Global Marine Networks (GMN), the leaders in advancing satellite data speed and services, today announced the ability to update Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter via satellite phone, with the XGate Satellite Phone Data Service and compatible computer. XGate Social services are immediately available to XGate subscribers in addition to accelerated satellite phone email, web browsing and weather data service.
“Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter are the way millions of people share their lives with others every day. Yet until now satellite phone users, who are often in the remote places or emergency situations where they most want to update others of their status, have found it hard to post to social media sites,” said Dr. Luis Soltero, President and CTO of GMN.
“Now, satellite phone users can update all of their friends, business contacts or followers with the press of a button in the XGate application.”
XGate is a fast, reliable and easy-to-use satellite phone email, web, weather data – and now – social media service. Features include:
- Up to 20 times faster email transfer speeds through compression and custom server protocols
- Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn posting
- Mid-file restart and automatic satellite phone connection control
- Access to free GRIB weather files
XGate’s associated XWeb satellite phone web browsing service accelerates data an average of three to five times faster than uncompressed rates through compression, page re-rendering and ad-blocking, giving users easier and more reliable access to web sites.
Pricing and Availability
Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter updating are available to both new and existing users for standard XGate subscription rates. A free three-day trial account is available upon downloading XGate. Existing XGate subscribers can download the latest version of XGate in the XGate downloads center. Currently, XGate Social Media services are available for all users of the following Windows, Apple Macintosh and Linux versions:
- Windows XP, Vista and 7, both 32 and 64-bit versions
- Mac OSX 10.4 or later computers
- Any Debian-based Linux system
XGate Social Media services are expected to be available to of Apple iOS (iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch) and Android users by October 2012.
Compatibility
XGate works with any IP-based data service, including the following satellite phones.
Compatible USB-based satellite phones:
- Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro
- Iridium 9555
- Iridium Extreme (9575)
- Iridium OpenPort
- Globalstar GSP-1700
- All Thuraya USB-based phones
Compatible Serial or Ethernet-based phones and terminals:
- Inmarsat FleetBroadband
- Inmarsat BGAN
- Iridium 9500
- Iridium 9505, 9505a
- Globalstar GSP-1600
- Globalstar GSP-2900
- Thuraya IP
About Global Marine Networks, LLC
Global Marine Networks (GMN), the leaders in advancing satellite data speeds and services, helps Fixed and Mobile Satellite Services providers and their customers by offering the industry’s fastest, most reliable and easy-to-use E-mail, web, and other hardware and software services to maritime, oil and gas, first responder and business continuity users. The company’s products include XGate high-speed satellite email, WeatherNet weather and oceanographic data software, and vessel tracking systems. Ship to shore network management solutions are sold by GMN under the RedPort Global brand name at http://www.redportglobal.com and as white-label solutions for the world’s premier satellite data service providers.
GMN has numerous awards and certifications for technical innovation and holds pending patents on its products. For more information on how GMN is Making Airtime Count™ - whether ship to shore, or in remote or emergency communications environments visit http://www.globalmarinenet.com
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On April 27, 2012, Iridium announced a replacement program to address a problem with the Iridium Extreme Satellite Phone (9575). The company is voluntarily replacing all Iridium Extreme phones due to an internal antenna sensor problem that can cause the phone to malfunction. Please note this does NOT affect the Iridium 9555 satellite phone.
Today one of our best customers called us very concerned about the recall. He was leaving for a 25 day sailing passage to Tahiti and didn't have time to complete the Iridium Extreme recall process before he left.
What to do? Fortunately Luis Soltero was able to discover an Iridium engineer-endorsed work around.
Iridium Extreme Antenna Problem
The replacement program was initiated due to a mechanical element on the antenna stem of the Iridium Extreme that triggers a deployment sensor with insufficient tolerances which is leading to instances of the sensor not working as designed. In plain English, it seems that the phone doesn't always properly recognize the antenna, and so the phone won't work.
Iridium Extreme Antenna Work-around
First, you should take up Iridium on the replacement as soon as possible. But what if you need to use your phone before you can get a replacement? Fortunately, there are two easy work-arounds.
