General Dynamics Model 950A
This system consists of an ACU (Antenna Control Unit) and a Power Drive Unit (PDU) containing an ACB (Antenna Control Board). The command source is normally a computer, known as the station computer. This station computer will send commands to the ACB.
This connector includes basic commands for the system.
About
Version Info
| Range | Key Features | Based on | System Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0.x [Obsolete] | Initial version. | - | - |
| 1.0.1.x [Obsolete] | Additional commands added. Parameter descriptions changed. | - | - |
| 1.0.2.x | RF parameters page removed, and parameters added to profile page. | - | Visio files and dashboards linked to the RF page will no longer be compatible. |
| 2.0.0.x | Complete review: - Profiles - RF & config parameters - Point modes - Acquire modes - Track modes |
- | - |
| 2.0.1.x | Command processing changed. | - | - |
Product Info
| Range | Device Firmware Version |
|---|---|
| 1.0.0.x | N/A |
| 1.0.1.x | N/A |
| 1.0.2.x | N/A |
| 2.0.0.x | Model 950A.2.28d Model 950A 3.0+ |
| 2.0.1.x | N/A |
Product Info
| Range | DCF Integration | Cassandra Compliant | Linked Components | Exported Components |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0.x | No | Yes | - | - |
| 1.0.1.x | No | Yes | - | - |
| 1.0.2.x | No | Yes | - | - |
| 2.0.0.x | No | Yes | - | - |
| 2.0.1.x | No | Yes | - | - |
Configuration
Connections
Serial Main connection
This connector uses a serial connection and requires the following input during element creation:
SERIAL CONNECTION:
Interface connection:
- IP address/host: 10.52.25.161
- IP port: 5001
Initialization (Range 2.0.0.x)
By default, the receiver model is set to 520. This can be changed via the Tracking Receiver page, using the toggle button Receiver Model.
The ACU model is detected using RF parameter 21. This is only available for new models (3.0+). It is possible that specific firmware updates on the old model also provide info for parameter 21. For this reason, it is possible to overwrite the detected model back to the old one. To do so, go to the Profile page and change the ACU Model to Model 950A instead of Model 950 3.0+.
Known issues when the incorrect model is applied:
- Profile mappings to datasets are incorrect. The device info of the new model has a different meaning compared to the old.
- Saving settings can result in a bad or unknown request for the device. Request formats are different between the 2 models.
Web Interface
The web interface is only accessible when the client machine has network access to the product. To use this functionality, you must enter a port on the General page.
NOTE: This functionality also requires that the Chromium plugin is activated. To activate this, in DataMiner Cube, go to System Center > System settings > Plugins, and set the web browser engine to Chromium. You can do so for the entire system or create an exception to do so for this protocol only.
Usage (Range 2.0.0.x)
General
This page displays the Tracking Signal Level and the Current Azimuth, Elevation, and Polarization Position of the antenna, as well as the values of the monitored Power Supplies.
It also displays the current ACB operational mode, i.e., the Fundamental Mode, the Fundamental Submode, the Enhanced Mode, the Enhanced Submode, the Polarization Mode, and the Polarization Submode.
Control buttons allow you to adjust the Requested Azimuth, Elevation, and Polarization Position. After you store the requested value locally by clicking the green check mark, click the Apply Fine-Tune button to set the value on the device.
Below this, a number of buttons allow further configuration of the tracking mode: Manual Position, Stop Tracking, Moon, and Sun. This section also contains two page buttons:
- Preset Position: Allows you to set the preset position to one of the 40 preset positions in the ACU. To do so, specify the preset position number and use the Preset Position button to move the antenna to the configured preset angles.
- Stow: Allows you to set the stow position. To do so, set the stow position number to "1" or "2" (corresponding with the two possible stow positions) and use the Stow Position button to make the ACB go into Stow Mode.
The page also allows you to load the Box Limits (i.e., Box Limit Status, Configuration Location, Box Width, Box Length, Command Type, Azimuth Box Center, and Elevation Box Center), as well as to enable or disable the Axis.
