A Practical Upgrade for  Aging Antenna Control Systems

The 8200L: A Smarter Upgrade with Familiar Engineering

The Radeus Labs 8200L wasn’t just built to replace the Vertex 7200—it was designed with the same engineering depth and expertise as the original. That means the engineering foundation is rock-solid, maintaining the reliability and expertise that made the 7200 a trusted solution for decades.

But technology has come a long way in the past 20–30 years. The 8200L takes full advantage of modern advancements, integrating new capabilities that simply weren’t available when the 7200 was first introduced.

A True Drop-In Replacement

Upgrading shouldn’t require a full system overhaul. That’s why the 8200L mirrors the 7200’s 4 rack design, ensuring a seamless fit into existing setups. Plus, if you need to optimize rack space, the 8200L offers an internal beacon receiver (available in L, C, Ku, and Ka bands)—eliminating the need for an external unit.

Beyond space efficiency, the 8200L also significantly reduces power consumption. Thanks to more efficient components, it runs on just 25 to 50 watts—cutting power use by 50-70% compared to older ACUs. That means a cooler, more efficient rack and facility.

Simplified Rear Panel Interface

One of the biggest concerns when upgrading is compatibility. The 8200L makes the transition effortless with a rear panel designed to match the 7200 ACU’s connections, allowing for a quick one-to-one swap.

It’s fully compatible with the existing 7150 drive cabinet and supports a range of position feedback devices, including size-11 resolvers and four optical encoder types. The portable maintenance unit used with the 7150 drive cabinet is also supported.

While the 8200L maintains the trusted interface of the 7200, it also introduces new remote access options, giving you more flexibility and control over your system.

If you’re looking for a modern, energy-efficient, and easy-to-integrate replacement for your 7200 ACUs, the 8200L is built for the job.

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Remote Access: Control Your ACU from Anywhere

The 8200L ACU comes with multiple remote access options, making system management more convenient than ever.

• • 7200 Serial M&C Emulation – The 8200L maintains compatibility with the original 7200’s Serial M&C interface, supporting most legacy commands to ensure a smooth transition.
  • SNMP Interface Option – For those with modern infrastructure, the 8200L offers full SNMP support, providing a streamlined and feature-rich way to interact with the ACU. MIBs are included directly on each unit.
  • VPN Connectivity – Need secure remote access? The 8200L supports VPN connections through TeamViewer or Windows Remote Desktop, allowing technicians to monitor and adjust settings from virtually anywhere.

Whether you need to maintain legacy connections or integrate with modern network infrastructure, the 8200L gives you flexible, reliable remote access options.

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Advanced Tracking for Greater Accuracy and Efficiency

The 8200L ACU offers several tracking and pointing options, combining proven methods with modern enhancements to improve accuracy, reduce wear, and optimize antenna control.

Step Tracking: Smarter, More Efficient Adjustments

Step tracking is the foundation of active antenna control, fine-tuning signal strength by making incremental adjustments. The 8200L features an advanced step track algorithm that quickly determines the optimal direction and step size to maximize signal quality.

Unlike traditional step tracking, which operates on fixed intervals, the 8200L can trigger tracking based on:

✔ Signal Strength Drops – Moves only when needed, reducing unnecessary movement and wear.
✔ Timed Intervals – Ideal for consistent tracking of targets with predictable movement.

By prioritizing efficiency, the 8200L reduces strain on servo systems and extends the life of antenna components.

Predictive Tracking: Staying Locked Even in Signal Loss

The 8200L’s Predictive Track feature builds a model of a satellite’s orbit over time, ensuring continuous tracking—even when a signal is lost.

• After collecting 24 hours of step track data, the ACU develops an orbital model to anticipate movement.
• This allows the antenna to continue tracking with accuracy, even during temporary signal disruptions.
  
  

With these advanced tracking features, the 8200L minimizes downtime, maximizes efficiency, and ensures reliable operation in any environment.

Precision Pointing Modes for Reliable Antenna Control

The 8200L ACU offers two primary model-based pointing modes for accurate and efficient antenna positioning:

• IESS-412 (Intelsat-11 Element) Mode
• NORAD Two-Line Element (TLE) Mode

These modes do not require a satellite beacon to maintain positioning, making them effective solutions for automated tracking.

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Automated Data Updates for Continuous Accuracy

The 8200L automatically refreshes pointing data every 24 hours when connected to an update source. It can:

✔ Pull files directly from a Radeus-hosted server (if connected to the internet).
✔ Retrieve updates from an internal server on protected networks.

This ensures your system stays up to date without manual intervention.

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Enhanced Pointing with Velocity-Based Step Tracking

To improve accuracy and response time, the 8200L enhances traditional IESS-412 and TLE pointing modes with velocity-based step tracking. This hybrid approach offers:

✔ Faster Target Acquisition – The ACU rapidly locks onto a satellite’s position.
✔ Real-Time Adjustments – After acquiring the target, step tracking maximizes signal strength by adjusting for any offsets.
✔ Predictive Path Tracking – Instead of simple step-by-step movements, the ACU follows the satellite’s predicted velocity while fine-tuning its position in real-time.