1) Using an external antenna bypasses the internal antenna and thus circumvents the problem. All Iridium Extreme phones ship together with an external antenna in the box. Simply use the external antenna, and you will not experience the problem.
2) Using any docking station that bypasses the internal antenna will also eliminate the problem, buying you valuable time to use your phone.
The full text of the Iridium announcment is below, and available as a pdf document from Iridium "Iridium Extreme Replacement Program."
We're pleased to see Iridium stand behind their equipment, take responsibility, and act quickly to replace affected phones.
Iridium Extreme® Replacement Program
On Friday April 27th, 2012, Iridium announced a replacement program for the Iridium Extreme®. The replacement program was initiated due to a mechanical element on the antenna stem of the Iridium Extreme that triggers a deployment sensor with insufficient tolerances which is leading to instances of the sensor not working as designed. The problem was traced to a vendor manufacturing process and has since been rectified.
Iridium has identified several possible impacts to the use of the phone, and we estimate that a significant number of shipped units may be currently affected. One possible result of this mechanical issue is that a customer is still able to make calls and send messages but the phone’s performance may be reduced even if the antenna is fully extended. Another possible result is that the unit may operate at a power level exceeding the equipment’s authorized FCC radio frequency limits unless the antenna is fully extended. If the customer must use the phone out of necessity prior to its replacement under this recall, the customer needs to follow proper handset use guidelines as specified in the User Guide and ensure that the antenna is extended during all calls.
This issue may not impact all units; however, due to the nature of the issue, Iridium strongly requests that customers contact their Iridium Service Provider to determine the replacement procedure for their Iridium Extreme phone. Iridium has implemented the fix for this issue and is restarting production immediately. We are very confident that Iridium Extreme phones manufactured going forward will perform to specification and be of high level production quality.
We sincerely regret this occurrence and apologize for the impact on our customers, partners and distributors operations and any issues with using the phone in the field. Iridium is taking swift actions to assist with the replacement of Iridium Extreme phones in partners’ inventory and in the hands of customers and we expect to have all recalled units replaced within 2 months.
The Iridium Extreme is the most capable and highly featured satellite phone on the market and it is Iridium’s intent to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. Thank you for your continued support and we remain confident that all will benefit greatly from the features and the capabilities unique to the Iridium Extreme.
Note: The Iridium 9555 is not affected by this issue and we have both sufficient inventory and have increased production to assist in meeting your demands for Iridium satellite phones.
Understanding what makes compressed satellite phone web browsing practical and affordable can be confusing. Some help is in order when you consider the complexity of the equipment, compression, latency, the type of page being downloaded, encryption, links, math and money. There are many ways to go, but we can help point you in the right direction.
Read on to learn the different directions you can take to browse the web with XGate over handheld satellite phones and broadband equipment.
Here's the executive summary:
1. Handheld satellite phone data service -
With Xweb services and the Optimizer, it is possible to browse the web over handheld satellite phones like the Iridium 9555 or (less so) IsatPhone Pro - but it can be prohibitively expensive, even with compression. In certain cases some still choose to purchase compression based web services for handheld phones with the understanding that the cost is high, both in dollars spent and airtime consumed.
2. "Always-on" satellite broadband service -
Satellite broadband service (Inmarsat FleetBroadband, BGAN, Iridium OpenPort, Thuraya IP) can cost more up front in hardware, but overall is more desirable, efficient and affordable, when used with a satellite firewall and Wi-Fi device like Optimizer and XWeb web acceleration service.
Here's the details:
The standard for comparison is old-fashioned dial up rate which is 56 kbps (kilobits per second) with a latency of .1 seconds. This standard is used because no matter how you cut it, even compressed satellite phone web browsing is SLOW.
The Iridium stated uncompressed data transfer rate is 2.4 KBps or 2400 Baud. With the Optimizer this goes up to 2.8-2.9 kbps without compression.
Iridium latency is 1.4 seconds. Latency is the time it takes for airtime turn arounds and is often referred to as dead airtime.
XWeb compression will afford 3-5x faster browsing. So what does all this mean?
56kbps/2.7 = 20.7 times slower data transfers over satellite before compression. After compression it is 6.9 to 4.2 times slower than dial up. BUT you still have latency.
