standard(s):
EMC:
EMC standard for Radio Equipment (Maritime) ETSI EN 301 843-1 V1.4.1 (2004-06)
EMC standard for Radio Equipment (Common) ETSI EN 301 489-1 V1.4.1 (2002-08)
EMC standard for Radio Equipment (General) ETSI EN 300 339 (1998-03)
Marine Navigational and Radio Communications
Equipment –General Requirements: IEC EN 60945:1997
Satellite Earth Stations and System (SES):
Harmonized EN for Very Small Apperature
Terminals (VSAT): ETSI EN 301 443-1 V1.3.1 (2006-02)
Harmonized EN for satellite Earth Stations
on board Vessels (ESVs) ETSI EN 301 447 V1.1.1 (2007-08)
Safety:
Safety of information technology equipment: IEC EN 60950-1:2001 (1st Edition)
Certificates of Assessment were completed and are on file at NEMKO USA Inc, San Diego, CA
Sea Tel, Inc
Concord, CA
Peter Blaney, Chief Engineer Date

Document Number 130449 Revision F
Sea Tel Inc.
4030 Nelson Ave., Concord
California, 94520, USA
T: [phone]
F: [phone]
FCC Declaration of Conformity
1. Sea Tel, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures and services marine stabilized antenna systems for
satellite communication at sea. These products are in turn used by our customers as part of their C-
band Earth Station on Vessels (ESV) networks.
2. FCC regulation 47 C.F.R. § 25.221 defines the provisions for blanket licensing of ESV antennas
operating in the C Band. This declaration covers the requirements for meeting § 25.221 (a)(1) by the
demonstrations outlined in paragraphs (b)(1)(i) and (b)(1)(iii). The requirements for meeting §
25.221 (a)(3)-(a)(7) are left to the applicant. The paragraph numbers in this declaration refer to the
2009 version of FCC 47 C.F.R. § 25.221.
3. Sea Tel hereby declares that the antennas listed below will meet the off-axis EIRP spectral density
requirements of § 25.221 (a)(1)(i) with and N value of 1, when the following Input Power spectral
density limitations are met:
1.5 Meter C Band, Models 6006, 6009, and 6012 are limited to -10 dBW/4kHz
2.4 Meter C Band, Models 9797, 9707 and 9711 are limited to -7 dBW/4kHz
4. Sea Tel hereby declares that the antennas referenced in paragraph 3 above, will maintain a
stabilization pointing accuracy of better than 0.2 degrees under specified ship motion conditions,
thus meeting the requirements of § 25.221 (a)(1)(ii)(A).
5. Sea Tel hereby declares that the antennas referenced in paragraph 3 above, will automatically cease
transmission within 100 milliseconds if the pointing error should exceed 0.5 degrees and will not
resume transmission until the error drops below 0.2 degrees, thus meeting the requirements of §
25.221 (a)(1)(iii).
6. Sea Tel maintains all relevant test data, which is available upon request, to verify these declarations.
4/16/2013
Peter Blaney, Chief Engineer Date
Cobham – SATCOM
Sea Tel Products.