Info Messages
Both the current Active Fault Messages table and the current Active Status Messages table are located on the Info Messages page. These tables will only show messages that are supported.
It can happen that some messages do not show up in one of the tables even though they are displayed on the device itself. In that case, you should always check the current active unsupported messages. The Settings page button will open a subpage where the unsupported messages are handled.
Settings
The Display Mode dropdown box determines which message type is displayed. It allows you to request the readable messages (Default) or the binary messages (Detailed). Note that different firmware versions can return a different set of data. In other words, the same bit can represent a different message. To make the connector as generic as possible, a custom list of supported messages was compiled. A message will only show up in the Active Fault Messages table or the Active Status Messages table if it is present in this list.
All returned messages that are not present in the list of supported messages can be logged at any time. Click the Log Msgs button on the Settings page to print the current active unsupported messages in the element log. The purpose of logging these unsupported messages is to turn them into supported messages by adding them in the code and in the alarm template if applicable. You can find a video about this on our Dojo Community website: General Dynamics Model 950A and Model 1xx Support Undocumented Messages.
To make a message supported:
Adjust the Protocol.xml file:
If the unsupported message is a status message, add the following Discreet tag under the Protocol.Params.Param.Measurement.Discreets tag of parameter ID 5102.
If the unsupported message is a fault message, add the following Discreet tag under the Protocol.Params.Param.Measurement.Discreets tag of parameter ID 5002.
<Discreet> <Display>MY MESSAGE</Display> <Value>MY MESSAGE</Value> </Discreet>Replace "MY MESSAGE" with the message you logged earlier.
Adjust QAction_3161.cs: Add a new MessageData object in the GetAllSupportedUndocumentedMessages property of the BinaryMessageParser class.
For default messages, the byte and bit numbers are set to -1 as they are not part of the vendor documentation:
- new MessageData { ByteNumber = -1, BitNumber = -1, Message = "MY MESSAGE", Type = MessageType.Fault },
For detailed messages, set the byte and bit number to the value that is printed, and provide a message that you want to see when this bit is returned by the ACU:
- new MessageData { ByteNumber = 5, BitNumber = 0, Message = "MY MESSAGE", Type = MessageType.Fault },
If you have any questions about modifications to the code, contact squad.deploy-sphinx@skyline.be
Note that the parameters Unsupported Fault Messages and Unsupported Status Messages will show N/A when the Detailed Display Mode is selected. Since these messages are unsupported and thus not listed in the connector, it cannot determine whether an unsupported detailed message is a status message or a fault.
Detailed Status
This page displays status parameters regarding the Azimuth and Elevations. These parameters will only be filled in if Display Mode is set to Detailed.
Software Limits
This page shows the software travel limit values in the ACB. The Apply Limits commands are only accepted while in Stop Mode and POL Stop (for POL systems). The polarization travel limits will be zero if there is no polarization axis.
Power Supply
The ACB will transmit the values of the power supplies that it monitors, as well as the temperature. These are the same values as are displayed in the Power Supplies Monitor Window on the ACU front-panel screen.
Tracking Receiver
The parameters on this page are meaningful only if a Model 500 Series Tracking Receiver is used in the system. The ACB will transmit values of the tracking receiver parameters it monitors. These are the same values as are displayed in the Tracking Receiver Monitor Window on the ACU front-panel screen.
Profile
This page displays the Current Active Profile, Pointing Mode, Acquire Mode, and Tracking Mode. When Edit Mode is set to Write Only, user data of a specific profile can be modified.
The page also allows you to view the RF parameters for the current or desired profile and to change the values before you activate a new profile.
Point Mode - Geo Position
This page lists the preset LAT/LON positions in the GEO Preset Position Info table. You can also set the Longitude and Latitude.
Point Mode - Intelsat
The Intelsat Information table shows several Intelsat parameters. If the station computer is not in control of the ACB, the ACB will reject load commands. If the ACB is not in control of the antenna, the ACB will reject load commands. Recall commands are allowed at any time, but they will be rejected if the dataset does not exist (i.e., has not been loaded). The following load command allows the dataset, including the set in use, to be changed while in Intelsat Mode. Set deletion is not allowed on the set in use.
