Satellite tracking method and apparatus thereof

A ground station configured to communicate via an inclined orbit geostationary satellite, the ground station comprising:

• a tracking antenna having three fixed axis and one moving axis;
• a motor configured to swing the antenna along the moving axis;
• a controller configured to control the motor;
• a receiver configured to receive a signal from a satellite via the tracking antenna;
• and
• an estimator configured to estimate reception quality of a signal received by the receiver,
• wherein the controller is further configured to track the satellite by performing a learning step and a tracking step, said learning step comprising:
• performing multiple instances of a peaking process for the satellite at constant predetermined intervals over a period of a full inclination cycle;
• storing results of said peaking process instances, wherein said stored peaking results are motor state values corresponding to antenna positions and to satellite positions along an inclination path;
• applying a filter to the stored peaking results for reducing alignment errors;
• and
• replacing the stored peaking results with corresponding values resulting from said filter application.

A method for tracking an inclined orbit geostationary satellite at a ground station, the method comprising a peaking process for aligning an antenna with a satellite, the method comprising:

• recording an initial motor state value for a motor at the ground station, the initial motor state value corresponding to an initial antenna position;
• receiving a signal from the satellite and recording a reception quality figure for the received signal;
• and
• driving the antenna exactly one step from the initial antenna position by commanding the motor with a state value one unit either higher or lower than the initial motor state value;
• determining whether the new value commanded to the motor is higher or lower than the initial motor state value;
• and
• based on said determination, determining a starting direction for said peaking process.