Table of Contents 6012-71 Installation Manual
v
1. SERIES 12 KU-BAND SYSTEM CONFIGURATION(S)...........................................................................................................1-1
1.1. SYSTEM CABLES .............................................................................................................................................................................................1-1
1.2. OTHER INPUTS TO THE SYSTEM..................................................................................................................................................................1-1
1.3. SYSTEM COMPONENTS ................................................................................................................................................................................. 1-1
1.4. OPEN ANTENNA-MODEM INTERFACE PROTOCOL (OPENAMIP™) SPECIFICATION:........................................................................ 1-2
1.4.1. Overview: ........................................................................................................................................................................................1-2
1.4.2. Interface requirements:.........................................................................................................................................................1-2
1.4.3. Utilized OpenAMIPTM Commands: ...................................................................................................................................1-3
2. SITE SURVEY..................................................................................................................................................................................................2-1
2.1. SITE SELECTION ABOARD THE SHIP .......................................................................................................................................................... 2-1
2.2. ANTENNA SHADOWING (BLOCKAGE)AND RF INTERFERENCE .............................................................................................................. 2-1
2.3. MOUNTING FOUNDATION ........................................................................................................................................................................... 2-2
2.3.1. Mounting on Deck or Deckhouse......................................................................................................................................2-2
2.3.2. ADE Mounting Considerations...........................................................................................................................................2-2
2.3.3. Sizing of the support pedestal............................................................................................................................................2-2
2.4. MOUNTING HEIGHT......................................................................................................................................................................................2-3
2.5. MAST CONFIGURATIONS .............................................................................................................................................................................2-3
2.5.1. Vertical Masts ..............................................................................................................................................................................2-4
2.5.2. Raked Masts..................................................................................................................................................................................2-4
2.5.3. Girder Masts .................................................................................................................................................................................2-4
2.5.4. Truss Mast .....................................................................................................................................................................................2-5
2.6. SAFE ACCESS TO THE ADE.......................................................................................................................................................................... 2-5
2.7. BELOW DECKS EQUIPMENT LOCATION ..................................................................................................................................................... 2-5
2.8. CABLES.............................................................................................................................................................................................................2-5
2.8.1. ADE/BDE Coaxial Cables........................................................................................................................................................2-6
2.8.2. Antenna Power Cable ..............................................................................................................................................................2-6
2.8.3. Air Conditioner Power Cable ...............................................................................................................................................2-6
2.8.4. ACU Power Cable/Outlet........................................................................................................................................................2-6
2.8.5. Gyro Compass Cable................................................................................................................................................................2-6
2.9. GROUNDING.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2-7
3. INSTALLATION.............................................................................................................................................................................................3-1
3.1. UNPACKING AND INSPECTION .................................................................................................................................................................... 3-1
3.2. ASSEMBLY NOTES AND WARNINGS ........................................................................................................................................................... 3-1
3.3. INSTALLING THE ADE...................................................................................................................................................................................3-2
3.3.1. Preparing and Installing the Single Piece 81” Radome Assembly...................................................................3-2
3.4. GROUNDING THE PEDESTAL......................................................................................................................................................................... 3-3
3.5. REMOVING THE SHIPPING/STOW RESTRAINTS PRIOR TO POWER-UP.............................................................................................. 3-4
3.5.1. Removing the AZ Shipping/Stow Restraint..................................................................................................................3-4
3.5.2. Removing the EL Shipping/Stow Restraint ...................................................................................................................3-5
3.5.3. Removing the CL Shipping/Stow Restraint...................................................................................................................3-7
3.6. INSTALLING THE BELOW DECKS EQUIPMENT........................................................................................................................................... 3-7
3.6.1. General Cautions & Warnings .............................................................................................................................................3-7
3.7. CONNECTING THE BELOW DECKS EQUIPMENT........................................................................................................................................ 3-8
3.7.1. Connecting the ADE AC Power Cable.............................................................................................................................3-8
3.7.2. Connecting the BDE AC Power Cables...........................................................................................................................3-8
3.7.3. Media Xchange Point™ (MXP) Connections ................................................................................................................3-8
3.7.4. Other BDE connections..........................................................................................................................................................3-9
3.8. FINAL CHECKS ................................................................................................................................................................................................3-9

6012-71 Installation Manual Table of Contents
vi
3.8.1. Visual/Electrical inspection..................................................................................................................................................3-9
3.8.2. Electrical - Double check wiring connections............................................................................................................3-9
3.9. SETUP -MEDIA XCHANGE POINT™(MXP) ............................................................................................................................................3-9
4. CONFIGURING A COMPUTER FOR THE MXP.......................................................................................................................... 4-1
5. SETUP – SHIP’S GYRO COMPASS.....................................................................................................................................................5-1
5.1. SETTING THE GYRO TYPE..............................................................................................................................................................................5-1
5.2. IF THERE IS NO SHIPS GYRO COMPASS.....................................................................................................................................................5-2
6. SETUP – SATELLITE CONFIGURATION.......................................................................................................................................6-1
7. SETUP – HOME FLAG................................................................................................................................................................................7-1
7.1. YOU FOUND A LARGE AZ TRIM VALUE:...................................................................................................................................................7-1
7.1.1. You Observe “Home” Pointing is LEFT of the Bow-line:.........................................................................................7-2
7.1.2. You Observe “Home” Pointing is RIGHT of the Bow-line:.....................................................................................7-2
7.1.3. Entering a large value as Home Flag ..............................................................................................................................7-3
7.1.1. Entering a small value as AZ TRIM..................................................................................................................................7-4
8. SETUP – BLOCKAGE ZONES ................................................................................................................................................................. 8-1
9. SETUP – CALIBRATING TARGETING ............................................................................................................................................9-1
9.1. AUTO TRIM .................................................................................................................................................................................................9-1
9.2. MANUALLY CALIBRATING TARGETING ......................................................................................................................................................9-3
10. QUICK START OPERATION............................................................................................................................................................... 10-1
10.1. IF SATELLITE SIGNAL IS FOUND AND NETWORK LOCK IS ACHIEVED:................................................................................................ 10-1
10.2. IF NO SIGNAL IS FOUND: ............................................................................................................................................................................10-1
10.3. IF SATELLITE SIGNAL IS FOUND BUT NETWORK LOCK IS NOT ACHIEVED:........................................................................................10-3
10.4. TO TARGET A DIFFERENT SATELLITE........................................................................................................................................................10-4
11. OPTIMIZING CROSS-POL ISOLATION...................................................................................................................................... 11-1
11.1. OPTIMIZING CROSS-POL ISOLATION ......................................................................................................................................................11-1
12. SERIES 6012-71 C-BAND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ........................................................................................... 12-1
12.1. 6012-71 SPECIFICATIONS......................................................................................................................................................................12-1
12.2. CABLES .......................................................................................................................................................................................................12-10
12.2.1. Antenna L-Band IF Coax Cables (Customer Furnished)..................................................................................12-10
13. DRAWINGS...................................................................................................................................................................................................13-1
13.1. 6012-71 C-BAND MODEL SPECIFIC DRAWINGS ..............................................................................................................................13-1