So take a page with 10 links on it which is a total of 60 kbytes. For a land line dial up that will take
.1 latency per link in seconds X 10 links = 1 second + 60 kilobytes/360 kbytes per minute/60 seconds per minute = 11 seconds to load the page.
For Iridium:
You have 14 seconds in latency with 60 kilobytes/75 kilobytes per minute/60 seconds per minute (5X compression) which yields 62 seconds to load the page. Which for this example is 5.6 x slower than a dial up connection to load the page.
For IsatPhone:
Note that the math for isaphone is simliar but the latency is 5 seconds so for this example you have 50 seconds of dead airtime. Also the raw rate is 12 Kbytes per minute...
50+60 kilobytes/60 kilobytes per minute (compressed) /60 seconds per minute = 110 seconds which is 10 times slower than a dial up connection.
The actual speed up depends on the compressability of the data and the number of links on the page and the latency of the satellite link. The compressibility of the data is important as is the number of links on the page as seen clearly in the IsatPhone example. Encrypted data such as bank sites or google search are impossible to compress and thus are prohibitively expensive to download.
How do people successfully use web compression for handheld phones?
People who successfully use web browsing are very judicious in its use. One example is a group of fishermen we serve off the coast of Australia. The weather data they need is one of the very few sources not available through the WeatherNet service, so they choose to pay for the download to their site and are appreciative that such data is available at sea.
Others may choose to occasionally download important home school information or a particular page with an important repair part for their vessel.
But the theme is always the same, general web browsing is expensive, yet it is a real step forward to have the web available when you really need it at sea. For more information on this please see our previous blog on "Can I Surf the Web with My IsatPhone Pro?"
If you really need true satellite web browsing at sea, satellite broadband is the answer.
Cost: Satellite broadband systems have fairly expensive airtime, but with XWeb compression it becomes affordable. For example a low end fleet broadband subscription charges about $20 per megabyte. XWeb compresses pages by a factor of 3 to 5 which means effective cost goes down by a factor of 3 to 5. So $20 now converts to $4 per megabyte.
Speed: Broadband connections are fairly slow, but with XWeb compression they rival land based broadband connections. For example, an Iridium OpenPort is a maximun of 2x a dial up connection. A FleetBroadband 150 is a maximum of 3 x dial up. So the systems are considerably slower than connections you might have at home. But by decreasing the amount of data you transfer with Xweb, you increase the speed by a factor of 3 to 5. So now something that is as slow as 2x a dial up connection rivals a land based broadband connection.
Security: By using compression based web browsing it is possible to configure firewalls over our satellite firewall Optimizer to prevent all traffic over the broadband links except the pages you want to see. This eliminates expensive, unmonitored and unwanted traffic such as automatic operating system updates, virus scan software updates, etc.
THE BOTTOM LINE
For occasional specific web browsing, handheld units like Iridium and Inmarsat systems are possible but expensive.
For more robust web browsing similar to land based use, one will want to consider Broadband at sea.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Your thoughts?
Leave your comments below. Thank you for your participation!
Posted by
John Dark on Mon, Apr 23, 2012 @ 05:21 PM
IsatPhone Data Service
One question we see a lot is "Can I surf the web with my IsatPhone Pro?"
The answer is more complex than yes and no because of a number of factors. The first thing we ask in response is "What do you need it for?" If the answer is email, or weather only, then the IsatPhone Pro is a good choice. If someone thinks they're going to access the web the same way they do at home or work to surf for fun or to shop, the answer is that the speeds are so slow as to make it virtually (but not completely) impossible.
What we wish people would ask is: "What services can I use with my IsatPhone Pro and what do I need to know about each service?" Of course, if you already own an IsatPhone, this question is even more important.
IsatPhone Pro Voice Service
IsatPhone Pro phones offer reliable and clear voice service. There's a reason that tens of thousands of IsatPhone Pros have been sold, and it is this: voice service with low hardware and airtime costs.
In the age of the Internet, it is easy to forget that most companies still have excellent voice services that allow you to do things like interactive banking, and that calling real people is still a way to get things done. Need to transfer money once a month, or check on stock prices? Voice services can do this. You can even have your email read to you by a computer. It's not always the most efficient option, but it may work for you. Make sure you consider these options for any satellite service.
