- IRD F Connector – Used to test the connection between the ODU and a Multiswitch.
- ODU F Connector – Used to run tests of current system and used when pointing an ODU during installation
- Type A USB Port – Used to transfer records from the AIM meter to a USB drive or Update the AIM meters firmware
- Type B USB Port – Also can be used to transfer records from the AIM meter or to Update the firmware in the event that you live in the upside down and use Type B USB stuff
- Charging/Power Port – Used to charge or Power the AIM meter when needed
- Softkeys – Used to select options displayed on the LCD Screen above them
- Navigation Keypad – Allows you to navigate and select options in a list as well as navigate fields when entering information
- Alphanumeric Keypad – Allow you to enter information/text or select a numbered list option
- Back – Allows navigation back to the previous screen
- Fn – Lets you quickly change the contrast and brightness of the display, control volume, enable rain mode, and capture screenshots
- Operation Buttons:
- Home – Used to display the home screen
- Config – Lets you view, transfer and delete records, change meter settings and upgrade meter firmware
- Help – Displays instruction to help you with the task being preformed on the meter
- Mute – Turns the sound on the meter on and off
- Power Button – Allows you to turn the meter on/off with a long press or the LCD backlight with a short press
- LCD Display – Displays the home screen as well as options and results of current tests
Home Screen
The home screen lets you access the AIM meters main features. You can return to this screen anytime by pressing the HOME button. You can access each of the four main features by pressing the softkey under each option.
Setup – Lets you set up the information for a job. Refer to Setting Up a Job
Install – Guides you through the steps for pointing a dish or preforming an Extended Installation Verification (EIV)
EIV – Guides you through the steps for performing Extended Installation Verification (EIV) at the ODU or another location of the satellite system to help you troubleshoot a problem. See Preforming EIV
Test – Lets you run network tests to help you troubleshoot a problem with an installation. See Performing Other Network Tests
Setting Up a Job
Before you preform tasks for an installation using the AIM, you need to set up the following information for the job:
- Entering the Account Number (Optional)
- Entering Notes (Optional)
- Dish Type – Used to set which dish will be used during the ODU install or what dish is being used during system testing
- Selecting the Switch type – Used to set what kind of switch will be used during installation
- Zip Code – Used to get rough alignment of the ODU before installing. This will provide you with Azimuth, Elevation, and Tilt
To do this press the soft key under Setup on the home screen to get to the Modify Job Setup page. The zip code is important for the install as it will provide you with rough alignment of the ODU when pointing.
Installing an ODU
Aligning the ODU – The tasks for aligning an ODU vary depending on the type of ODU. All ODU types require coarse adjustments to be made in the azimuth (AZ) and elevation (EL) directions. The 95° ODU also requires an adjustment in the tilt direction. To make coarse adjustments, move the ODU in the appropriate direction and use the AIM to determine the position that obtains the maximum possible signal power.
Slimline ODUs require fine adjustments (dithering) to be performed in the azimuth and elevation directions to further hone the signal power. To dither, rotate the fine adjustment jack screws to:
1. obtain a “reference” signal power on one side of the beam peak
2. obtain the identical strength on the other side of the beam peak
3.split the difference between the two reference points to obtain the maximum signal power for all applicable orbital slots.
The AIM guides you through the dithering process using a series of audible tones to notify you when the reference values have been obtained.
No matter what dish type you are installing the setup menu will need to be configured first and install may have up to six steps
Step One Installation Setup
1. Setup the job for the installation
2. From the HOME screen, press the softkey for INSTALL. The PRE-CONFIGURE ODU screen appears showing the default azimuth and elevation coordinates for the job. If appropriate, the default tilt coordinate also appears. (Default coordinates are based off the ODU type and Zip code selected for the job)
3. Perform the ODU site survey. Using the AIM azimuth and elevation coordinates, confirm that the selected location has a clear line-of-sight to the supported orbital slots
4. Install the ODU according to the DIRECTV procedure.
5. Connect the AIM’s ODU F Connector to the ODU’s LNB output.
6. Press NEXT on the PRE CONFIGURE ODU screen.
Step Two Coarse Azimuth Adjustment
1. While monitoring the signal power bar on the COARSE AZ & EL ADJ screen, rotate the ODU on the mast in the azimuth direction until the maximum signal power is reached.
2. Lock down the mounting bracket collar on the mast
Step Three Course Elevation Adjustment
1. Loosen the ODU’s elevation lock-down screws.
2. While monitoring the signal power bar on the COARSE AZ & EL ADJ screen, rotate the ODU in the elevation direction until the AIM indicates that it is “locked” onto the signal and the maximum signal power is reached. Important: You might need to alternate between performing the coarse elevation adjustment and the coarse azimuth adjustment to achieve the maximum signal power.
3. Tighten the elevation lock-down screws.
4. Press NEXT to continue.
Step Four Tilt Adjustment
1. Loosen the ODU’s tilt lock-down screws.
2. While monitoring the SNR bar on the TILT ADJ screen, slowly rotate the ODU around the tilt axis until the maximum SNR value is reached. 3. Tighten the tilt lock-down screws.
4. Press NEXT to continue.
For 3-LNB ODUs only, the VERIFY AZ & EL screen appears following the tilt adjustment to ensure the azimuth and elevation are still properly aligned. Adjust the coarse azimuth and elevation if necessary following the steps in Step Two and Step Three
Step Five Fine Elevation Adjustment
1. Loosen the ODU’s elevation lock-down screws.
2. Turn the ODU’s elevation jack screw counterclockwise 2 turns.
3. On the FINE EL ADJ screen, press SET REF to set the reference value. The AIM sounds a confirmation tone and displays the reference value.
