Hiltron Communications reports its 45th year of success. Based near Stuttgart, the company is a globally active systems integrator, manufacturer and distributor in the field of satellite technology.

2024 highlights included first deliveries, in Q1, of Hiltron’s Drive-Away satellite link which consists of 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.

Drive-Away is designed for use in applications requiring very high precision uplink, downlink or bidirectional connectivity. An onboard crane allows the platform to be loaded easily onto a standard container truck. All related electronics are housed in a weatherproof steel cabinet. Supervision is via Hiltron’s HSACU4 compact antenna control unit which based on the same hardware and software platform as the HACU antenna control unit used for earth station antennas at hundreds of stations worldwide. An optional HP_HCS4-NET module for the HSACU4 control unit provides LAN/IP connectivity and full remote access via a browser-based user interface. Also included are a sensor box with a fluxgate compass, a GPS receiver and an inclinometer for adjustment of elevation and polarization.

Also introduced in 2024, Hiltron’s Field-Upgradable Motorization Kit for CPI 2385 Satcom Antenna enables significant cost savings compared to new installations. The first three systems were installed at various locations around the world following successful acceptance tests. The kit is based on the established Hiltron Motorized Antenna Mount (HMAM) which is designed for broadcast applications, two-way satellite telecommunication links or receive-only downlinks. An optional motorized feed changer allows the HMAM head to be moved quickly to a new position for switching between frequency bands. Tracking capabilities include manual positioning to known satellites, automatic positioning and active step tracking. Norad TLE, inclined orbit tracking and Intelsat 11 tracking are also supported. 

Hiltron’s HMAM-XY latest-generation motorized antenna mount made its first exhibition appearance at IBC 2024, Amsterdam, mid September. “Designed for receive and transmit applications, HMAM-XY offers high tracking speed, acceleration and accuracy,” comments Antonio Monteverde, Sales Director. “It also provides very high pointing and tracking accuracy with low backlash, and full hemispheric coverage with no zenith keyhole. HMAM-XY is designed to perform high precision tracking of LEO and MEO satellites, smallsat constellations and flying objects such as drones.” HMAM-XY operation is via Hiltron’s HACU antenna control unit which includes TLE/NORAD tracking capabilities. Steptrack is available as an option. Control and monitoring can be performed through an Ethernet link with a web interface. The HACU can be mounted on the HMAM-XY support column with local control possible using a directly connected handheld unit. Tracking velocity of the HMAM-XY is up to 10 degrees per second with 6 degrees per second squared maximum acceleration and within 0.05% accuracy. Early adopters of HMAM-XY include one of the world’s leading research organizations which has ordered a complete system for use in a range of satcom-related test environments.

Increasing demand for refurbishment capabilities were seen across the entire satcom sector, from high accuracy teleport antenna performance evaluation through to latest-generation motorized antenna mounts and control systems. “Upgrading existing antennas to higher frequencies, typically from C-band to Ku-band or Ka-band, saves the need to buy new equipment and allows services in the lower bands to be maintained,” says Jochen Ermel, Hiltron Managing Director. “When refurbishing third-party systems, we are often able to achieve better-than-new performance by replacing legacy control devices with Hiltron-developed products that allow satcom systems to be controlled with maximum safety, efficiency and versatility. Our satcom system refurbishment service includes the ability to perform high-accuracy 3D laser scanning and evaluation of teleport antennas. This resource is far more accurate than the commonly used photogrammetry technique and can be conducted while the antenna is actually in operation.”