IsatPhone Pro Data Service
Technically, IsatPhone Pro satellite phones can access email, weather and web services. It's important to note that specialized hardware and software is required to achieve good, or sometimes even usable results. That being said, we do have many customers using IsatPhone Pro phones for satellite phone email and weather data like GRIB files. There are also a few customers who happily access small, specialized web sites via their IsatPhone Pro.
IsatPhone Pro Data Speeds
IsatPhone Pro data services use the Inmarsat GSPS data network. Inmarsat says that users will achieve a throughput of 2.4 KBps, or 2400 Baud. This is equivalent to dialup networks as they were commonly used in the 1980's and early 1990's. The last standard modem that most people had before they switched to DSL or cable modems was 56K, or more than 20 times faster than today's IsatPhone data services. To compound the problem, in real-world testing, we have experienced actual IsatPhone data speeds considerably slower than the stated speeds. At these rates, downloading a typical web page can take over an hour with an IsatPhone Pro.
Today's computers are loaded with software that continually use data in the background to check for updates, stay in touch, or demand services. This means that just connecting a computer to an IsatPhone and establishing a data call will overwhelm the amount of data the system can handle. To use IsatPhone Pro data service, we highly recommend the use of a satellite firewall such as the GMN Optimizer to block unwanted data requests by your computer.
Need "always-on" web connectivity? Satellite broadband services like Inmarsat FleetBroadband or Iridium OpenPort give you better costs per megabyte and faster speeds, allowing for excellent web access when used with optimized hardware and compression services.
IsatPhone Pro Email Service
To successfully use IsatPhone Pro for email, you'll need two things:
1) Satellite Firewall & Wi-Fi Hotspot
A satellite firewall will block unwanted traffic, saving you time and money, and will generate a Wi-Fi hotspot to connect to your computer or smartphone. See GMN's solution, Optimizer.
2) Satellite Phone Email Service
A satellite phone email service with compression will maximize your airtime use saving you time and money. Look for a service that gives you at least 15 times the average speeds of download, and make sure it supports your computer or tablet. XGate satellite phone email service gives you an average 20X acceleration speed, and supports Windows, Apple Macintosh and iOS (for iPad/iPod/iPhone) and Linux. Learn more about XGate satellite phone email.
IsatPhone Pro Weather Data Service
1) Satellite Firewall & Wi-Fi Hotspot
A satellite firewall will block unwanted traffic, saving you time and money, and will generate a Wi-Fi hotspot to connect to your computer or smartphone. See GMN's solution, Optimizer.
2) Weather Data and Compression service
Weather and oceanographic data services give you access to up-to-date weather, and compress the files needed, saving you valuable time and money on satellite airtime. See GMN's satellite phone weather software, WeatherNet.
IsatPhone Pro Web Service
Which brings us back to our original question: "Can I surf the web with my IsatPhone Pro?". Now you know that you can access email, and get weather data. You also know that IsatPhone Pro data speeds are so slow that "surfing" the web is impossible because download times for a single page can run hours, not seconds. However, we have had customers who want to access specific low-bandwidth pages for data they can't get through a voice service. If you're in this situation, here's what you'll need:
1) Satellite Firewall & Wi-Fi Hotspot
A satellite firewall will block unwanted traffic, saving you time and money, and will generate a Wi-Fi hotspot to connect to your computer or smartphone. See GMN's solution, Optimizer.
2) Web acceleration service
Web acceleration services do many things such as strip out backgrounds, block ads, compress images and text and re-render the page giving you 3-5 average speed improvement. See GMN's web acceleration solution, XWeb.
Posted by
John Dark on Wed, Apr 18, 2012 @ 10:15 AM
New choices in satellite communications, plus traditional radio technologies help Blue Water Cruisers stay in touch while on the water, according to the new white paper "Staying In Touch Offshore" from Global Marine Networks.
With satellite phone providers introducing new equipment that's more affordable than ever, and people finding the services they rely upon on land just as indispensible on the water, there's been a "sea change" in communications for Blue Water Cruisers and other boaters. But which services are right for you?
