Alan Spicer - Telecom
Alan Spicer Telecom - Marine Satellite Systems Page
"We work for you until the job is done" "We support the installed systems after the sale"
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Alan Spicer Telecom
Telephone: (954) 683-3426 / (954) 977-5245

Welcome to ALAN SPICER MARINE TELECOM - Marine Satellite Information Page. Primarily we want to show Marine Stabilized Auto-Tracking Antenna and Satellite Internet, Voice, and Fax Systems. AST also works with other options such as WiFi Hotspot Access Systems and Cellular Broadband Internet Access Systems.

VSAT systems and newer Inmarsat Fleet Broadband systems are faster options as far as Internet Speed as compared to the older long-standing Inmarsat systems such as Mini-M and Fleet (Fleet 33, Fleet 55, Fleet 77) which are 64 to 128Kb/s. When you start talking about 512Kb/s or faster then you are talking about High Speed or Broadband Marine Internet Access. VSAT refers to Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), is a two-way satellite ground station with a dish antenna that is smaller than 3 meters (most VSAT antennas range from 75 cm to 1.2 m). VSAT data rates typically range from narrowband up to 4 Mbit/s. VSATs access satellites in geosynchronous orbit to relay data from small remote earth stations (terminals) to other terminals (in mesh configurations) or master earth station "hubs" (in star configurations). Marine Stabilized and Auto-Tracking type of systems are available for yachts and other marine vessels. See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VSAT.



AST has also done a number of Direcway Satellite (now HughesNet) Internet installations for in-dock use: http://telecom.dyndns.biz/Direcway-and-Wireless-Linksys.html, this typically for smaller yachts or yachts without the budget for more expensive VSAT broadband satellite systems. Often requests are received for an auto-tracking antenna system for Direcway, the above cited article covers this... as with the ending of the US version of KVH TracNet, there is currently no such system. KVH TraceNet was based upon DirecPC which used the Canadian Bell ExpressVu (Satellite name: Nimiq) satellite. DirecPC absolutely has ended (December 2005) and everyone was migrated to Direcway or their service was terminated. To my knowledge there is no ocean going auto- tracking Direcway Internet access system. (I have worked on one yacht that has the KVH Tracnet system, the yacht Vamoose. Currently they have their account suspended per their request and are not using it. I don't even know if they could bring it back active if they wanted to.) KVH later released a new TracNet 100 with MSN TV Service for Boats. This is not a satellite Internet Service, it is a Cellular Broadband Internet Service (Verizon EVDO) which connects to onboard TV sets as well as having wireless (WiFi) for onboard Laptops and PDAs and such.

Marine Telecommunications - Satellite Systems and Services, Broadband Marine Communications Systems via Satellite

And now a little bit about Satellite TV and HDTV on Boats and Yachts (Marine)

HDTV Fact vs Fiction (KVH) about the DirecTV move from Ku Band to Ka Band Satellites for their HDTV offerrings - and why that won't work with a KVH Ku Band Auto-Tracking Dish Antenna

About the US Terrestrial TV Switch over to Digitial in February 2009 (KVH) - and how that affects Marine Satellite (and Terrestrial) TV Users

KVH Commercial Marine Brochure covers Mini-VSAT and Fleet Broadband...

Understanding Satellite Communications Costs (KVH) covers Mini-VSAT, Fleet Broadband, Fleet MPDS, Fleet ISDN (HSD)

!!NEW!! FLEET BROADBAND - FLEETBROADBAND PAGE NOW ONLINE: http://www.marinetelecom.net/fleetbroadband/

Inmarsat
BGAN for Marine, or Fleet Broadband hasn't BeGUN yet, but it's coming...

http://telecom.dyndns.biz/b2evolution/blogs/index.php/ast-main/2007/07/03/bgan_for_marine_or_fleet_broadband_hasn
The FleetBroadband, which is the Inmarsat approved maritime version of
the BGAN equipment is scheduled for launch towards the end of this year.
http://telecom.dyndns.biz/b2evolution/blogs/index.php/ast-main/2007/06/19/the_fleetbroadband_which_is_the_inmarsat

Fleet Broadband (aka BGAN) Service Launching in November 2007

http://telecom.dyndns.biz/b2evolution/blogs/index.php/ast-main/2007/06/12/fleet_broadband_aka_bgan_service_launchi_2007
map

Key

map

The map depicts Inmarsat's expectations of coverage, but does not represent a guarantee of service. The availability of service at the edge of coverage fluctuates depending on various conditions.