Series 12 Ku-Band System Configuration(s) 6012-71 Installation Manual
1-1
1. Series 12 Ku-Band System Configuration(s)
The Series 12 Ku-Band Stabilized Antenna system is to be used for Transmit/Receive (TX/RX) satellite communications. It is
comprised of two major groups of equipment: the Above Decks Equipment (ADE) and the Below Decks Equipment (BDE). There
will also be interconnecting cables between the ADE & BDE and cables to provide other inputs to the system.
It is initially equipped for Ku-Band operation; however, an optional Ka-Band upgrade kit is available for when the Ka-Band
services are available.
1.1. System Cables
AC power and coaxial cables are discussed in a separate chapter.
1.2. Other Inputs to the System
Multi-conductor cables from Ship’s Gyro Compass, GPS, phone, fax and computer equipment may be connected in the
system.
1.3. System Components
This C-Band TXRX system consists of two major groups of equipment: an above-decks group and a below-decks group.
Each group is comprised of, but is not limited to, the items listed below. All equipment comprising the Above Decks is
incorporated inside the radome assembly and is integrated into a single operational entity. For inputs, this system
requires only an unobstructed line-of-sight view to the satellite, Gyro Compass input and AC electrical power.
For more information about these components, refer to the Basic System Information section of this manual.
A. Above-Decks Equipment (ADE) Group
1. Stabilized antenna pedestal
2. Antenna Reflector
3. Feed Assembly with LNB(s)
4. C-Band Solid State Block Up-Converter (SSPBUC)
5. Radome Assembly
B. Below-Decks Equipment Group
1. Antenna Control Unit
2. Splitter with desired number of outputs (one output to the ACU and one output to the Satellite Modem are
required).
3. Customer Furnished Equipment - Satellite Modem and other below decks equipment required for the desired
communications purposes (including LAN and VOIP equipment). Necessary Ethernet and telephone cables

6012-71 Installation Manual Series 12 Ku-Band System Configuration(s)
1-2
1.4. Open Antenna-Modem Interface Protocol (OpenAMIP™) Specification:
1.4.1.
OpenAMIPTM, an ASCII message based protocol invented and Trademarked by iDirect, is a specification for
the interchange of information between an antenna controller and a satellite modem. This protocol allows
the satellite modem to command the MXP (via TCP port 2002) to seek a particular satellite and allows
exchange of information necessary to permit the modem to initiate and maintain communication via the
antenna and the satellite. In general, OpenAMIPTM is ONLY intended to permit a modem and the MXP to
perform synchronized automatic beam switching when using an iDirect Network. It is
Overview:
NOT
1.4.2.
a status logging
system or a diagnostic system. In addition, OpenAMIPTM is intended for a typical installation whereby a
specific satellite modem and antenna system is properly configured to work together. The protocol does not
make specific provisions for auto-discovery or parameter negotiation. It is still the responsibility of the
installer to ensure that the parameters of both the satellite modem (proper option files) and the MXP/ICU
(setup parameters) are compatible for the intended satellite(s).
1.4.2.1. Hardware
Interface requirements:
Sea Tel Media Xchange Point (MXP)
Any Satellite modem manufacturer that is compatible with OpenAMIPTM
CAT5 Patch cable
1.4.2.2. Software
Sea Tel MXP software version (latest).

