Antenna Tracking Pedestal ANTP 4.5
High Precision Dual Axis Antenna Positioner with Near-Zenith Elevation Coverage and Settable Scan Velocity
ANTP 4.5 is a high precision antenna positioner built for applications where pointing accuracy and elevation coverage matter more than they do in general purpose antenna tracking. With ±0.5° accuracy in both azimuth and elevation, an elevation range extending to -15° to +15° for near-overhead targets, and a scanning velocity settable anywhere from 0.1–10°/s, it is designed for satellite tracking, radar surveillance and airborne surveillance scenarios where the target’s angular position and rate of movement vary significantly and the antenna beam needs to stay precisely locked on regardless.
What is ANTP 4.5?
ANTP 4.5 is a dual axis antenna positioner providing closed loop position control in both azimuth and elevation, with angular accuracy of ±0.5° in each axis. The azimuth drive covers a range of ±180°, while the elevation drive covers a wide range from -15° to +15°, supporting targets that pass close to vertical overhead. Scanning velocity in both axes is settable by command between 0.1–10°/s in 1 degree per second increments, allowing the pedestal's tracking speed to be matched to the actual angular rate of the target. The system connects over Ethernet via CAT-5E cabling or single mode fibre, and is controlled through a PC based GUI running on Windows or Linux, with mechanical, electrical and soft position limits providing layered operational safety.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Azimuth Movement Control | Closed loop position control in azimuth |
| Azimuth Angular Movement | ±180° |
| Azimuth Angular Accuracy | ±0.5° |
| Azimuth Angular Resolution | 0.25° |
| Elevation Movement Control | Closed loop position control system with suitable & related circuitry |
| Elevation Angular Movement | -15° to +15° |
| Elevation Angular Accuracy | ±0.5° |
| Elevation Angular Resolution | 0.25° |
| Maximum Scanning Velocity | 10° / Sec |
| Minimum Scanning Velocity | 0.1° / Sec |
| Normal Scanning Velocity | 5° / Sec |
| Carrying Capacity / Payload | < 20Kg |
| Weight of the Unit | < 10Kg |
| Mounting | Mounted on the mast |
| Communication Interface | RS 422 / RS 485 |
| Controller Options | 19" Rack Mountable – Height 2U |
| Wind Condition – Operational | 80 Kmph |
| Wind Condition – Survival | 150 Kmph |
| Temperature - Operational | - 15° C to + 55° C |
| Temperature – Survival | - 40° C to + 70° C |
| Altitude – Operational | 4500 meter |
| Altitude – Survival | 9100 meter |
| Humidity | Temp : 40° C > 95% RH |
| Weatherproof | To IP67 |
| Power Supply to Out Door Unit | 24 V DC |
| Power Supply to In Door Unit | 230 V AC |
| Power Consumption | < 100 Watts |
| Connecting Cables – IDU to ODU | 30 meter cable with connectors – 01 No |
Full Azimuth Coverage with a Focused Elevation Window
ANTP 4.5 pairs a wide ±180° azimuth range with a -15° to +15° elevation window, closed-loop controlled on both axes. This combination suits surveillance and tracking scenarios where targets stay near the horizon rather than passing overhead — coastal watch, perimeter surveillance, and ground-based radar scanning are typical cases. Within that window, the pedestal holds ±0.5° angular accuracy and 0.25° resolution on both axes, giving consistent, repeatable pointing across the full azimuth sweep. The elevation range is deliberately focused rather than extended, keeping the mechanical and control design suited to steady, sustained tracking at low and moderate elevation angles.
Four Operating Modes Covering Standby Through Fully Automated Pointing
ANTP 4.5's four operating modes form a deliberate progression rather than a list of disconnected features. Standby/Safe mode parks the pedestal in a secure state when not actively tracking. Go-to Point mode moves to a specific commanded angle when the pointing direction is already known. Manual mode gives the operator direct joystick or keypad control for situations needing hands-on adjustment. GPS pointing mode takes this furthest, calculating the required azimuth and elevation automatically from the pedestal's own GPS position and a target's geographic coordinates, removing the need for an operator to work out the pointing angle manually at all. Having all four available means the system can move smoothly from a parked, safe state through to fully automated target acquisition without switching hardware or control systems along the way.
Scan Velocity Matched to the Target, Not Fixed to the Pedestal
The angular rate at which a target appears to move depends entirely on its distance and speed relative to the pedestal, not on any single fixed value. A distant, slow moving object might sweep across the sky at only a few degrees per second, while a fast, close object can cross dozens of degrees per second during the same observation window. A pedestal with a single fixed scan speed will either be too slow to keep up with fast targets or unnecessarily fast and jerky for slow ones. ANTP 4.5 allows scanning velocity to be set anywhere between 0.1–10°/s in 1 degree per second steps, letting the operator tune the pedestal's motion to the specific target being tracked rather than working around a one-size-fits-all speed.
Fibre Optic Networking for Interference-Heavy Environments
Standard copper Ethernet cabling carries signal as electrical current, which makes it susceptible to electromagnetic interference from nearby radar transmitters, jamming equipment and other RF sources commonly present in defence deployment environments. Single mode fibre carries the same data as light, making it immune to that interference and also supporting much longer cable runs between the pedestal and its control system without signal loss. ANTP 4.5 supports both CAT-5E copper Ethernet and single mode fibre, meaning the same unit can be deployed using standard cabling where interference is not a concern, or fibre where it is.
Need Help? Start Here...
Get expert assistance in selecting the right solution tailored to your performance, integration, and operational needs.
ANTP 4.5 covers -15° to +15° in elevation, paired with a full ±180° azimuth range. This window is built for targets that stay close to the horizon rather than passing overhead, which covers most ground-based surveillance and coastal or perimeter tracking scenarios. The focused elevation range keeps the closed-loop control system tuned for accuracy and repeatability within that window rather than trading precision for extended mechanical travel.
Scanning velocity is adjustable from 0.1°/sec at the minimum up to 10°/sec at the maximum, with 5°/sec as the normal operating speed. This range lets the operator slow down for fine, deliberate tracking of a stationary or slow-moving target, or speed up for faster sweeps, without needing a separate mode or hardware change.
ANTP 4.5 holds ±0.5° angular accuracy in both azimuth and elevation, with 0.25° angular resolution on each axis. That level of accuracy and resolution is suited to steady surveillance and tracking tasks where consistent, repeatable pointing matters more than the very tight tolerances needed for narrow-beam satellite links.