KVH Launches Next Generation Maritime Broadband Service and New TracPhone

http://telecom.dyndns.biz/b2evolution/blogs/index.php/ast-main/2007/07/14/kvh_launches_next_generation_maritime_br 

http://www.marinetelecom.net/trackphone-v7/

KVH Tracphone v7 Broadband Mini VSAT


KVH Mini-Vsat Image

KVH Tracphone V7 - Mini-VSAT Broadband Satellite Coverage Map

I have copies of their Brochure + Trackphone V7 Hardware and Airtime Subscription Price Sheet on here: http://www.marinetelecom.net/trackphone-v7/

Wavecall by Telenor

TelenorWaveCall by Telenor is a bi-directional VSAT network solution that provides maritime users with affordable regional broadband communications. WaveCall™ by Telenor Uses Telenor's global Teleport network and an industry-leading Ku-band antenna system from Seatel, to provide users with voice communications, high-speed Internet access and data that is "always-on" at a fixed monthly price.

Features and Benefits

  • Receive data (shore-to-ship) at a rate of up to 1024 kbps and transmit data (ship-to-shore) at a rate up to 256 kbps
  • IP access to the Internet and corporate networks enabling fast downloads of large data files and e-mail
  • Unlimited data transfer allowance
  • High Quality of Service (QoS) for voice calls through Telenor's PSTN infrastructure
  • Easy stand-alone or network compatible installation

Service Coverage

Currently WaveCall™ by Telenor is available for users in the Caribbean, Latin America, the United States, Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. The service is made possible by Telenor's global teleport network and is powered by TerralinkT, Telenor's exclusive IP networking platform. Telenor continuously evaluates the evolving needs of its customers and expands its service coverage areas as required to meet those needs.

 

Applications

WaveCall™ by Telenor is ideal for ocean going yachts that require always-on communications. In addition, the service is suitable for private corporate networks with requirements for a variety of applications, including file and image transfer, video conferencing, e-mail, VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), and database backup.

WaveCall
SeaTel WaveCall 6006

The WaveCall 6006 operates the same as the 4006 with a larger 1.5-meter Ku-Band maritime VSAT antenna. Because of its size and power, the 6006 features a higher transmit and receive gain (about 2 dB) which allows substantially increased thru-put connections depending on your data transfer requirements. The 6006 is suitable for file and image transfer, video conferencing, e-mail, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), and database backup.

DAC 2200
The WaveCall Series utilizes the new DAC 2200 antenna control unit. The DAC 2200 ACU is 1 rack-unit in height (1.75 inches) and is configured with an L-band DVB compliant tracking receiver, gyrocompass interfaces for both digital (NMEA 0183 HDT character strings) and most analog gyrocompass systems. A gyrocompass or other ships heading reference is required for proper system operation.



SeaTel WaveCall 4006

The WaveCall 4006 is a 1-meter Ku-Band maritime VSAT antenna for SCPC, broadband, or hybrid networks. The 4006 utilizes the same radome and antenna as the 4003. This antenna system meets the FCC's 2-degree spacing requirement, which is a remarkable achievement for a 1-meter ring-focus antenna. The antenna efficiency is better than 70% across the transmit and receive bands and is ideal for ocean going vessels that require "always-on" broadband satellite communications. The 4006 is suitable for file and image transfer, video conferencing, e-mail, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), and database backup.

DAC 2200
The WaveCall Series utilizes the new DAC 2200 antenna control unit. The DAC 2200 ACU is 1 rack-unit in height (1.75 inches) and is configured with an L-band DVB compliant tracking receiver, gyrocompass interfaces for both digital (NMEA 0183 HDT character strings) and most analog gyrocompass systems. A gyrocompass or other ships heading reference is required for proper system operation.