Series 12 Ku-Band System Configuration(s) 6012-71 Installation Manual
1-3
1.4.3.
1.4.3.1. Antenna Commands:
Utilized OpenAMIPTM Commands:
Command Description Example
S f1 f2 f3 Satellite Longitude, 3 parameters:
Degrees E/W (-value equals West), Latitude Variance (Inclined
Orbit), Sat Skew Offset
“S -20.1 1.0 3.5”
P c1 c2 Polarization, 2 parameters:
H,V,L,, or R
“P L R”
H f1 f2 Tracking Frequency: 2 Parameters:
Center Frequency and Bandwidth in MHz
“H 1100.500 0.256”
B f1 f2 Down Conversion Offset: 2 parameters:
LNB (Receive) Local Oscillator and BUC (TX) L.O.
“B 10750”
F Find,
Target satellite using existing S, P,R, and H Parameters
A i Set keep alive in seconds (0 = off) “A 5”
L b1 b2 Modem Lock and free to transmit. 2 parameters:
b1 indicates Rx lock and b2 (not utilized) enables/disables Tx
Mute to BUC
“L 1 1”
W i GPS Update:
Sets GPS Update period in seconds (0 = Off)
“W 300”
I s1 s2 Set modem vendor (s1) and device (s2) 2 parameters: “I iDirect 5100”
1.4.3.2. Modem Commands:
Command Description Example
a i Set keep alive in seconds (0 = off) “a 5”
i s1 s2 Set Antenna Vendor (s1) and device (s2) 2 parameters: “i Sea Tel DAC-2202”
s b1 b2 Antenna Status: 2 parameters:
b1 is functional status and b2 is Tx allowed
“s 1 1”
w b1 f1 f2 t1 Set GPS Position: 4 parameters:
b1 is validity flag, f1 is latitude, f2 is longitude, and t1 is
timestamp
“w 1 38.222 122.123
0”

6012-71 Installation Manual Series 12 Ku-Band System Configuration(s)
1-4
This Page Intentionally Left Blank

Site Survey 6012-71 Installation Manual
2-1
2. Site Survey
There are three objective of the site survey. The first is to find the best place to mount the antenna and the BDE. The second is
to identify the length and routing of the cables and any other items or materials that are required to install the system. The third
is to identify any other issues that must be resolved before or during the installation.
2.1. Site Selection Aboard The Ship
The radome assembly should be installed at a location aboard ship where:
•The antenna has a clear line-of-sight to view as much of the sky (horizon to zenith at all bearings) as is
practical.
•X-Band (3cm) Navigational Radars:
•The ADE should be mounted more than 0.6 meters/2 feet from 2kW (24 km) radars
•The ADE should be mounted more than 2 meters/8 feet from 10kW (72 km) radars
•The ADE should be mounted more than 4 meters/12 feet from 160kW (250km) radars
•S-Band (10cm) Navigational Radars:
•If the ADE is/has C-Band it should be mounted more than 4 meters/12 feet from the S-band Radar.
•The ADE should not be mounted on the same plane as the ship's radar, so that it is not directly in the radar
beam path.
•The ADE should be mounted more than 2.5 meters/8 feet from any high power MF/HF antennas (<400W).
•The ADE should be mounted more than 4 meters/12 feet from any high power MF/HF antennas (1000W).
•The ADE should also be mounted more than 4 meters/12 feet from any short range (VHF/UHF) antennae.
•The ADE should be mounted more than 2.5 meters/8 feet away from any L-band satellite antenna.
•The ADE should be mounted more than 3 meters/10 feet away from any magnetic compass installations.
•The ADE should be mounted more than 2.5 meters/8 feet away from any GPS receiver antennae.
•Another consideration for any satellite antenna mounting is multi-path signals (reflection of the satellite
signal off of nearby surfaces arriving out of phase with the direct signal from the satellite) to the antenna.
This is particularly a problem for the onboard GPS, and/or the GPS based satellite compass.
•The ADE and the BDE should be positioned as close to one another as possible. This is necessary to reduce
the losses associated with long cable runs.
•This mounting platform must also be robust enough to withstand the forces exerted by full rated wind load
on the radome.
•The mounting location is robust enough that it will not flex or sway in ships motion and be sufficiently well
re-enforced to prevent flex and vibration forces from being exerted on the antenna and radome.
•If the radome is to be mounted on a raised pedestal, it MUST have adequate size, wall thickness and gussets
to prevent flexing or swaying in ships motion. In simple terms it must be robust.
If these conditions cannot be entirely satisfied, the site selection will inevitably be a “best” compromise between the
various considerations.
2.2. Antenna Shadowing (Blockage) and RF Interference
At the transmission frequencies of C and Ku band satellite antenna systems, any substantial structures in the way of
the beam path will cause significant degradation of the signal. Care should be taken to locate the ADE so that it has
direct line-of-sight with the satellite without any structures in the beam path through the full 360 degree ships turn.
Wire rope stays, lifelines, small diameter handrails and other accessories may pass through the beam path in limited
numbers; however, even these relatively insignificant shadows can produce measurable signal loss at these
frequencies.

