Terrestrial TV Broadcasting Station Automatic Tracking Antennas for Marine-use
The terrestrial TV station automatic tracking antennas for marine-use KTB-120 (named Marin Tenna) have been developed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Conventionally, omni-directional antennas have been used on ships, However, it is difficult to maintain stable images on moving ships with these antennas.
The newly developed antennas can provide constantly stable and clear images.
The antenna senses the position (latitude & longitude) and the direction of the ship by using signals from GPS (Global Positioning System) orbiting satellites. Then the microcomputer calculates the direction of the nearest TV station, and drives a stepping-motor so that the highly directional VHF & UHF antenna turns to the direction to capture broadcast waves from the station. The image signals are sent to the TV monitors through a slip- ring.
Thus, unlike conventional omnidirectional antennas, Kawasaki's new antenna catches even weak TV broadcast signals on the ocean. The antenna also remains locked on the TV station regardless of the ships's direction of travel, constantly providing stable images without interruptions such as "ghost", "flutters" or other interference.
The positions and receivable service areas of about 100 major TV stations in Japan have already been stored in the memory.
All mechanical and electrical parts and microcomputer-based digital control board are all compactly packaged in a waterproof FRP radome.
