System Maintenance Flashcards
7 cards from real SBCA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 System Maintenance flashcards as text
What is the primary purpose of performing a spectrum analyzer sweep during satellite system maintenance?
Answer: To identify interference, spurious signals, and verify transponder cleanliness
Spectrum analyzer sweeps reveal interference sources, spurious emissions, and verify that the transponder bandwidth is clean before and after maintenance.
Which condition most commonly causes an IRD (Integrated Receiver/Decoder) to display a 'No Signal' error after a thunderstorm?
Answer: Water ingress or physical damage to the LNB or feedhorn
Thunderstorms can cause water ingress into the feedhorn or LNB, leading to signal blockage or component failure and a resulting 'No Signal' error.
When verifying EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power) at a receive site, which tool provides the most accurate field measurement?
Answer: A calibrated spectrum analyzer with a known-gain antenna
A calibrated spectrum analyzer paired with an antenna of known gain allows technicians to calculate actual received EIRP from measured signal levels.
What does an elevated noise floor on a spectrum analyzer indicate in a satellite receive system?
Answer: Possible LNB saturation or interference entering the system
An elevated noise floor suggests interference, LNB saturation, or a noisy component is degrading the system's noise performance.
During preventive maintenance, a technician finds corrosion on the N-type connector of a cable feeding an LNB. What is the correct remediation step?
Answer: Clean with contact cleaner, re-terminate with a new weatherproofed connector
Corroded connectors must be re-terminated with a new connector sealed with weatherproofing compound to restore signal integrity and prevent recurrence.
What is the recommended interval for re-torquing dish mount bolts in a high-wind environment?
Answer: Every 6–12 months or after severe weather events
In high-wind environments, mount hardware can loosen over time; re-torquing every 6–12 months or after severe weather prevents pointing drift.
A VSAT system experiences intermittent outages only during afternoon hours. What is the most likely cause?
Answer: Sun outage (solar interference) as the sun transits behind the satellite
Sun outages occur predictably when the sun passes through the antenna's beam path, causing high noise temperatures and signal degradation during specific times.