6012-71 Installation Manual Site Survey
2-2
2.3. Mounting Foundation
2.3.1.
While mounting the ADE on a mast is a common solution to elevate the ADE far enough above the various
obstructions which create signal blockages, sometimes the best mounting position is on a deck or deckhouse
top. These installations are inherently stiffer than a mast installation, if for no other reason than the design of
the deck/deckhouse structure is prescribed by the ship’s classification society. In the deck/deckhouse design
rules, the minimum plating and stiffener guidelines are chosen to preclude high local vibration amplitudes.
Mounting on Deck or Deckhouse
Most installations onto a deck or deckhouse structure will require a mounting pedestal to raise the ADE above
the deck for radome hatch access and to allow the full range of elevation (see ADE mounting considerations
above). Some care must be taken to ensure the mounting pedestal is properly aligned with the stiffeners
under the deck plating.
2.3.2.
Mounting the radome directly on the deck or platform
prevents access to the hatch in the base of the radome
unless an opening is designed into the mounting surface. If
there is no access to the hatch, the only way to service the
antenna is to remove the radome top. Two people are
required to take the top off of the radome without cracking
or losing control of it, but even with two people a gust of
wind may cause them to lose control and the radome top
may be catastrophically damaged (see repair information in
the radome specifications).
ADE Mounting Considerations
If access to the hatch cannot be provided in the mounting
surface, provide a short ADE support pedestal to mount the
ADE on which is tall enough to allow access into the radome
via the hatch.
Ladder rungs must be provided on all mounting stanchions
greater than 3-4 feet tall to allow footing for personnel
safety when entering the hatch of the radome.
The recommended cable passage in the 50, 60 and 66 inch
radomes is through the bottom center of the radome base,
down through the ADE support pedestal, through the deck
and into the interior of the ship.
2.3.3.
The following should be taken into account when choosing the height of a mounting support stand:
Sizing of the support pedestal
1. The height of the pedestal should be kept as short as possible, taking into account recommendations
given in other Sea Tel Guidelines.
2. The minimum height of the pedestal above a flat deck or platform to allow access into the radome
for maintenance should be 0.6 meters (24 inches).
3. The connection of the ADE mounting plate to the stanchion and the connection of the pedestal to
the ship should be properly braced with triangular gussets (see graphic above). Care should be taken
to align the pedestal gussets to the ship’s stiffeners as much as possible. Doublers or other
reinforcing plates should be considered to distribute the forces when under-deck stiffeners are
inadequate.
4. The diameter of the pedestal stanchion shall not be smaller than 100 millimeters (4 inches). Where
the ADE base diameter exceeds 1.5 meters (60 inches), additional stanchions (quantity greater than
3) should be placed rather than a single large stanchion.
5. Shear and bending should be taken into account in sizing the ADE mounting plate and associated
gussets.
6. Shear and bending must be taken into account when sizing the pedestal to ship connection.
7. All welding should be full penetration welds –V-groove welds with additional fillet welds – with
throats equivalent to the thickness of the thinnest base material.
8. For an ADE mounted greater than 0.6 meters (24 inches) above the ship’s structure, at least one (1)

Site Survey 6012-71 Installation Manual
2-3
foot rung should be added. Additional rungs should be added for every 0.3 meter (12 inches) of
pedestal height above the ship’s structure.
9. For an ADE mounted greater than 3 meters (9 feet) above the ship’s structure, a fully enclosing cage
should be included in way of the access ladder, starting 2.3 meters (7 feet) above the ship’s
structure.
2.4. Mounting Height
The higher up you mount the antenna above the pivot point of the ship the higher the tangential acceleration (g-
force) exerted on the antenna will be (see chart below).
When the g-force exerted on the antenna is low, antenna stabilization and overall performance are not affected.
If the g-force exerted on the antenna is high enough (> 1 G), antenna stabilization and overall performance are
affected.
If the g-force exerted on the antenna is excessive (1-2 Gs), the antenna does not maintain stabilization and may be
physically damaged by the g-force.
2.5. Mast Configurations
Sea Tel recommends mounting the ADE in a location that has both a clear line-of-sight to the target satellites in all
potential azimuth/elevation ranges and sufficient support against vibration excitement. If possible, mounting the ADE
pedestal directly to ship deckhouse structures or other box stiffened structures is preferred. However, in many cases,
this imposes limits on the antenna system’s clear line-of-sight.
Often the solution for providing the full azimuth/elevation range the antenna needs is to mount the ADE on the ship’s
mast. Unfortunately, masts do not consider equipment masses in design and often have harmonic frequencies of their
own.
There are many designs of masts used on ships – masts are nearly as unique in design as the ship is – but the designs
often fall into a few categories. These categories can be addressed in terms of typical responses and problems with
regards to vibration and mounting of ADE. The most common categories of masts are:

