Signal Dynamics — Satellite tracking
Digital tracking receivers and monopulse down converters that drop into the rack space, cabling and antenna controllers you already have, with the remote monitoring and control a modern station expects.
Products
Polaris is our full tracking system: a rack-mount digital tracking receiver for step-track and monopulse, and the tracking down converter that sits at the antenna. Quantum is a compact step-track beacon receiver for sites that need accurate beacon level over the network. Both fit the racks, cabling and monitoring systems you already have, report their own health so a fault shows up before it costs a pass, and share one front panel, one set of SNMP objects and the same field software updates across your fleet.
Digital tracking receiver. Step-track and single-channel monopulse, four ±10 V tracking outputs, legacy-compatible I/O, 2U rack mount.
Tracking down converter. Takes the feed's Ka-band sum and difference signals and delivers one L-band signal to the Polaris DTR for monopulse tracking.
Step-track beacon receiver with 1 to 4 switched L-band RF inputs and SNMPv2c / SNMPv3 monitor and control. 19 in rack, 2U; DIN-rail mount option.
Replacing a legacy receiver
Side by side
| Polaris DTR | Polaris TDC | Quantum DTR | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Role | Tracking receiver, equipment room | Down converter, at the antenna | Beacon receiver |
| Tracking | Step-track and single-channel monopulse | Monopulse front end for the Polaris DTR | Step-track |
| RF | L-band 950–2050 MHz; 1 to 6 inputs | Ka-band Σ and Δ in, 20.25–21.25 GHz; L-band out | L-band 950–2050 MHz; 1 to 4 inputs |
| ACU interface | 4 × ±10 V outputs, track enable, summary fault | — | SNMPv2c / SNMPv3 over Ethernet |
| M&C | Front panel, SNMPv2c / SNMPv3, RS-485 data stream | Front panel, link to the DTR | SNMPv2c / SNMPv3 |
| Mounting | 19 in rack, 2U | 19 in rack, 2U | 19 in rack, 2U; DIN-rail option (-DM) |
| Configuration | PDTR-2L20 | PTDC-xxxx | QDTR-1L40 |
Configuration numbers
The configuration number on the order, the rear label and the unit's SERVICE menu says what is in the box: the tracking mode, the band and how many RF inputs are fitted.
PDTR-2L20 Polaris monopulse receiver, two L-band
inputs. PDTR-1C20 Polaris step-track receiver, two
C-band inputs. QDTR-1L40 Quantum step-track
receiver, four L-band inputs, 19 in rack. Add -DM
for the DIN-rail mount option.
Questions
Signal Dynamics makes two: the Polaris DTR, a rack-mount digital tracking receiver for step-track and single-channel monopulse with ±10 V outputs for the antenna control unit, and the Quantum DTR, a compact step-track beacon receiver that reports beacon level, C/N, lock and health over SNMPv2c or SNMPv3. Both cover L-band 950–2050 MHz; other bands use a block downconverter.
Yes. The Polaris DTR and Quantum DTR both have an SNMP agent that answers SNMPv2c, for the network management system a station already polls, and SNMPv3, with SHA-256 authentication, AES-128 privacy and separate monitor and control users. They tune 950–2050 MHz in 1 kHz steps.
The VertexRSI Digital Tracking Receiver (DTR) was discontinued in 2019. The Signal Dynamics Polaris DTR is designed to replace it in the same rack and on the same I/O wiring: same I/O 1 and I/O 2 pin positions and the same step-track level output settings. The level output location differs, and VertexRSI serial M&C is planned; see replacing a VertexRSI DTR for the full compatibility table.
Yes. The Polaris TDC takes the feed's Ka-band sum (Σ) and difference (Δ) signals at 20.25–21.25 GHz and sends one L-band signal to the Polaris DTR, which outputs cross-elevation, elevation and sum error voltages 25 times a second with 40–80 ms latency. Single-channel monopulse needs no periodic channel calibration.
Yes. The Polaris DTR keeps the analog interface the ACU was set up for: ±10 V monopulse error voltages (with the Polaris TDC) scaled to the ACU's existing settings, or step-track level outputs with the VertexRSI DTR's settings, plus a track-enable contact, summary fault contacts and DB-25 I/O on the VertexRSI DTR's pin positions. The station gains SNMPv2c and SNMPv3 monitoring, a live spectrum display and health reporting.
Email sales@signal-dynamics.com with your legacy receiver's model and settings, or your specification. An engineer replies within one business day with a configuration number and quote, and datasheets are sent on request until downloads are posted here. There is no online ordering or pricing.
Signal Dynamics is a US company at 2002 Synergy Blvd., Suite 200, Kilgore, TX 75662.
About Signal Dynamics
We build satellite tracking receivers for teleport operators, government and defense ground stations, and the systems integrators who specify and install them.
Our products slot into the existing rack footprint, cabling, and control stacks operators already depend on. What you gain is a software-defined platform: remote configuration, live telemetry, and firmware-defined features you couldn't get from the hardware you're replacing.
Excellence isn't our goal, it's our operating standard.
Get in touch
We work directly with operators and integrators. Reach out with your configuration, your legacy equipment, or your specification, you'll get a reply from an engineer.
Replies within one business day
