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 0.1 degree accuracy in both azimuth and elevation, an elevation range extending to +95 degrees for near-overhead targets, and a scanning velocity settable anywhere from 2 to 40 degrees per second, 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 0.1 degree in each axis. The azimuth drive covers a range of plus or minus 210 degrees, while the elevation drive covers a wide range from -5 to +95 degrees, supporting targets that pass close to vertical overhead. Scanning velocity in both axes is settable by command between 2 and 40 degrees per second 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 |
Elevation Coverage Built for Near-Zenith Tracking
Most antenna positioners are designed around a target that stays relatively close to the horizon, which is why typical elevation ranges top out somewhere around 15 to 30 degrees. That assumption breaks down for satellite tracking and certain airborne surveillance scenarios, where a low earth orbit satellite or a close-passing aircraft can move through angles approaching directly overhead during a pass. ANTP 4.5's elevation range extending to +95 degrees means it can continue tracking through that near-zenith portion of the target's path rather than losing lock as the target crosses close to vertical, which is exactly the moment a narrower-range pedestal would run out of elevation travel.
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 2 and 40 degrees per second 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.
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Targets passing nearly overhead, such as low earth orbit satellites during a pass, require the antenna to point almost straight up. A standard elevation range topping out around 15 to 30 degrees cannot track through that portion of the path. The extended range to +95 degrees allows continuous tracking through near-zenith passes rather than losing the target as it crosses overhead.
A range of plus or minus 210 degrees from a centre reference gives slightly more than a full circle of coverage on either side of zero. This lets a target crossing through the zero bearing direction continue to be tracked smoothly, without the pedestal needing to stop and reverse exactly at the wrap-around point.
Targets move across the sky at very different angular rates depending on distance and speed. A fixed scan speed would be too slow for fast, close targets and unnecessarily fast for slow, distant ones. Setting the velocity anywhere from 2 to 40 degrees per second lets the operator match the pedestal's motion to the actual target being tracked.
Copper Ethernet is susceptible to electromagnetic interference from radar transmitters and other RF sources common in defence environments. Single mode fibre carries the signal as light, making it immune to that interference and supporting longer cable runs. Offering both means the pedestal can be deployed wherever interference conditions call for it.
Go-to Point mode moves to a specific angle entered directly by the operator. GPS pointing mode instead takes a target's geographic coordinates and the pedestal's own GPS position and calculates the required azimuth and elevation automatically, so the operator only needs to know the target's location, not the pointing angle.
It is five times tighter than the 0.5 degree accuracy typical of general purpose positioners. Narrow beam antennas used in high gain satellite links or precision radar tracking need this tighter accuracy because small angular errors compound into significant positional error over long range, where coarser accuracy would cause beam misalignment and signal loss.