6012-71 Installation Manual Site Survey
2-4
2.5.1.
Vertical masts are a very ancient and common mast design. In essence, it is the mast derived from the sailing
mast and adapted for mounting the ever-increasing array of antennae which ships need to communicate with
the world. This drawing of a vertical mast shows
the preferred mounting of the ADE center-line
above the plane of the radar. Alternatively the ADE
is mounted below the plane of the radar signal
Vertical Masts
Vertical masts are most commonly found on cargo
ships – they are simple, inelegant and functional.
They are also fairly stiff against torsional reaction
and lateral vibrations, as long as the ADE is
mounted on a stiff pedestal near the vertical
centerline of the mast. If centerline mounting is
impractical or otherwise prohibited, the mast
platform the ADE is mounted on should be checked
for torsional vibration about the centerline of the
mast and the orthogonal centerline of the platform.
If the estimated natural frequency of the mast or platform is less than 35 Hertz, the mast or platform should
be stiffened by the addition of deeper gussets under the platform or behind the mast.
2.5.2.
Raked masts are found on vessels where the style
or appearance of the entire vessel is important.
Again, the inclined mast is a direct descendant from
the masts of sailing ships – as ship owners wanted
their vessels to look more unique and less
utilitarian, they ‘raked’ the masts aft to make the
vessel appear capable of speed. This drawing
shows a raked mast, again with the preferred ADE
mounting above the radar and alternate with the
ADE below the radar.
Raked Masts
Raked masts pose special problems in both
evaluating the mast for stiffness and mounting of
antennae. As can be seen in the drawing, all
antennae must be mounted on platforms or other
horizontal structures in order to maintain the
vertical orientation of the antenna centerline. This
implies a secondary member which has a different
natural frequency than the raked mast’s natural frequency. In order to reduce the mass of these platforms,
they tend to be less stiff than the main box structure of the raked mast. Thus, they will have lower natural
frequencies than the raked mast itself. Unfortunately, the vibratory forces will act through the stiff structure
of the raked mast and excite these lighter platforms, to the detriment of the antenna.
2.5.3.
Girder masts are large platforms atop a pair of
columns. Just like girder constructions in buildings,
they are relatively stiff athwart ship – in their
primary axis – but less stiff longitudinally and
torsionally. An example of a girder mast is shown in
this drawing, with the preferred ADE mounting
outboard and above the radar directly on one of the
columns and alternate with the ADE centered on
the girder above the plane of the radar.
Girder Masts
The greatest weakness of girder masts is in torsion –
where the girder beam twists about its vertical
centerline axis. As with all mast designs discussed so far, mounting the antenna in line with the vertical
support structure will reduce the vibration tendencies. Mounting the antenna directly above the girder
columns provides ample support to the antenna pedestal and locates the antenna weight where it will
influence the natural frequency of the mast the least.

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2.5.4.
Truss masts are a variant on the girder mast
concept. Rather than a pair of columns supporting a
girder beam, the construction is a framework of
tubular members supporting a platform on which
the antennae and other equipment are mounted. A
typical truss mast is shown in this photograph.
Truss Mast
Like a girder mast, truss masts are especially stiff in
the athwart ship direction. Unlike a girder mast, the
truss can be made to be nearly as stiff in the
longitudinal direction. Truss masts are particularly
difficult to estimate the natural frequency – since a
correct modeling includes both the truss structure
of the supports and the plate/diaphragm structure
of the platform. In general, the following guidelines
apply when determining the adequate support for
mounting an antenna on a truss mast:
1. Antenna ADE pedestal gussets should align
with platform stiffeners which are at least
200 millimeters in depth and 10 millimeters in thickness.
2. When possible, the antenna ADE pedestal column should align with a vertical truss support.
3. For every 100 kilograms of ADE weight over 250 kilograms, the depth of the platform stiffeners
should be increased by 50 millimeters and thickness by 2 millimeters.
Sea Tel does not have a recommended arrangement for a truss mast – the variability of truss mast designs
means that each installation needs to be evaluated separately.
2.6. Safe Access to the ADE
Safe access to the ADE should be provided. Provisions of the ship’s Safety Management System with regard to men
aloft should be reviewed and agreed with all personnel prior to the installation. Installations greater than 3 meters
above the deck (or where the access starts at a deck less than 1 meter in width) without cages around the access
ladder shall be provided with means to latch a safety harness to a fixed horizontal bar or ring.
The access hatch for the ADE shall be oriented aft, or inboard, when practical. In any case, the orientation of the ADE
access hatch shall comply with the SMS guidelines onboard the ship. Nets and other safety rigging under the ADE
during servicing should be rigged to catch falling tools, components or fasteners.
2.7. Below Decks Equipment Location
The Antenna Control Unit, Terminal Mounting Strip and Base Modem Panel are all standard 19” rack mount, therefore,
preferred installation of these items is in such a rack. The ACU mounts from the front of the rack. The Terminal
Mounting Strip and Base Modem Panel mount on the rear of the rack.
The Satellite Modem, router, VIOP adapter(s), telephone equipment, fax machine, computers and any other associated
equipment should be properly mounted for shipboard use.
Plans to allow access to the rear of the ACU should be considered.
2.8. Cables
During the site survey, walk the path where the cables will be installed. Pay particular attention to how cables will be
installed; such as what obstacles they will be routed around, difficulties that will be encountered and the overall length
of the cables. The ADE should be installed using good electrical practice. Sea Tel recommends referring to IEC 60092-
352 for specific guidance in choosing cables and installing cables onboard a ship. Within these guidelines, Sea Tel will
provide some very general information regarding the electrical installation.
In general, all cable shall be protected from chaffing and secured to a cableway. Cable runs on open deck or down a
mast shall be in metal conduit suitable for marine use. The conduit shall be blown through with dry air prior to passing
cable to ensure all debris has been cleared out of the conduit and again after passing the cable to ensure no trapped
moisture exists. The ends of the conduit shall be sealed with cable glands (preferred), mastic or low VOC silicon
sealant after the cables have been passed through.
Cables passing through bulkheads or decks shall be routed through approved weather tight glands.

