VSAT Installation & Maintenance Course

Today’s increasing deployment of two-way, interactive, broadband satellite networks has created a major challenge for satellite and network operators, system integrators, manufacturers, and equipment installers throughout the world… a challenge that equates to many thousands – and in some cases millions – of dollars in increased costs and decreased competitiveness for individual companies.

Installation procedures for bi-directional satellite systems are complex. As demand for and installation of satellite solutions rises, and in the absence of an industry-standard installation training course, satellite industry companies are paying a step price due to signal interference, network inefficiency, low mean time between failures, higher maintenance and after-sales service requirements, and impaired customer perceptions.

The GVF VSAT Installation & Maintenance Training Course was created to serve as the global industry standard for installers of bi-directional satellite earth stations. It was established by a consensus of expert volunteers serving in the GVF Education & Training Working Group.

GVF Education & Training Working Group (E&TWG)

The mission of the GVF E&TWG is to identify, formulate and share knowledge that is beneficial to the GVF Membership, the VSAT industry, its shareholders and stakeholders. So, when the nature of the bi-directional equipment installation problem was characterised by the Inter-Union Satellite Operations Group (ISOG) as follows: The quality of satellite signals has been significantly degraded due to earth stations that are improperly installed and commissioned, the E&TWG responded. Having now recognised that: (1) There is no regulation of installation quality; and, (2) Many areas of the world do not have any authority that offers guidance for installers, the E&TWG devised the GVF course to address the following areas:

I.     Basic concepts relating to VSAT;
II.    Undertaking earth station installation site surveys;
III.   Undertaking a mechanical VSAT installation and performing antenna alignment;
IV.   Steps to peak and pole and commission a full VSAT installation;
V.    Configuring and maintaining specific satellite transmit and receive equipment;
VI.   Specific maintenance procedures;
VII.  Undertaking fault diagnostics;
VIII. Working with Satellite Operations Centres.

Course Delivery – Profile

The GVF VSAT Installation & Maintenance Training Course comprises a number of delivery elements, as follows:

I. The Registration Form [GVF Copyright © 2003]

This form requests basic information from each candidate trainee, including preliminary details of level of education achieved and prior training experience.

II. Pre-Course Assessment Questionnaire [GVF Copyright © 2003]

In completing this form each candidate trainee is requested to answer a number of basic “knowledge questions”, and provide details of prior experience in satellite communication, together with a description of his/her job requirements in respect of the planned training. This form is an essential part of the programme, helping to ensure that trainees undertake the correct course of training, and to – as far as practically possible – ensure that trainees with a similar educational and training background, and types of prior work experience, are grouped together.

III. Course Instruction & Training Manual [GVF Copyright © 2003]

This volume is the principal training aid, comprising a highly detailed 140 pages of course information and instruction.
Part 1: Satellite Communications Basics begins with the functioning of communications satellites, and then examines ground segment, transmission systems, and the applications of satellite. Measurement units and understanding bandwidth are covered, prior to detailed coverage of types of earth station antennas, signal polarization, antenna feed construction, down converters, transceivers, modulation, scrambling, encryption and conditional access, the satellite modem, digital modulation encoding, Bit Error Ratio and Eb/No, Digital Video Broadcasting, Clocking, link quality, and orbital effects in communications system performance.
Part 2: VSAT Technology Basics covers basic preparations for a VSAT installation, the site survey, a typical VSAT installation, data interfaces, Inter-Facility Link cables, powering a VSAT unit, satellite link analyses, test equipment, typical VSAT link testing, satellite access and earth station verification, grounding and lighting protection, and various aspects of preventative maintenance.

IV. Course Instruction PowerPoint Presentation [GVF Copyright © 2003]

This instructor-trainer-led presentation complements, and is to be used alongside, the Course Instruction & Training Manual. It comprises 79 slides and covers both the basic and more advanced aspects of the training programme.

V. Trainee Course Workbook [GVF Copyright © 2003]

This 28 page workbook is the principal device used by the programme instructor-trainer for the assessment of trainees. Trainees must attempt to answer 116 questions, most of which are in a multiple-choice answer format.

VI. Trainer Course Workbook (with Answers) [GVF Copyright © 2003]

The instructor-trainer version of the above, providing the correct answers to the 116 questions.

VII. Course Qualification Certificate [GVF Copyright © 2003]

All trainees who, according to the assessment of the instructor-trainer, attain a satisfactory standard of competence will be awarded the Course Qualification Certificate.