A Study on Reception of Satellite Broadcasting on Board
Hajime CHIBA, Akio Yasuda, Heiichiro Ando, Katsuhiro YAMASHITA, Masao KOMAMIYA, Shunji HANMA · The Journal of Japan Institute of Navigation · 1989
The authors have designed a two-axis controlled satellite tracking mechanism with a parabolic antenna which enables us to furnish vessels with a simple and inexpensive satellite broadcasting reception system. The maximum rotating speed of both azimuth and elevation angles is about 10°/sec. After examining the dynamic response on a table which simulates the various conditions of rolling on the sea, we installed the device on board the training ship "HOKUTO MARU" (5856 G/T) which was to steam in Japanese waters and the southern ocean down to western Australia. It proved to work excellently with a parabolic antenna of 50cm or 75cm in diameter even on a rough sea in the area down to lat. 20°N. The southern limits of the satisfiable picture reception were at lat. 18°N and long. 134°E on the way to Australia and lat. 16°N and long. 138°E on the way back, with an antenna of 120cm, on a slight sea condition. The profile of the power flux density of BS on the sea is estimated by C/N values observed along the route. The mechanism was also applied successfully and effectively to the reception of the images from GMS in the southern hemisphere.