Once offsets are identified, they’re automatically applied to future tracking, ensuring even greater precision over time. This approach allows the ACU to track a target for 170+ hours after a TLE or IESS-412 model is loaded.

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Additional Pointing Modes for Flexibility

The 8200L ACU also supports multiple manual and automated positioning modes, including:

✔ Move to Look Angles – Directs the antenna to a specified azimuth/elevation.
✔ Move to Longitude – Adjusts position based on satellite longitude.
✔ Manual Jog – Provides precise, real-time movement control.
✔ Standard ACU Modes – Includes familiar operation methods found in traditional ACUs.

With these advanced pointing and tracking capabilities, the 8200L offers a powerful, adaptable solution for maintaining precise satellite communication—minimizing downtime and maximizing efficiency.

User-Friendly Interface for Faster, Simpler Operation

The 8200L ACU introduces a modern, intuitive touchscreen interface that makes operating and configuring your system faster and easier than ever.

• • Clear, Visually Intuitive Display – Key system parameters are presented in a clean, easy-to-read format.
  • Fewer Setup Steps – Thanks to a streamlined architecture, the number of required settings has been significantly reduced.
  • Quick Access to Controls – Unlike the 20-button keypad on the 7200, the touchscreen enables faster navigation and adjustments.

The 8200L is built for efficiency, ensuring operators can configure and monitor the system with minimal effort.

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Avoiding Hidden Switching Costs

Upgrading complex systems often comes with unexpected costs—engineering labor, rewiring, and reconfiguration can all add up quickly. These hidden “switching costs” are often overlooked when considering a new ACU.

With the 8200L, switching costs are virtually eliminated:

✔ Same interface and pinouts – No costly rewiring or infrastructure changes.
✔ No need for custom modifications – Engineers and technicians spend less time adapting the system.
✔ Lower total cost of ownership – Compared to competing replacement solutions, the 8200L can save tens of thousands in upgrade costs.

If you’re replacing legacy 7200 ACUs, the 8200L is the most cost-effective option available—delivering modern performance without the expense of reworking your entire system.

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A Versatile Spare for Both 7200 and 8200 Systems

The 8200L ACU isn’t just a replacement—it’s also a flexible backup.

With a quick internal Ethernet switch, the 8200L can function as a spare for both the 7200 and the standard 8200 ACU.

✔ Fewer spares required – One unit covers both systems, reducing capital tied up in backup hardware.
✔ On-site swap flexibility – Quickly replace a failing unit without unnecessary downtime.

For teleport operators managing both 7200 and 8200 systems, this means less equipment investment and greater operational resilience—ensuring business continuity with minimal cost.

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Effortless Installation and Configuration

Replacing a Vertex 7200 ACU with the Radeus Labs 8200L is designed to be quick and hassle-free.

With the 7200, system dynamics had to be manually measured and entered before achieving optimal tracking. The 8200L eliminates this extra step by featuring a Setup Wizard that automatically measures and configures system parameters for each antenna.

How the Setup Wizard Simplifies Setup:

✔ Automatically calibrates system dynamics for peak tracking performance.
✔ Discovers and configures hard and soft limit switches without manual adjustments.
✔ Measures servo bump and coast times to fine-tune motion parameters.

The result? More consistent configurations across different antennas—ensuring better performance with minimal effort.

In real-world installations, the Setup Wizard has completed full calibration in just 30–40 minutes. In one case, the entire ACU swap was completed in under an hour, getting the 8200L up and tracking almost immediately.

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Comprehensive Training and Ongoing Support

Radeus Labs is committed to ensuring a smooth transition to the 8200L with hands-on training and dedicated support.

✔ In-Person Training – Available at Radeus Labs' facility near San Diego, CA.
✔ Remote Training – Flexible options for teams who need offsite learning.
✔ Proactive Support – Cases are reviewed daily, and complex issues receive weekly updates for fast resolution.

Support isn’t just a department at Radeus—it’s embedded in our company culture. Our team, including engineering, sales, admin, and distribution partners, works together to ensure customers get the help they need—when they need it.

The Smartest Path to Upgrading Your ACU

The 8200L is built specifically to replace the Vertex 7200 ACU while maintaining full compatibility with the 7150 ADU. If you want to avoid costly rewiring and extensive reconfiguration, this is the logical choice.

Beyond being a seamless drop-in replacement, the 8200L brings the benefits of a modern ACU:

✔ Simplified setup and operation with automated calibration.
✔ Lower switching costs—no need for major infrastructure changes.
✔ Ongoing support and training to keep your systems running smoothly.

With the 8200L, you get a future-ready ACU—without the traditional headaches of upgrading a major system.

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