Step 3.  VSAT Equipment mounting

Building the antenna is time consuming, depending upon its size it may take from one day to three days. The larger antennas may need the help of a crane to position them on the mounting supports. The bolts that control the antenna position should be left loose to enable final alignment with the satellite.

Typically the transceiver is mounted on the antenna support frame, with the IF cables being connected back into the building where the modem and Internet routers are housed.

All items of equipment should be powered via a UPS to prevent damage in the event of power cuts.

Step 4.  Antenna Alignment

An experienced engineer using a spectrum analyzer best performs this task. The satellites are located a few degrees apart, finding the target satellite is a very difficult task. A professional installer will find a satellite in a matter of a few hours. Installers with less experience can take weeks of frustrating effort before getting the correct alignment.

The final step in alignment is the Peak and Pole procedure with the satellite operations center. They will insist on correct alignment of the antenna and the polarizer in order to insure that the antenna is not interfering with adjacent satellites or with other poles on the same satellite.

Even though the larger antennas may sometimes sit on non-penetrating mounts, in Florida we are prone to high winds, and our installation of the Andrew 4.5M was safer mounted on a special concrete pad, but the smaller antennas of 3.8m or less can often sit on the roof of a building or on a firm flat piece of ground.