4. Zero out the readout dial on the elevation jack screw.
5. Turn the elevation jack screw clockwise until the meter begins to sound a series of beeps, indicating that the reference value is within 1 dB. Continue turning until the meter sounds a confirmation tone and the displayed signal power matches the reference value.
6. Refer to the ODU’s dial and use the AIM’s numeric keypad to enter the number of turns it took to return to the reference value. Then press OK.
7. Zero out the readout dial on the elevation jack screw.
8. Refer to the AIM screen and turn the elevation jack screw counterclockwise the number of turns indicated on the AIM screen.
9. Tighten the elevation lock-down screws.
10. Press OK and then NEXT to continue.
Step Six Fine Azimuth Adjustment
1. Loosen the ODU’s azimuth lock-down screws. AIM User’s Manual
2. Turn the ODU’s azimuth jack screw counterclockwise 2 turns.
3. On the FINE AZ ADJ screen, press SET REF to set the reference value. The AIM sounds a confirmation tone and displays the reference value.
4. Zero out the readout dial on the azimuth jack screw.
5. Turn the azimuth jack screw clockwise until the meter begins to sound a series of beeps, indicating that the reference value is within 1 dB. Continue turning until the meter sounds a confirmation tone and the displayed signal power matches the reference value.
6. Refer to the ODU’s dial and use the AIM’s numeric keypad to enter the number of turns it took to return to the reference value. Then press OK.
7. Zero out the readout dial on the azimuth jack screw.
8. Refer to the AIM screen and turn the azimuth jack screw counterclockwise the number of turns indicated on the AIM screen.
9. Tighten the azimuth lock-down screws.
10. Press OK and then NEXT to continue.
Preforming EIV After ODU Installation
When you complete the alignment process for the ODU, the EIV AT ODU screen appears. You can:
1. Immediately perform Extended Installation Verification (EIV) on the ODU that you just aligned.
2. If the installation includes two ODUs, you can press NEXT to return to the SELECT ODU screen and align the other ODU.
3. Press DONE to return to the HOME screen and perform EIV later. For instructions, see Performing EIV. To perform the Extended Installation Verification (EIV) for the ODU that you just aligned:
On the EIV AT ODU screen, press RUN EIV and wait briefly for the results.
On the EIV AT ODU RESULTS screen, review the results for all supported orbital slots and SWiM channels (if applicable). A satisfactory result is indicated by a check A problem is indicated by a X. If a check appears for all supported orbital slots, the ODU alignment is acceptable. If X appears for an orbital slot, perform the following steps:
1. Press REPEAT EIV to confirm the problem.
2. If X appears again for one or more orbital slots, you can press EIV DETAIL to determine which tests failed. Troubleshoot any failures following the instructions provided by DIRECTV.
3. To repeat the alignment process, press REPEAT ALIGN.
When you have finished reviewing EIV results on the EIV AT ODU RESULTS screen, you can press DONE to return to the HOME screen. If the installation includes two ODUs, you can press NEXT to return to the SELECT ODU screen and align the other ODU.
Preforming EIV
Extended Installation Verification (EIV) can be performed at any point in the installation to quickly confirm that the installation is satisfactory for all supported orbital slots. EIV is an easy way to pinpoint any potential problems with the installation. The AIM guides you through the steps for the testing.
To perform the Extended Installation Verification (EIV):
1 Start the job for the installation (See Setting Up A Job).
2 From the HOME screen, press EIV to go to the EIV CONFIGURATION screen.
3 Use the navigation keypad to highlight the equipment configuration for the installation and then press SELECT to go to the EIV LOCATION screen.
4.Use the navigation keypad to position the image of the AIM under the location where you are testing.
5. Connect the AIM ODU F connector at the location in the distribution network where you want to test. Then press NEXT to go to the EIV screen.
6. On the EIV screen, you can do one of the following:
– To select an individual polarity for the EIV, press OPTIONS. On the EIV OPTIONS screen, use the navigation keypad to highlight the polarity for the EIV. Then press SELECT to continue.
– To select the channel for an installation with a DSWiM-13 where the test location is between the DSWiM and IRD, press OPTIONS. On the EIV OPTIONS screen, press SELECT. Then use the navigation keypad to highlight the DSWiM channel and press SELECT.
– To add a note about the EIV, such as details about where the EIV is being performed, press NOTES. Then enter the desired note
– To run the test, press RUN EIV and wait briefly for the results.
7. On the EIV RESULTS screen, review the results for all supported orbital slots and SWiM channels (if applicable). A satisfactory result is indicated by a check. A problem is indicated by X. An inconclusive result is indicated by a –. If a check appears for all supported orbital slots, the ODU alignment is acceptable. If X appears for an orbital slot, perform the following steps:
a. Press REPEAT EIV to confirm the problem.
b. If X appears again for one or more orbital slots, you can press EIV DETAIL to determine which tests failed. Troubleshoot any failures following the instructions provided by DIRECTV
If X appears for the SWiM or (DSWiM), at least one EIV transponder has failed. However, this is not conclusive that the SWiM itself has failed. Troubleshoot any failures following the instructions provided by DIRECTV.
8. When you have finished reviewing EIV results on the EIV RESULTS screen, you can press DONE to return to the HOME screen. You may also press CHANGE LOC to perform EIV for another location.
Preforming Other Network Tests
If there is a problem with a DIRECTV installation, you can run network tests to help you troubleshoot the problem. These tests include: