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Rantec's reliable, high-performance TACAN antenna, OE-258/URN (AT-100), operates with a substantially lower life-cycle than any other TACAN.
Major features include:
- Proven, time-tested antenna technology; FAA and ICAO flight certified, meets NAVALEX specification ELEX-329.
- Solid lock-on ranging out to 200 miles, due to its unique airspace pattern; no false-sector lock-ons.
- Unmatched azimuth stability, elevation pattern performance and coverage.
- Flawless operation for nearly 11 years in all climates, including the world's most environmentally severe sites.
- Documented MTBF in excess of 75,000 hours reduces over-all manpower requirements for maintenance.
- Instantaneous response over the entire 962-1213 MHz band, on either X or Y channels.
Rantec's TACAN antenna has a thoroughly documented performance, maintenance and operating cost.
TACAN History
Supported by more than 5,400,000 in-commission hours. When you buy Rantec's antenna, you get established and time-tested documentation, not estimates or computer projections of long-term costs.
Detailed life-cycle cost analysis based on hard data from installations in 21 countries worldwide - reveals that Rantec's antenna successfully performs in all climates with lower costs for technical services, lower maintenance costs and lower operating costs than any other TACAN antenna available today.
Major reasons why Rantec's antennas are so cost effective include: |
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| Major Characteristics |
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| FREQUENCY |
Instantaneous 252 channel (962-1213 MHz), both X and Y modes, with one antenna |
| PEAK POWER |
10 KW max. at 4% duty factor |
| VSWR |
< 1.8:1 |
| REFERENCE AND ID TRIGGERS |
North and Aux. - 15v p-p bipolar, 100 usec pulses; 1350 Hz tone - 15v p-p square wave; Fully compatible with URN-3, -25, -26, TRN-14, -17, -26, -29, GRN-9 and FA-9996 beacons; Triggers adjustable to other equipment |
| NORTH AND AUXILIARY ALIGNMENT |
Electronic, over 360° |
| NOMINAL IMPEDANCE |
50 ohms |
| MODULATION LEVEL |
20 ±10% for 15-135 Hz components - total of 55% or less |
| NET GAIN |
5.0 dBi min. (8.0 dBi min. directivity) |
| HARMONIC AND INTERMODULATION DISTORTION |
< 15% RSS value for 15 Hz signal
< 10% RSS value for 135 Hz signal |
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| Azimuth Performance |
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| COVERAGE |
Omnidirectional |
| BEARING ACCURACY |
135 Hz RMS error < 0.5%
15 Hz RMS error < 3.5° |
POLARIZATION ERROR
(for ±45° inclination receiving antenna) |
< ±2
(as determined from 135 Hz signal) |
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| Elevation Performance |
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| COVERAGE |
4° to 40° above horizon |
| HORIZON INTERCEPT |
-6 dB ±2 dB |
| SLOPE |
0.2 v/v/degree min. |
| SIDELOBES |
-18 dB max. |
| DIRECTIVITY |
8 dB min. |
| ENERGY BELOW HORIZON |
10% max. |
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| Features |
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| RELIABILITY |
75,000 hours MTBF |
| MAINTAINABILITY |
< 30 minutes MTTR |
| PERFORMANCE MONITORING |
Built-in, automatic for all critical parameters |
| ISOLATION AND REPAIR |
Built-in diagnostics, with replaceable modules |
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| Physical Characteristics |
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| PRIMARY POWER |
95 watts; 115/230 Vac at 50-400 Hz
24/48 Vdc |
| SIZE (Antenna) |
3.15 x 1.5 m
(10.33 x 4.9 ft) |
| SIZE (Modulation Generator) |
23 x 51 x 48 cm
(9 x 20 x 19 in) |
| WEIGHT (Antenna) |
345 kg (760 lbs) |
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| Environmental |
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| DESIGNED AND TESTED TO MIL STANDARDS FOR |
Humidity
Altitude
Sand and Dust
Vibration
Shock
Fungus
Rain
EMI/EMC |
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 Individual vertical feed circuits feature 12 all-band radiators, properly phased to give excellent cosecant coverage above the horizon and very low energy below the horizon.
The optimum azimuth accuracy desired for Rantec's electronically modulated TACAN antenna led our engineers to develop this state-of-the-art configuration which features a circular array of 36 vertical, highly efficient, wide-aperture circuits. |
- Rantec's TACAN antenna is electronically modulated. Featuring the latest miniaturization and solid-state circuitry, it has no moving parts to cause equipment failure or maintenance headaches. There are no bearings to wear out or replace, no seals to crack, no electric motors to overheat and no dipoles to get damaged or misaligned.
- A totally modularized design - which requires minimum spares inventory and features easily replaced circuit cards - further simplifies service and repair, and results in an MTTR of less than 30 minutes.
- This unit features the lowest power consumption of all competitive antennas, some of which require up to 3,000 watts of start-up power and 1,500 watts for continuing operation. Rantec's antenna requires only 95 watts for both start-up and operation, and it can function to specifications even with a low-cost battery back-up.
- It is estimated that the power savings alone - based on average but increasing costs for electricity around the world - will pay for a Rantec antenna in about seven years!
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 Every Rantec unit undergoes 100 hours of burn-in to assure trouble-free start-up. A fail-soft, gradual degradation system, designed and developed by Rantec, virtually eliminates any possibility of total signal failure.
Built-in self-test routines are activated either on site or remotely to eliminate many hours of troubleshooting. These proven routines tell you exactly WHERE a failure is and WHAT part to replace.
In the unlikely event of a TACAN signal failure, the Rantec antenna automatically switches to DME mode. This eliminates the possibility of false azimuth data, and also eliminates the need for a separate DME antenna at your site.
Antennas built by Rantec are currently in use by the U.S. military, by most free-world military forces, by the FAA and by many other civilian aviation authorities worldwide.
The reliability and performance of Rantec antennas, proven during 11 years of operation by these users, translates into enhanced air safety in critical military and civilian air-traffic corridors.
Major performance benefits include :
 Greatly improved air-space patterns compared to previous (rotating) technologies; the Rantec antenna performs better at difficult sites, particularly involving mountains and trees. As a result, it will require less critical site selection to achieve optimum performance.
- Rantec's wide-aperture antenna offers better elevation coverage that provides solid lock-on out to 200 miles or more.
- The unit inherently rejects multi-path signals. Ground-bounce signals which generate errors in azimuth and elevation patterns are substantially decreased. Rantec engineers, using proprietary computer simulation techniques, have optimized the energy from this antenna at critical elevation angles above and below the horizon.
- Designed to perform equally well in both terminal and en route applications, Rantec's TACAN antenna actually outperforms other antennas in the en route function. Pilots can lock on to our signal from much farther out, and maintain it right up to the terminal zone - without flying through any voids.
Backed by a one-year warranty, Rantec's antenna is the best solution to near-term and long-term needs for a cost-effective, low-power, maintenance-free antenna. When you consider the bottom line - superior performance and the lowest life cycle cost - Rantec's TACAN antenna is the clear choice.
Its proven technology guarantees there will be no design and development costs, no qualification programs, no schedule risks, no operational performance compromises, no interface problems, no ECPs, no cost overruns and no surprises for the end user. |
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