Kratos NGC Indoor Unit (IDU)

Kratos NGC Indoor Unit (IDU)

The Kratos NGC Antenna Control System is an advanced level antenna control system intended for applications with demanding tracking requirements, complex geometries, and dynamic conditions.
The NGC Antenna Control System offers precise, user-friendly control over the basic motorization kits for Kratos antennas with sizes 2.4 meters and up.
The NGC-IDU features a SmarTrack® predictive tracking mode that utilizes a patented Three-Point Peak Algorithm that saveswear on the antenna motors and jacks.
The NGC IDU provides convenient features such as straightforward color graphics, LCD touch screen interface, and a number of powerful remote control software protocol options, the NGC Antenna Control System is an ideal solution for medium- to large- sized earth stations requiring complex pointing and tracking functions.

DESIGN FEATURES

• Graphical User Interface – Common shared interface design between controller, handheld, remote software package. Enables ease of use, reduced training, and advanced graphical operations & diagnostics.
• Open, Standards Based Platform – Non-proprietary hardware and software design based on proven and reliable technology. User customizable open source license User Interface.
• Connectivity & Control – Full complement of hardware interfaces for legacy and next generation technologies providing flexible accessibility for system networking, monitoring, control and maintenance.
• Flexible Modular Upgrade Architecture – Designed for field upgradable drop-in flexibility of hardware and software enhancements for expanded functionality.
• Fiber Optic Interfacility Link – For secure and reliable communications, and protection against lightning, interference and transient voltage.

NGC-IDU Front Panel

The NGC-IDU front panel has an 800x480 color touch screen Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and 30 key areas. From this interface, the user can perform all functions to configure, control, and monitor operation of your antenna. The front panel also includes a USB port.

USER INTERFACE NGC-IDU Touch Screen Display

The touch screen display is the key component to control the NGC-IDU. By its optimized design the NGC provides intuitive and easy to use menus. As an example, the screen is composed of four main zones, the top menu bar shows information such as satellite name, azimuth, elevation, polarization, signal level and faults; the center part of the screen displays graphs or menus as well as virtual keyboard; the left side shows sub-menu buttons while the bottom part provide shortcuts to specific functions.

NGC-IDU Keypad

The NGC-IDU front panel also includes a touch-sensitive “keypad” with built-in LED indicators for tracking state, alarms, signal strength, and other status indications. From the NGC-IDU front panel, the user can jog the antenna, jog the SRT, control options such as redundancy, heaters and jump to several convenient starting points in the menu/screen tree.

NGC-IDU USB Port

The NGC-IDU front panel includes a USB port which may be used for installing an external keyboard temporarily or for installing a USB jump drive that can be used to upload or save controller configuration or files. NGC-IDU Interface The NGC-IDU has also an Open Source Interface this allows experienced customer to customize the interface for specific applications.