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2-6
2.8.1.
The first concern with the coaxial cables installed between the ADE & BDE is length. This length is used to
determine the loss of the various possible coax, Heliax or fiber-optic cables that might be used. You should
always provide the lowest loss cables to provide the strongest signal level into the satellite modem.
ADE/BDE Coaxial Cables
Signal cable shall be continuous from the connection within the ADE radome, through the structure of the
ship to the BDE. Splices, adapters or dummy connections will degrade the signal level and are discouraged.
Be careful of sharp bends that kink and damage the cable. Use a proper tubing bender for Heliax bends.
Penetrations in watertight bulkheads are very expensive, single cable, welded penetrations that must be
pressure tested.
Always use good quality connectors that are designed to fit properly on the cables you are using. Poor
quality connectors have higher loss, can allow noise into the cable, are easily damaged or fail prematurely.
In as much as is possible, don’t lay the coaxes on power cables. Try to have some separation from Inmarsat &
GPS cables that are also passing L-band frequencies or radar cables that may inject pulse repetition noise –as
error bits - into your cables.
2.8.2.
Be cautious of length of the run, for voltage loss issues, and assure that the gauge of the wires is adequate for
the current that is expected to be drawn (plus margin). Antenna power is recommended (but not required) to
be from a UPS, generally the same one that supplies power to the below decks equipment.
Antenna Power Cable
Power cables shall comply with the provisions of IEC 60092-350 and -351 as practical. Power cables may be
routed through the same conduit as the signal cable from the junction box to the base of the ADE. Power
cables shall pass through separate radome penetrations from the signal cable.
The power cable shall be continuous from the UPS (or closest circuit breaker) to the ADE connections within
the radome. The power circuits shall be arranged so that ‘active,’ ‘common’ and ‘neutral’ (ground) legs are all
made or broken simultaneously. All circuit legs shall be carried in the same cable jacket.
2.8.3.
If your system includes a marine air conditioner (available with the 81 inch radome ONLY), run an AC power
cable to it from a breaker, preferably from a different phase of the electrical system than supplies power to
the ADE & BDE. Be EXTREMELY cautious of length of the run for voltage loss and gauge of the wires for the
current that is expected to be drawn.
Air Conditioner Power Cable
Power cable shall comply with the provisions of IEC 60092-350 and -351 in so far as practical. Power cables
may be routed through the same conduit as the signal cable from the junction box to the base of the ADE.
Power cables shall pass through separate radome penetrations from the signal cable.
The power cable shall be continuous from the closest circuit breaker to the ADE connections within the
radome. The power circuits shall be arranged so that ‘active,’ ‘common’ and ‘neutral’ (ground) legs are all
made or broken simultaneously. All circuit legs shall be carried in the same cable jacket.
2.8.4.
The AC power for the ACU and the ADE is not required to be from a UPS (same one that supplies power to
the ADE), but it is recommended.
ACU Power Cable/Outlet
Power cable shall comply with the provisions of IEC 60092-350 and -351 in so far as practicable.
2.8.5.
Use good quality shielded cables (twisted pairs, individually foil wrapped, outer foil with braid overall is best).
You only need 2-wire for NMEA signal, 4-wire for Step-By-Step and 5-wire for Synchro … always use shielded
cable. Be cautious of length and gauge of the run for voltage loss issues.
Gyro Compass Cable

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2-7
2.9. Grounding
All metal parts of the ADE shall be grounded to bare metal that is common to the hull of the ship. This is most
commonly accomplished by attaching a ground wire/cable from the upper base plate ground point to a ground stud on
the mounting pedestal/stanchion/mast near the base of the radome. Preservation of the bare metal contact point
should be done to prevent loss of ground due to rust and/or corrosion.
Grounding by exposing bare metal under all mounting bolts of the under-side of the radome base prior to final
tightening does NOT provide adequate grounding of the ADE.
Grounding should be ensured throughout the entire mounting to the hull. While it is presumed the deckhouse is
permanently bonded and grounded to the hull, in cases where the deckhouse and hull are of different materials a
check of an independent ground bonding strap should be made. Masts should be confirmed to be grounded to the
deckhouse or hull.

