RC2000 dual axis antenna controller

[Archived-1]

Ok a quick read up and found this.

The controller can control polarization via a polarotor type interface. In addition, an AUTO-POL feature allows the polarization to be controlled via a digital input or contact closure supplied by a receiver to the antenna controller.

The controller also has an internal expansion port that can accept optional daughter boards. Two daughter boards are available which can provide polarization control, designated RC2KPOL and RC2KHPP. The RC2KPOL is designed for use with the Seavey model ESR-124D motorized feed with potentiometer feedback. The Seavey feed requires 24 volts at 500 milliamps. The RC2KHPP option is designed for motorized feeds with potentiometer feedback which require 5 to 40 volts DC at currents up to 3 amps. Version 1.x0 of the RC2000A software supports the RC2KPOL option. Version 1.x1 of the RC2000A software supports the RC2KHPP option. The RC2KPOL and the RC2KHPP options are supported in only the RC2000A and RC2000C series. Contact the factory for versions of the RC2000C software that supports the RC2KHPP.

3. Position sensing feedback can be supplied by any pulse-based sensor, reed switch, Hall effect, or electro-optical. There is no need for special sensors or actuators. The RC2000 antenna controllers keep track of both rising and falling pulse edges from the pulse sensor for increased accuracy.

4. In each of the RC2000 controllers, the non-volatile memory can hold position and polarization data for numerous satellites. The RC2000A can accommodate 50 geostationary satellites. The RC2000B can accommodate 50 satellites total…5 of which may be in an inclined orbit. The RC2000C can hold data for 35 satellites total…4 of which may be in an inclined orbit

 

[BlindFaith]

The RC2000A can accommodate 50 geostationary satellites.

..from good old days where 50 sats was plenty

 

[Archived-1]

..from good old days where 50 sats was plenty

My arc will be at least 68E/60W I might have to buy another two

 

[s-band]

If anyone wants an RC2000, Andrew Jones Broadcast has 4 for sale. I have no connection but am just a happy customer. If interested please contact Andrew direct.

Research Concepts » RC2000

They are a mix of plain, C & X on the labels but may have been upgraded or changed. I don't think any had the polariser board fitted. He also has some beacon receivers. The Novella B356 are better than the Satellite System corp ones as the former cover 940-2150MHz and are better made (both are awful to operate though).

 

[blademedia]

I have wiring diagram, will find it out if needed.

 

[s-band]

A list of options in buried in the page linked above - http://www.researchconcepts.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/RC2K_FAM_010515JR.pdf
Full circuits are in the manual http://www.researchconcepts.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/RC2KC-AE-MAN_080812HM.pdf
The RC2KPOL driver looks quite simple (see manual) and would be easy to replicate

Internal pic

 

[John]

A list of options in buried in the page linked above - http://www.researchconcepts.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/RC2K_FAM_010515JR.pdf
Full circuits are in the manual http://www.researchconcepts.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/RC2KC-AE-MAN_080812HM.pdf
The RC2KPOL driver looks quite simple (see manual) and would be easy to replicate

Internal pic
View attachment 99349

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>>The RC2KPOL driver looks quite simple (see manual) and would be easy to replicate <<

Ohhh G, you know whats coming next don't you ?

 

[s-band]

Ohhh G, you know whats coming next don't you ?

After finishing the 1.8 & 3.8 maybe and if you build the Seavey style rotator!

I presume that the software is present in all models, would you like to see if you can access the controls? It looks like it just has to be enabled in the expert mode. I presume the control pins on the connector (C4, 5 & 6) will toggle if you operate the controller or waggle the pot feedback voltage. I suppose that it may get the hump if there is no voltage fed back from the pot. Most of the bits are RS\Farnell\Mouser etc. I don't think that the regulators, VR1 & 2 are needed if your rotator runs from 12V.

 

[John]

After finishing the 1.8 & 3.8 maybe and if you build the Seavey style rotator!

I presume that the software is present in all models, would you like to see if you can access the controls? It looks like it just has to be enabled in the expert mode. I presume the control pins on the connector (C4, 5 & 6) will toggle if you operate the controller or waggle the pot feedback voltage. I suppose that it may get the hump if there is no voltage fed back from the pot. Most of the bits are RS\Farnell\Mouser etc. I don't think that the regulators, VR1 & 2 are needed if your rotator runs from 12V.

Realistically the rotational feed feature is not something i need it to do ..... However , the +5v -pulse-return feature is as i might be able to use keypad buttons 1 & 2 to control my small polarity/skew servo motors on the dish. Work on that one for me G, pretty please. ;)

I'll ask you this one as well .... does your red indicator light up on your On/Off switch when it's powered up ?.

 

[s-band]

Realistically the rotational feed feature is not something i need it to do ..... However , the +5v -pulse-return feature is as i might be able to use keypad buttons 1 & 2 to control my small polarity/skew servo motors on the dish. Work on that one for me G, pretty please. ;)

You could try to fake the pot servo since, from manual:

The RC2000X does not support a Polarotor. It only supports the RC2KPOL daughter board. The
Rotating Feed Present CONFIG mode item of the RC2000C has been replaced with the Pol Control
Equipment Code. The permissible values for this item are 0 for No Polarization, 1 for Single Port
Motorized Feed, and 2 for Dual Port Motorized Feed.

I suppose that you may be able to use the lines that are meant to drive the RC2KPOL to control external relays but I am not sure how it will behave without the feedback from the rotator.

I'll ask you this one as well .... does your red indicator light up on your On/Off switch when it's powered up ?.

No

 

[John]

.... still learning to drive this thing with what little time i have but i do like the re-sync feature and also how it retains the elevation setting of a particular stored sat as well which helps if you do not have a 100% arc tracking system, especially for Ka band sats.

