Hiltron Communications reported a busy and successful IBC 2024, held in mid September at its usual Amsterdam RAI venue. Highlights of the Hiltron exhibit in Hall 1 included demonstrations of the newly announced HMAM-XY motorized antenna mount which is designed to perform high precision tracking of LEO and MEO satellites, smallsat constellations and flying objects.
“HMAM-XY is a latest-generation addition to our industry-proven HMAM product series,” says Jochen Ermel, Managing Director of Hiltron Communications. “Developed for government and wider telecommunications applications, it offers unsurpassed tracking speed, acceleration and accuracy. IBC attracted visitors from existing and potential customers in both market sectors. Equipped for receive and transmit applications, the HMAM-XY provides very high pointing and tracking accuracy with low backlash, and full hemispheric coverage with no zenith keyhole. High-accuracy absolute-reference encoders are incorporated. A universal adapter allows easy attachment of prime focus reflectors with up to 2.5 meter diameter, or planar antennas.”
Operation of the HMAM-XY is via the Hiltron HACU antenna control unit which can be mounted on the support column. Control and monitoring, including TLE/NORAD tracking capabilities, can be performed through an Ethernet link with a web interface. Steptrack is available as an option. The HACU also allows local control using a directly connected handheld unit.
Tracking velocity of the HMAM-XY is up to 15 degrees per second with 6 degrees per second squared maximum acceleration and within 0.05% accuracy. Elevation range is +5 to +175 degrees. Lateral rotation can be performed through a continuous 360 degrees. L, S, C, X, Ku and Ka bands with circular or linear polarization are supported. Multiband support is available as an option.
The HMAM-XY can operate in temperatures of -30 to +50 degrees Celsius and wind speeds of up to 80 km/h (up to 200 km/h survival in security position, dependent on reflector type) and up to 100% relative humidity. Power requirement is 400 volts AC, three-phase.
Also promoted at IBC 2024 were Hiltron’s recently announced Drive-Away transportable satellite link and a field-upgradable motorization kit for the CPI 2385 Satcom Antenna. Drive-Away comprises a 3.7 meter diameter segmented parabolic reflector on a specially developed motorized steering mount. The entire unit, including control electronics plus antenna heating and de-icing, is housed on a 2.4 meter wide rigid platform. An onboard crane allows the platform to be loaded easily onto a standard container truck. Other ground fixings are possible on request. All related electronics are housed in a weatherproof steel cabinet.
The CPI 2385 Satcom Antenna motorization kit enables significant cost savings compared to new installations. It offers a wide range of tracking capabilities including manual positioning to known satellites, automatic positioning and active step tracking. Norad TLE inclined-orbit tracking is also supported. Hiltron has the design and development capability to provide motorization kits for any type of reflector on customer request.