Seatel - Wavecall 4006 and 6006 Brochure

VSAT Systems by MTN/Sea Mobile



Multi-Regional VSAT

For Customers requiring “Always On-Always Available” communications but on a smaller scale, the Multi-Regional VSAT system is a perfect choice. This antenna is designed for marine use and is stabilized, but can also be used for land mobile applications. Multi-Regional VSAT systems are currently deployed on Yachts, Ferries and Casino boats. It is also used in MTN's Land Mobile VSAT.



MTN Multi Region VSAT Doc   MTN VSAT For Yachts (Multi-Region Ku Band VSAT    MTN Yacht Communications



See: Inmarsat Satellite Primer    Inmarsat AOR-E and AOR-W Locations (approximate)

Broadband Satellite Takes Flight - Inmarsat is one step closer to launching 3G broadband services to mobile users


New Launch: 11 March 2005 2142 GMT
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral AFS
LauncherVehicle: Atlas V
Name              Owner
INMARSAT I4-1     INMARSAT

International Number(s): Unavailable
Orbit: super-geosynchronous orbit (apogee 90,000+ km)
[vehicle launch info courtesy of http://www.agi.com/ Launch Notification Email to: Alan Spicer Telecom]

Scarlet Pruitt, IDG News Service
Monday, March 14, 2005

Inmarsat successfully launched the first of its new generation of satellites last week, bringing it one step closer to offering 3G (third-generation) compatible broadband data services to mobile users.

The 6-ton Inmarsat 4 (I-4) satellite, the size of a London double-decker bus, took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and will now undergo post-launch tests and maneuvers, the UK satellite company says. It is the first of three I-4 satellites that will supply Inmarsat's coming menu of Broadband Global Area Network services, due in the fourth quarter of this year.

The BGAN services will offer data speeds of up to 432 kilobits per second for applications such as video on demand, phone, e-mail, and Internet access. Inmarsat's services are used by maritime vessels, military units, and other customers that need roaming capabilities in remote areas.


New Launch:8 November 2005 1407 GMT
Site:Pacific Ocean
Launcher:SL-16 3SL
International Number(s):2005-044A
SSC Name Owner
28899 INMARSAT I4-2 USA
[vehicle launch info courtesy of http://www.agi.com/ Launch Notification Email to: Alan Spicer Telecom]
INMARSAT I4-2 will be located at 307 East longitude and is expected to have a life span of 13 years. This communications satellite has a single global beam that covers up to 1/3 of the Earth's surface as well as 19 wide spot beams and 228 narrow spot beams.

08-11-2005 - The launch of Inmarsat's second I-4 satellite took place on board a Sea Launch Zenit rocket from the Pacific Ocean at 14:07 UTC (GMT) on November 8.

The size of a London double-decker bus and weighing nearly six tons, once in operation the Inmarsat-4 (I-4) spacecraft will deliver simultaneous voice and 3G-compatible broadband data services to mobile users across North, Central and South America.

"The successful launch of the second I-4 satellite means that Inmarsat now has the world's most sophisticated commercial network for mobile voice and data services," said Andrew Sukawaty, CEO and chairman of Inmarsat.

"It will support an unprecedented evolution of our services - more than doubling the bandwidth available to our mobile users. It marks the beginning of a new era for Inmarsat, in which we expect to roll out a new range of global mobile services to government, aid, and enterprise users."

The satellite will now begin deployment and testing, with a number of key milestones ahead before being fully-deployed in geostationary orbit, 35,786 kilometres (22,237 miles) above the Equator, over northern Brazil.

The first Inmarsat-4 was launched in March 2005 and is already in commercial service above the Indian Ocean at 64ºE. Together, the two I-4 satellites will be able to deliver Inmarsat's new Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service to 85 per cent of the world's landmass.

BGAN is an IP and circuit-switched service that will offer voice telephony and a sophisticated range of high-bandwidth services, including internet access, videoconferencing, LAN and other data services, at speeds up to half a megabit per second.

Inmarsat's I-4 satellites are built by EADS Astrium and are part of an eight-year, US$1.5 billion development of Inmarsat's next-generation satellite network. They are 60 times more powerful and have 20 times more capacity than their predecessors, the Inmarsat-3 satellites.


"...laying the foundations over which (Inmarsat) FleetBroadband will operate."