 

[John]

.... Tidying up loose ends indoors, a bit too cold to do stuff outside -- so, time to establish on the RC2000 controller why the ON/OFF switch 'aint illuminating when "ON".
A quick careful strip down of the switch reveals a conventional neon indicator lamp capsule with 40mm leads which does appear to have failed. Replacement spare neons ordered.
Internal switch pics to follow when doing final repair.

 

[moonbase]

John,

Are you using your RC2000 in auto tracking mode for inclined satellites or in normal mode where it goes to the last pre-sets of Az/El per satellite? I have not got round to setting up mine yet, another job for another day.


Heads Up:
If there are other forum members who purchased an RC2000 unit from Andrew then there might be an inconsistency in the model version listed on the rear panel of the unit and the model version presented on the LCD at boot up. It does not mean there is a fault with the unit, it indicates that the unit has been updated after market and the model version presented on the LCD at boot up is the correct indication of the model version. The operational functionality of the unit will be defined by the model version displayed at boot up in the front LCD panel.


Rgds

 

[John]

John,

Are you using your RC2000 in auto tracking mode for inclined satellites or in normal mode where it goes to the last pre-sets of Az/El per satellite? I have not got round to setting up mine yet, another job for another day.


Heads Up:
If there are other forum members who purchased an RC2000 unit from Andrew then there might be an inconsistency in the model version listed on the rear panel of the unit and the model version presented on the LCD at boot up. It does not mean there is a fault with the unit, it indicates that the unit has been updated after market and the model version presented on the LCD at boot up is the correct indication of the model version. The operational functionality of the unit will be defined by the model version displayed at boot up in the front LCD panel.


Rgds

Just using mine in manual mode at the moment MB, in a way i quite like it this way. It powers the 36" Venture actuator effortlessly, throwing the heavy 1.8 CM installation around like a rag doll ..... i quite like doing my incline tracking / nudging manually at the moment in conjunction with watching the real-time analyser display, so only using a small part of the RC2000's capabilities at the mo, but it suits me for the time being.

 

[moonbase]

John,

Would you please be able to suggest any way that I can reduce the pulse count coming from a Jaeger 1224 motor, something I can insert in the cabling line possibly? The reason that I ask is that from email exchanges with Research Concepts it seems that the Jaeger 1224 pulse count output is more that the RC2000 units can cope with. I need to be able to lower the speed at which the Jaeger 1224 traverses the arc so that an RC2000 can accurately monitor the pulse counts, possibly by reducing the voltage/current along the M1/M2 cable?

For linear actuators such as Venture or SuperJack etc its not an issue as the output count is lower. I guess the RC2000 units were developed with linear actuators as the basis for dish movement.


Thx

 

[John]

John,

Would you please be able to suggest any way that I can reduce the pulse count coming from a Jaeger 1224 motor, something I can insert in the cabling line possibly? The reason that I ask is that from email exchanges with Research Concepts it seems that the Jaeger 1224 pulse count output is more that the RC2000 units can cope with. I need to be able to lower the speed at which the Jaeger 1224 traverses the arc so that an RC2000 can accurately monitor the pulse counts, possibly by reducing the voltage/current along the M1/M2 cable?

For linear actuators such as Venture or SuperJack etc its not an issue as the output count is lower. I guess the RC2000 units were developed with linear actuators as the basis for dish movement.


Thx

I think iv'e seen somewhere where people have changed the magnet wheel for less magnetic positions for the reed switch to look at but iv'e not had any experience myself where i have needed to do that.

I'll double check on my pulse counts per degree for my two 1224's that i use on my 1.2CM & 1.2 Gibby, i'm fairly sure the Gibby one is around 12 counts per deg, the 36" Venture is the same i think.

 

[moonbase]

...I'll double check on my pulse counts per degree for my two 1224's that i use on my 1.2CM & 1.2 Gibby, i'm fairly sure the Gibby one is around 12 counts per deg, the 36" Venture is the same i think.

John,

Your reply about 12 counts per degree on your Gibby has reminded me that the high pulse counts I am getting from one on my Jaeger 1224's is from the one connected to an old Echostar AD3600 IRD that I use as a positioner. My other Jaeger 1224's are connected to v-boxes and I get around 12 counts per degree from both of these. I had it in my mind that the high 24 counts per degree was the norm when in fact it is only from the Jaeger 1224 connected to the Echostar AD3600 IRD.

I think I will be OK without any in line inserted device. It seems that when I exchanged emails with Research Concepts I provided the pulse counts per degree that came from the Echostar AD3600 IRD which is not the norm. It looks like the Jaeger 1224 outputs a pulse rate similar to an actuator under normal connectivity.

Rgds

 

[John]

Restored the RC2000 controllers illuminated ON/OFF to working condition.
Judging by the colour of the neon it looks like it failed possibly & drew excessive current through the series resistor to make it go open circuit.
A bit of care needed when dissembling & assembling the switch due to small moving parts that tend to want to jump out and run across the bench and then jump off onto the carpet but apart from that it cost about 40 pence to repair and she's lookin good.

 

[moonbase]

John,

It's in nice condition, the units I purchased from Andrew were also in good condition. I think they were rack mounted in SIS outside broadcast vans and Andrew purchased a job lot of kit from them when they upgraded some of the van fleet..

Rgds

 

[blademedia]

the RC2000 series do not offer diseqc/USALS functionality.

Hi moonbase, you can get a pc interface for positioning, I need to look more into it, you might find the information useful.
Research Concepts Web Server
https://www.go2mhz.com/SpecSheet_mhz.asp?strPagID=2626&strSolID=9