Nextmove Technologies
LinkAlign Setup and Operation manual Rev 2.0
LinkAlign-360RPT
Set-up and Operation
Manual
LinkAlign Setup and Operation
Proprietary, Nextmove Technologies
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Nextmove Technologies
LinkAlign Setup and Operation
LinkAlign Setup and Operation manual Rev 2.0
Proprietary, Nextmove Technologies
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Nextmove Technologies
LinkAlign Setup and Operation manual Rev 2.0
Description of items included with a LinkAlign360-RPT ........................................................................ 4
General Notes:........................................................................................................................................... 4
LinkAlign360-RPT Details ....................................................................................................................... 5
Quick steps for Setup and Operation of the LinkAlign-360RPT antenna positioner ............................... 7
LinkAlign User interface details ............................................................................................................. 10
Manual Controls window ........................................................................................................................ 10
Target Position window........................................................................................................................... 12
GPS window ........................................................................................................................................... 13
Map Window ........................................................................................................................................... 14
Settings Page ........................................................................................................................................... 15
IP Reset instructions ................................................................................................................................ 17
LinkAlign Setup and Operation
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Nextmove Technologies
LinkAlign Setup and Operation manual Rev 2.0
General Notes:
This document provides set-up and operation instructions for the LinkAlign360-RPT. The manual does
not cover installation of the antenna or radio which will vary with each user.
Description of items included with a LinkAlign360-RPT
The pictures and table below identify what is included with a LinkAlign360-RPT.
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Callout
number
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Callout Description
LinkAlign-360RPT positioner with embedded controller
and web based user interface installed.
100 foot Power over Ethernet (PoE) power and control
cable. Connects between the LinkAlign positioner and
item 3 PoE power injector
Power over Ethernet (PoE) injector. Injection point of
48VDC power to provide 48 volts DC to LinkAlign
positioner up the PoE power and control cable.
48 watt, 48V DC power supply.
LinkAlign Setup and Operation
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Nextmove Technologies
LinkAlign Setup and Operation manual Rev 2.0
LinkAlign360-RPT Details
The pictures and table in this section identify and describe each feature of the LinkAlign-360RPT
positioner. Additional details can be found in the LinkAlign-360RPT mechanical ICD (ICDN900147).
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Bottom View
Callout
number
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Installed on Pole
7
Callout Description
Power Over Ethernet (PoE) connector, Outdoor weather
proof circular RJ-45
Alignment/Anti rotation pin, Optional pin for installation
allowing positioner to be pinned to the two inch
mounting pole.
LinkAlign pole mount interface, 2 Inch inner diameter
pole mount socket with 3.5 inch socket depth.
1/4-20 threaded holes in 4 places to allow for additional
customer mounting requirements
T-Handle tool-less pole mount fasteners located in two
places. Provides primary tension against two inch pole
mount for installation. Optional Alignment/Anti rotation
pin (item 2) may also be used for securing the positioner
to the pole mount interface.
5 Pin sealed weather tight connector for optional
polarization rotator. See LinkAlign-360POL for more
details on polarization rotator option.
6 Pin weather tight connector for optional RS-485 serial
interface. Standard operation for remote control of
positioner is accomplished through Ethernet control
using the built in web browser user interface. RS-485
serial interface with command line interface is available.
GPS Antenna used by the LinkAlign positioner to
establish current location. Used by software to automate
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LinkAlign Setup and Operation manual Rev 2.0
the set up of an antenna link.
Antenna mount interface for installation of antenna. See
LinkAlign-360RPT mechanical ICD identified as
ICDN900147 for specific mounting surface dimensions
and hole locations. Nextmove also has adapter brackets
to work with many commercially available antennas. See
LinkAlign Antenna & Radio Adapter Bracket datasheet
available at www. nextmovetech.com
Four inch access hole located on both sides of
LinkAlign-360 positioner. Allows access to quick mount
thumb screws to quickly install antennas using Nextmove
provided adapter brackets.
Power over Ethernet (PoE) cable with weather tight RJ45 connector. Standard cable length is 100 feet. Optional
cable lengths are available up to 300 feet.
Weather tight connectors for elevation linear actuator and
GPS antenna. These connectors should always remain in
place. Connectors should never be removed during
normal operation. Connectors allow for replacement of
elevation drive linear actuator and GPS antenna puck.