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Installation 6012-71 Installation Manual
3-1
3. Installation
Your antenna pedestal comes completely assembled in its radome. This section contains instructions for unpacking, final
assembling and installing of the equipment. It is highly recommended that trained technicians install the system.
The installation instructions for your system are below.
3.1. Unpacking and Inspection
Exercise caution when unpacking the equipment.
1. Unpack the crates. Carefully inspect the radome surface for evidence of shipping damage.
2. Unpack all the boxes.
3. Inspect everything to assure that all materials have been received and are in good condition.
3.2. Assembly Notes and Warnings
NOTE: All nuts and bolts should be assembled using the appropriate Loctite thread-locker
product number for the thread size of the hardware.
Loctite # Description
222 Low strength for small fasteners.
242 Medium strength
638 High strength for motor shafts & sprockets.
2760 Permanent strength for up to 1” diameter fasteners.
290 Wicking, High strength for fasteners which are already
assembled.
WARNING: Assure that all nut and bolt assemblies are tightened according to the
tightening torque values listed below:
SAE Bolt Size Inch Pounds Metric Bolt Size Kg-cm
1/4-20 75 M6 75.3
5/l6-18 132 M8 150
3/8-16 236 M10 270
1/2-13 517 M12 430
WARNING: Hoisting with other than a webbed four-part sling may result in catastrophic
crushing of the radome. Refer to the specifications and drawings for the fully assembled
weight of your model antenna/radome and assure that equipment used to lift/hoist this
system is rated accordingly.
CAUTION: The antenna/radome assembly is very light for its size and is subject to large
swaying motions if hoisted under windy conditions. Always ensure that tag lines, attached
to the radome base frame, are attended while hoisting the antenna assembly to its
assigned location aboard ship.

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3-2
3.3. Installing the ADE
The antenna pedestal is shipped completely assembled in its radome. Please refer to the entire Site Survey chapter of
this manual.
Base Hatch Access - Mounting the radome directly on the deck or
platform prevents access to the hatch in the base of the radome unless an
opening is designed into the mounting surface to allow such entry. If there is
no access to the hatch the only way to service the antenna is to remove the
radome top. Two people are required to take the top off of the radome
without cracking or losing control of it, but even with two people a gust of
wind may cause them to lose control and the radome top may be
catastrophically damaged (see repair information in the radome
specifications) or lost.
If access to the hatch cannot be provided in the mounting surface, provide a
short ADE mounting stanchion to mount the ADE on which is tall enough to
allow access into the radome via the hatch.
Ladder rungs must be provided on all mounting stanchions greater than 3-4
feet tall to allow footing for personnel safety when entering the hatch of the
radome.
Cable Passage - The radome base is designed with a bottom center cable
passage and Roxtec® Multidiameter® blocks for cable strain relief. The
recommended cable passage in the 50, 60, 61 and 66 inch radomes is through
the bottom center of the radome base, down through the ADE mounting
stanchion, through the deck and into the interior of the ship.
Bottom center cable passage is recommended, however, a strain relief kit is provided with the system if off-center
cable entry is required. Note: Strain relief installation procedure, provided in the Drawings chapter, MUST
be followed to assure that the cored holes are properly sealed to prevent moisture absorption and de-
lamination of the radome base.
3.3.1.
The antenna pedestal is shipped completely assembled in its 81” single piece radome.
Preparing and Installing the Single Piece 81” Radome Assembly
1. Remove the shipping hold-down bolts which mount the ADE to its’ pallet.
2. Install four lifting eye bolts, provided in the radome installation kit, in holes around the perimeter of
the baseframe.
3. Attach a four-part lifting sling to the four lifting eyes in the
base of the radome and lift the radome assembly free of
its shipping pallet. Place the radome assembly on
temporary support blocks at least 22 inches high.
4. Loosely assemble the radome base frame's eight legs and
eleven braces as shown in the Radome Base Frame
Assembly drawing using the hardware provided. Insure
that a split washer is used under each nut. When
assembled, apply Loctite and tighten all hardware.
5. Using the four-part lifting sling, and with a tag line
attached to the radome base frame, hoist the antenna
assembly to its assigned location aboard ship by means of
a suitably-sized crane or derrick.
6. The radome assembly should be positioned with the BOW
marker aligned as close as possible to the ship centerline.
Any variation from actual alignment can be compensated with the Home Flag Offset and AZIMUTH
TRIM adjustment, so precise alignment is not required.
7. Bolt or weld the legs of the radome base frame directly to the ship's deck or suitable mounting
surface. If the deck is uneven or not level, weld clips to the deck and attach them to the legs of the
radome base frame. When completed the radome should be as near to level as is practical.
8. Disconnect the lifting sling from the four lifting eyes in the base of the radome.
9. Remove the four lifting eye bolts. Save the lifting eye hardware in case lifting of the ADE is required
in the future.