This page also allows you to manage the Ephemeris Number, as well as to configure the Intelsat parameters Lm0, Lm1, Lm2, Lonc, Lonc1, Lons, Lons1, Latc, Latc1, Lats, Lats1, Epoch Time, Latitude, Longitude, Check Time, Intelsat Set, Configuration, and Name. Finally, you can also erase the selected Ephemeris Number.
Store Intelsat
To add an entry to the Intelsat Information table, you can configure the parameters on the Store Intelsat page before saving them.
Point Mode - Norad
This page contains general information related to the Norad object. It also allows you to set the NORAD tracking mode by configuring the Object, Cable Wrap, and Start and Stop Time (day, month, year, hour, minutes, and seconds).
Point Mode - Pos Designate
This page displays the manual offset of the azimuth, elevation, and polarization parameters. Buttons allow you to add a specific amount to the offset for each of these parameters. Below this, the Azimuth, Elevation, and Polarization Offset parameters allow you to specify a new offset. You can also configure the Azimuth Position, Elevation Position, Azimuth Velocity, Elevation Velocity, Time, and Cable Wrap.
Point Mode - Optrack
This page allows you to manage the Optrack Data Set. You can also load the Optrack parameters Data Set, Recycle, Scan Cycle Time, Configuration, Track Type, and Name, and charge the Optrack Data N1 and N2. Finally, you can also clear the selected dataset.
Point Mode - Star Track
This page allows you to manage the Star to Track, with the parameters Location, Right Ascension, Declination, Epoch Type, Epoch, Configuration, Cable Wrap, and Name. It also contains a number of buttons that allow you to add a specific amount to the Star Track Azimuth Offset, Star Track Elevation Offset, and Star Track Time Offset. You can also specify a new Azimuth Offset, Elevation Offset, and Time Offset, as well as a Location.
Track Mode - Steptrack
This page allows you to manage the Data Set, Scan Pattern, and Scan Number through the Steptrack Mode. You can also configure the Steptrack Data Set, Recycle, Integration Time, Box Step Size, Data, Scan Cycle Time, Gain, Park, Limit, Scan Pattern, Scan Number, and Name.
From here, you can also cancel the enhanced mode using the Cancel Enh. Mode button.
RF Parameters
This page allows you to load the RF Parameters, i.e., Parameter Number, Center Frequency, Bandwidth, Slope, Offset, Active Search, Feed Offset Elevation, Feed Offset in Cross Elevation, Path, Sweep Width, Name, Secondary Path, and Block Downconverter Frequency.
You can also select the Beacon Frequency here.
Configuration Parameters
The configuration parameters are listed in the Configuration Parameters table. The current Active Config Parameter can be found at the top of this page. To activate a parameter, click the Execute button in the Activation column. By default, only basic information will be polled and columns such as Box Center Mode, Longitude Box Center, etc. will stay empty (Not initialized). In order to retrieve data related to box and slot limit, select an appropriate Limit Configuration. Note that the Limit Configuration can only be changed when the corresponding Config Parameter is active.
Pol Mode
This page allows you to set the Polarization Position, Polarization Velocity, and UTC Time. You can also select the polarization tracking modes, such as Auto, Intelsat, Optrack, and Stop. Via the Preset Position page button, you can set the preset position number to one of the 40 polarization preset positions in the ACU.
Usage (Range 1.0.0.x, 1.0.1.x or 1.0.2.x)
General
This page displays the Tracking Signal Level and the Current Azimuth, Elevation, and Polarization Position of the antenna, as well as the values of the monitored Power Supplies.
It also displays the current ACB operational mode, i.e., the Fundamental Mode, the Fundamental Submode, the Enhanced Mode, the Enhanced Submode, the Polarization Mode, and the Polarization Submode.