LinkAlign Setup and Operation
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Nextmove Technologies
LinkAlign Setup and Operation manual Rev 2.0
Quick steps for Setup and Operation of the LinkAlign-360RPT antenna
positioner
Step 1, Install LinkAlign-360RPT
Mount the LinkAlign positioner to a 2 inch pole and tighten T handles at back of unit.
Fasten T-Handles to
secure to pole
Optional captive
plunger style pin may
be used
Two inch pole at top of
mast or tower
Step 2, Connect control cable.
Connect weather tight quarter turn circular connector end of the PoE Ethernet control cable to
LinkAlign positioner as shown below.
PoE Cable shown
connected to LinkAlign
Positioner
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LinkAlign Setup and Operation manual Rev 2.0
Step 3, Connect PoE control cable to PoE injector
Connect opposite end of Ethernet control cable to the power and data side of PoE injector as shown
below. Connect DC power supply provided with PoE injector as shown below.
PoE Cable
from
Positioner
48 VDC
Power Supply
Step 4, Connect PoE injector to Computer.
Connect data side of PoE injector to a computer using a standard Ethernet cable with RJ-45 connectors
at each end. This cable is not supplied with positioner.
Step 5, Configure your computer IP address
Configure your wired Ethernet RJ-45 connection on your computer for a static IP address. The
LinkAlign positioner uses the default IP address of 192.168.0.244. Set the computer static IP address at
192.168.0.100. Configuring customer supplied computer for a static IP address will vary with each
computer operating system. An example using windows is shown below.
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LinkAlign Setup and Operation manual Rev 2.0
Step 6, Access control window using web browser.
Log on to positioner using any web browser such as Windows Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.
Enter the factory set static IP address of 192.168.0.244 into the command line of the web browser. The
User Interface main page will load into the browser window indicating that you are now connected to
the LinkAlign antenna positioner. The table below identifies and describes each control window.
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Nextmove Technologies
LinkAlign Setup and Operation manual Rev 2.0
Callout number
1
Callout Description
Manual Control Window: Provides manual control
for up, down, clockwise, and counter clockwise
steps of the LinkAlign positioner. The step size box
allows the operator to set the size in degrees that the
positioner will take each time a direction arrow is
pressed.
Target Position Window: Displays current
LinkAlign azimuth and elevation position and
allows entry of a commanded azimuth and elevation.
Settings Button: The settings button will open a
separate window which allows for configuration of
IP address, positioner travel limits, software version,
and software updates.
GPS Window: Displays current latitude and
longitude of LinkAlign antenna positioner and
allows manual entry for desired target latitude and
longitude.
Map Window: Provides a visual representation of
the both ends of the link. The map is default
centered around the local end. The map window also
displays the positioner's heading.
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LinkAlign User interface details
This section details each user control window on the main page and describes the command and status
function available in each window.
Manual Controls window
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LinkAlign Setup and Operation
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Callout
number
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LinkAlign Setup and Operation manual Rev 2.0
Callout
Description
Up Arrow
Callout Function
Moves the LinkAlign elevation antenna position in a
positive direction (up) in step sizes equal to the defined
step size. Each time the arrow is pressed the positioner
will move by the defined step size amount and then stop.
The positioner will continue to accept this command
until the travel limit in this direction is met.
Counter
Moves the LinkAlign azimuth antenna position in a
Clockwise
counter clockwise direction in step sizes equal to the
Arrow
defined step size. Each time the arrow is pressed the
positioner will move by the defined step size amount and
then stop. The positioner will continue to accept this
command until the travel limit in this direction is met.
Step size
Allows user defined steps sizes in degrees. User
selection
configurable step sizes are entered and the value is
applied to manual arrow direction commands. Example
shows 5 degrees per step.
Down Arrow
Moves the LinkAlign elevation antenna position in a
negative (down) direction in step sizes equal to the
defined step size. Each time the arrow is pressed the
positioner will move by the defined step size amount and
then stop. The positioner will continue to accept this
command until the travel limit in this direction is met.
Emergency
The emergency stop button will stop travel in all
Stop button
directions when selected.
Clockwise
Moves the LinkAlign azimuth antenna position in a
Arrow
clockwise direction in step sizes equal to the defined step
size. Each time the arrow is pressed the positioner will
move by the defined step size amount and then stop. The
positioner will continue to accept this command until the
travel limit in this direction is met.
