Patent ID: 7259724

Claim:
A controller for an antenna positioner that positions an antenna to track a moving object during a pass, the antenna positioner including an azimuth drive assembly that azimuthally rotates the antenna about an azimuth axis to vary an azimuth angle of the antenna, an x-axis drive assembly that rotates the antenna about an x-axis to vary an elevation angle of the antenna, and a y-axis drive assembly that rotates the antenna about a y-axis to vary an elevation complement angle of the antenna; wherein the controller is configured to: determine a maximum expected elevation angle during the pass; de-activate the azimuth drive assembly and activate the x-axis drive assembly and the y-axis drive assembly, when the maximum expected elevation angle is greater than or equal to a predetermined angle; and de-activate the x-axis drive assembly and activate the azimuth drive assembly and the y-axis drive assembly, when the maximum expected elevation angle is less than the predetermined angle.