2006-01-17 18:09:08

 

AST Happenings

"...laying the foundations over which FleetBroadband will operate." that's a quote from the Inmarsat web site:

http://maritime.inmarsat.com/news/00018863.aspx?language=EN&textonly=False

* That seems to indicate that "Fleet Broadband" isn't ready to go yet, but they're working on it... This article seems to indicate that the new Inmarsat I-4 will offer improved coverage for the Atlantic Ocean Region West (a.k.a. AOR-W). The article also seems to indicate that it's a Plug-and-Play thing to use the I-4 satellite if you are in the AOR-W region and all you would have to do would be to switch to it from the handset.

Additionally the following note appears on:

http://maritime.inmarsat.com/coverage/default.aspx
* Inmarsat has been forced to transfer maritime services in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) from Inmarsat-4 Satellite to the IOR Inmarsat -3 Satellite due to a radio spectrum allocation issue with another satellite operator. While in the Atlantic Region, the transition of Inmarsat maritime digital services from Inmarsat-3 F4 to Inmarsat-4 F2 are scheduled for Sunday, January 15 2006 at 14:00 UTC.
---

Fleet Broadband looks like it's going to be the upgrade path (or new system path) for many yachts using Fleet (33/55/77) systems (or considering what broadband satellite system to get.) No doubt that would be the BGAN for Marine, whereas all of the talk about BGAN right now seems to be towards smaller portable terminals, not terminals with auto-antenna tracking for yachts (and other marine vessels.)

---
The Whole article reads:

Enhancements to digital maritime services in AOR-W
19-12-2005 - Users of digital maritime services in Atlantic Ocean Region West (AOR-W) will benefit from enhanced coverage with the entry into commercial servie of the second Inmarsat-4 (I-4) satellite.

In-orbit testing (IOT) of the I-4's payload is now complete and the satellite is being drifted to its operational location at 53 degrees West above northern Brazil.

Piers Cunningham, head of Maritime Market Management at Inmarsat: "This transition will substantially enhance the coverage of maritime services that utilize spot-beams in the AOR-W ocean region.

"It will also ensure that the service reliability for which Inmarsat is renowned continues for many years to come, as well as laying the foundations over which FleetBroadband will operate."

Immediate benefit
The services that will immediately benefit from the coverage enhancement in the AOR-W ocean region are outlined below.

All other services (including safety service provision) remain unaffected.

Inmarsat Fleet F77 - 128kbps ISDN data
Inmarsat Fleet F55 - 64kbps ISDN data, MPDS & fax
Inmarsat F33 - 9.6kbps data, MPDS & fax
Inmarsat mini-M - voice, fax and data services.
In summary, maritime spot-beam service provision within this ocean region will be accessible within the satellites global footprint. There may be delays to the timing which may be unforeseen and Inmarsat will provide updated information as and when available. To benefit from enhanced coverage, terminals within the coverage of the second I-4 in the AOR-W will have to ensure they are logged on to AOR-W.

Additional information is available at www.inmarsat.com/coverage.
---
Alan Spicer
Alan Spicer Telecom
http://telecom.dyndns.biz/


WaveCall by Telenor is a shared access service offering "always-on" Internet access and IP-based services at a best effort transmission rate. Using Telenor''s global Teleport network and Sea Tel's industry-leading 4006 Ku-Band antenna system, WaveCall by Telenor enables fast and cost-efficient professional-class communications at sea. Part of Telenor's portfolio of Broadband Satellite Solutions, WaveCall by Telenor provides Internet and Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) connectivity at a fixed monthly price. Telenor has also told me today that they are getting ready to offer a DVB-RCS Service this will be similar to (or the same as?) The Nera Satlink Marine (NSSL Cruise-IP). I am trying to get some pricing on these services for cross-comparison between services and providers.

---
Alan Spicer
Alan Spicer Telecom
http://telecom.dyndns.biz/


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  • Voice / IP Fax / Internet
  • Tri-band WCDMA (850/1900/2100)
  • Quad band GSM (850/900/1800/1900)
  • HSDPA/EDGE/GPRS Data
  • RJ11 Interface
  • USB 2.0 Interface
  • Ethernet Port
  • 4 port 10/100 Mbit Router
  • WiFi 802.11


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