CW and CCW
Provides manual control in step sizes equal to the defined
polarization
step sizes for the optional Nextmove Technologies
control
polarization rotator. If a pol rotator is installed the CW
and CCW pol control will be active.
Positioner speed The speed control slider bar allows user defined velocity
control
control of the LinkAlign antenna positioner. The
positioner will move faster as the slider bar is moved
towards the right side of the display.
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LinkAlign Setup and Operation manual Rev 2.0
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Target Position window
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Callout
number
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Callout
Description
Current
Azimuth
Position
Current
Elevation
Position
Current
Polarization
Position
Commanded
Azimuth
Position
Commanded
Elevation
Position
Commanded
Polarization
Position
Active Axis
lights
"Go" button
LinkAlign Setup and Operation
Callout Function
Displays LinkAlign positioners current azimuth heading
in degrees.
Displays LinkAlign positioners current elevation heading
in degrees.
Displays positioners current polarization angle in
degrees. (If a polarization rotator is installed)
Accepts values in degrees to command the positioner to a
desired azimuth angle.
Accepts values in degrees to command the positioner to a
desired elevation angle.
Accepts values in degrees to command the polarization
rotator to a desired polarization angle. (Requires
polarization rotator (LinkAlign-360POL) to be installed)
Indicates if an axis is active. Red = stopped (no motion)
Green = go (axis in motion).
Executes commanded Azimuth, Elevation, and
Polarization entries. An operator may enter values into
one or all of the command boxes and press the "Go"
button. The positioner will then move until the desired
values are satisfied.
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LinkAlign Setup and Operation manual Rev 2.0
GPS window
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Callout
number
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Callout
Description
Current
Coordinates
Altitude and
number of
Satellites
GPS Status
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Auto/Manual
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Target
Coordinates
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"Go" button
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Ground
Distance
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Decimal
Degrees check
2
LinkAlign Setup and Operation
Callout Function
Displays the current GPS coordinates read from the
LinkAlign positioner
Additional GPS data identifying current altitude and
number of satellites in view
Four color LED indicating current GPS status. Green =
GPS online and working properly, Yellow = GPS is
reporting data but is still collecting data to report
accurate fix, Blue = GPS is reading data but GPS data is
not valid, and Red indicates that GPS is not
communicating with the LinkAlign positioner.
The auto/manual switch allows the user to select auto
populate of GPS coordinates vs. manual entry. If the GPS
for any reason stops working a manual entry allows for
the system to continue to function while a replacement
GPS is ordered.
The target coordinates allows user entry of the target
Latitude and Longitude position. The user may also
browse the map and select a location which will result in
an auto populate of the target end latitude and longitude.
The "Go" button will point the LinkAlign positioner at
the target GPS coordinates. The positioner uses its
current location and target GPS coordinates to calculate a
line of bearing to the target end.
Displays the line of sight ground distance between the
current coordinates and target coordinates entered in the
GPS window.
The default GPS coordinates are displayed in degrees,
minutes, seconds. Checking the Decimal Degrees check
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LinkAlign Setup and Operation manual Rev 2.0
box
box will change the GPS coordinates to display in
decimal degrees.
Map Window
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Callout
number
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Callout
Description
Map Area
2
LinkAlign local
side positioner
marker
3
LinkAlign
target side
positioner
marker
Map Zoom
slider bar
Positioner
Heading
Magnetic/True
North Switch
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6
LinkAlign Setup and Operation
Callout Function
The map area is populated by Google maps. The current
GPS coordinates are used to center the map and identify
its surroundings. The map area can be turned off by
deselecting the "use Google" check box on the settings
page.
The LinkAlign local side position marker is red. It
identifies the current location of the LinkAlign antenna
positioner on the map and provides visual representation
to the desired target end location.
The LinkAlign target side positioner marker is green. It
identifies the current location of the target side LinkAlign
antenna positioner on the map and provides visual
representation to the desired local end location.
Allows the map window to zoom in or out.
Displays the local side LinkAlign positioner heading.
Changes the compass heading between true north or
magnetic north heading. If magnetic north is selected the
positioner uses the on board compass and displays
current magnetic heading. If True North is selected the
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LinkAlign Setup and Operation manual Rev 2.0
positioner uses data from the GPS to update the compass
and apply a magnetic declination to show true north
compass heading.