Control buttons allow you to adjust the Current Azimuth, Elevation and Polarization Position. Below this, a number of buttons allow further configuration of the tracking mode: Cancel Enhanced Mode, Manual Position, Stop Tracking, Moon, and Sun. This section also contains two page buttons:
- Preset Position: Allows you to set the preset position to one of the 40 preset positions in the ACU. To do so, specify the preset position number and click the Preset Position button to move the antenna to the configured preset angles.
- Stow: Allows you to set the stow position. To do so, set the stow position number to "1" or "2" (corresponding with the two possible stow positions) and click the Stow Position button to make the ACB go into Stow Mode.
The page also allows you to load the Box Limits (i.e., Box Limit Status, Configuration Location, Box Width, Box Length, Command Type, Azimuth Box Center, and Elevation Box Center), as well as to enable or disable the Axis.
Alarming
This page displays the various possible faults of the device, with a list of parameters that either display Fault or OK. In addition, it also displays the status of multiple features of the device, listing whether these are active or not.
Manual Position
This page displays the manual offset of the azimuth, elevation, and polarization parameters. Buttons allow you to add a specific amount to the offset for each of these parameters.
Below this, the Azimuth, Elevation, and Polarization Offset parameters allow you to specify a new offset.
Position Designate
On this page, you can configure the Azimuth Position, Elevation Position, Azimuth Velocity, Elevation Velocity, Time, and Cable Wrap.
GEO
On this page, you can set the Longitude and Latitude using the GEO Designate command and the GEO Preset Position Number.
You can also load the GEO Preset Position Number, Latitude, Longitude, Configuration, and Name.
Optrack Mode
This page allows you to manage the Optrack Data Set. You can also load the Optrack parameters Data Set, Recycle, Scan Cycle Time, Configuration, Track Type, and Name, and charge the Optrack Data N1 and N2.
Finally, you can also clear the selected dataset.
Intelsat Pointing Mode
This page allows you to manage the Ephemeris Number. It also allows you to configure the Intelsat parameters Lm0, Lm1, Lm2, Lonc, Lonc1, Lons, Lons1, Latc, Latc1, Lats, Lats1, Epoch Time, Latitude, Longitude, Check Time, Intelsat Set, Configuration, and Name.
Finally, you can also erase the selected Ephemeris Number.
Star Track Mode
This page allows you to manage the Star to Track, with the parameters Location, Right Ascension, Declination, Epoch Type, Epoch, Configuration, Cable Wrap, and Name.
It also contains a number of buttons that allow you to add a specific amount to the Star Track Azimuth Offset, Star Track Elevation Offset, and Star Track Time Offset. You can also specify a new Azimuth Offset, Elevation Offset and Time Offset, as well as a Location.
Steptrack Mode
This page allows you to manage the Data Set, Scan Pattern and Scan Number through the Steptrack Mode. You can also configure the Steptrack Data Set, Recycle, Integration Time, Box Step Size, Data, Scan Cycle Time, Gain, Park, Limit, Scan Pattern, Scan Number, and Name.
RF Parameters
This page allows you to load the RF Parameters, i.e., Parameter Number, Center Frequency, Bandwidth, Slope, Offset, Active Search, Feed Offset Elevation, Feed Offset in Cross Elevation, Path, Sweep Width, Name, Secondary Path, and Block Downconverter Frequency.
You can also select the Beacon Frequency here.
Polarization Mode
This page allows you to set the Polarization Position, Polarization Velocity, and UTC Time. You can also select the polarization tracking modes, such as Auto, Intelsat, Optrack, and Stop.
Via the Preset Position page button, you can set the preset position number to one of the 40 polarization preset positions in the ACU.
NORAD
This page allows you to set the NORAD tracking mode by configuring the Object, Cable Wrap, and Start and Stop Time (day, month, year, hour, minutes, and seconds).
Acquisition and Pointing
On this page, you can set the Box Scan Mode and the Geo Scan Mode by configuring the Manual Scan Parameter.
Profile
This page displays the Current Active Profile and allows you to select a different user profile with the Select Profile parameter.