Compass Status
indicators
Calibrate
Compass
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8
Starts a compass calibration. The positioner will move
360 degrees and take compass measurements to calibrate
the magnetic environment.
Settings Page
This section details the settings page. The settings page is a pop up window that is opened by selecting
the gear button in the upper right side of the main control page (Identified below as callout number 1).
The settings page (Identified below as callout number 2) allows user updates to the system. The full
details of the settings page are provided below.
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Callout number
1
2
LinkAlign Setup and Operation
Callout Description
Settings Page button: Launches the settings
window (callout number 2 above)
Settings window: Allows user input and provides
status of current system settings.
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LinkAlign Setup and Operation manual Rev 2.0
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Callout
number
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Callout
Description
Limits
2
IP Settings
3
Use Google
check box
LinkAlign Setup and Operation
Callout Function
User configurable travel positioner travel limits. All
entries are in degrees. Allows software adjustment to
travel limits in Azimuth, Elevation, and optional
Polarization axis. The default travel limits for each axis is
maximum physical travel limit. The "save settings"
button must be selected before updates are applied.
User configurable IP address settings for the LinkAlign
antenna positioner. Each LinkAlign positioner also has a
non configurable IP address to access the system in case
the primary IP address is lost or forgotten. See the IP
Reset instructions for more information. The "save
settings" button must be selected before updates are
applied.
Check box to allow the user interface to populate the
topographical map in the map window. If left unchecked
the map will not load but still display both ends of the
link in the map area window. The "save settings" button
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LinkAlign Setup and Operation manual Rev 2.0
must be selected before updates are applied.
Serial Number
Displays the LinkAlign positioners serial number. This
field is non configurable and is the unique identifier used
by Nextmove to track warranty and software revisions.
"Reboot" button Forces a reboot of the on board micro controller.
Firmware Status Display's the current software revision running on the on
board micro controller.
"Choose File"
Allows the user to browse for a file to upload new
button
software to the LinkAlign antenna positioner.
"Upload" button The upload button will load the file selected by the user.
Polarization
Allows for customer applied zero position on the
Zero
optional Nextmove polarization rotator (Model number
LinkAlign-360POL)
"Set Pol Zero"
The "Set Pol Zero" button will identify the polarization
button
current position as its zero position. Depending on the
pol rotators current position, this may limit the travel in
one direction and increase in the opposite. For example,
if the "set pol zero was selected at 200 degrees the pol
rotator would now have 20 degrees of clockwise
direction and 420 degrees of counter clockwise direction.
The "save settings" button must be selected before
updates are applied.
"Clear Pol
The "Clear Pol Zero" button will restore the factory zero
Zero" button
location at the center of physical travel (±220º). The
"save settings" button must be selected before updates
are applied.
LinkAlign
Displays last action details for user review during
System status
configuration changes.
"Exit" button
The "Exit" button will close the settings window and
return to the main control page.
"Save Settings" The "Save settings" button will save any updates made to
button
the user configurable settings in the settings window.
IP Reset instructions
The LinkAlign positioner has a permanent IP address that is always accessible with the proper setup of
your computers IP address settings. This IP address can be used to access the system and recall the
current IP address settings or make other changes. It is important to follow the instructions below
carefully as this IP reset address is not recognized by standard routers or switches.
Step 1, Go to your computers TCP/IPv4 adapter settings and re-configure your computers IP network
settings
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LinkAlign Setup and Operation manual Rev 2.0
Set a static IP address of:192.254.1.102
Set a subnet mask of: 255.255.255.252
Select Ok to accept new settings
Step 2, Connect the LinkAlign antenna positioner directly to the laptop or computer that has been
reconfigured as shown below. The positioner should not have any routers or switches in line as most
routers or switches do not recognize a 169 network and will not forward requests or status associated
with this number range.
48VDC
Power
Configuration setup for IP Reset
Step 3, Using any web browser type the IP address 169.254.1.101 into the web browser command line
as shown below. The standard web browser control window for the LinkAlign positioner will launch.
The settings window can now be accessed to view the current IP settings for the unit or entry of new IP
address can be made and saved to allow operation on your network.
LinkAlign Setup and Operation
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Nextmove Technologies
LinkAlign Setup and Operation
LinkAlign Setup and Operation manual Rev 2.0
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