Whether you’re a salty live-aboard, an occasional offshore adventurer, or you spend more time thinking about your boat than being on it, a new guide to communications for boaters can help you understand how to stay in touch, including:
- Types of Communications Technologies
- HF Radio vs Satellite Phones for boaters
- Voice calling via satellite phones
- Using HF Radio and VHF radio with other boaters
- Satellite phone email
- Satellite phone data access
- Getting GRIB and other weather data files over radio and satellite phones
- Sample Equipment and Service setups for casual boaters and liveaboards
The overview will help any offshore boater get an excellent overview of everything they need to know to get started with communications. Don't wait until the night before your first journey to figure out how to get your email from your boat - download the free guide now!
Staying In Touch Offshore: Global Marine Networks’ Guide To Blue Water Cruising Communications - How to stay in touch with the family, friends and information you need through radio and satellite voice, email and Internet services while at sea - a fast, fun and friendly overview.
Please share you comments to this blog below or contact us at info@globalmarinenet.com. Thank you!
Satellite communication took another innovative leap forward today when GMN labs sent the first iOS email using a Globalstar GSP-1700, Optimizer and XGate satellite email for iOS, available in the iTunes App Store. 
Transmission was flawless.
As Globalstar launches their second-generation satellites, many Globalstar users are looking to make the most of the current Globalstar unlimited plans. Email is one of the best ways to do this - you can create emails offline, then transmit them seemlessly.
When used with XGate and a Globalstar phone, Optimizer lets you access emails easily, browse the web, download your favorite weather files and track your location. Most importantly, you can avoid runaway satellite phone airtime bills thanks to its powerful firewall.
Want to know more about using a Globalstar phone for data service?
Recently a new cruiser came to us who needed satcom data (marine weather, email and satellite Internet) for his first blue-water cruise. He had already purchased an IsatPhone based on the handset cost. (See our blog post comparing IsatPhone Pro and Iridium pricing for downloading GRIB files)
Does IsatPhone Pro Data Work?
However, he had heard the IsatPhone Pro was very difficult to set up for data and that data just didn't work well on the IsatPhone Pro. We've worked with many customers since the launch of IsatPhone data service last year, and well, it hasn't always been as easy as with other satellite phone data services. Driver issues are more common, and uncompressed speeds are slower. Plus, there was no way to use an iPad.
But tens of thousands of IsatPhones are in use, and email is the most efficient way to communicate when you're out there. Plus, we have had success with email using the XGate service. So we knew there had to be a way to make IsatPhone data service sing.
Yes! Email and Weather via IsatPhone
IsatPhone Pro Satellite Phone Data Optimization Tip: Get an Optimizer
There is a way to make IsatPhone Pro data service work for email and weather, easily, reliably and quickly: Optimizer.
Optimizer is a small Wi-Fi hotspot with a built in firewall that stops all unwanted data requests from a user’s computer. It creates a Wi-Fi hotspot to easily connect with virtually any modern computer or iOS device, eliminating setup and support issues otherwise common with IsatPhone Pro data.
Optimizer works wonders with IsatPhone data service for compressed email when using XGate service. XGate also handles the phone connection: dialing, monitoring the satellite phone signal, and hanging up calls as needed.
END RESULT: The myth that IsatPhone Pro is difficult for data is debunked - when you Optimize. Set up is easy (no USB driver problems!) and email zips.
Optimizer and XGate make email easy and fast on the IsatPhone Pro. Even though it is still slower than other services, for emails, one could live very happily with an IsatPhone Pro.
TAKE AWAY: With Optimizer and XGate, IsatPhone Pro data is now an easy, fully functioning satellite phone option for satellite email and weather at sea.
MORE INFO: Learn how to compare
data airtime costs for IsatPhone Pro and Iridium handhelds. You will also want to consider the peripherals such as antennas and docking stations before you have the complete financial picture.
Need help deciding which system works best for you?
Recently we were contacted by a cruiser that wanted to get GRIB files onto his iPad over a satellite phone while at sea. He was looking for the least expensive way to do this. Knowing the Isatphone Pro handset costs less than the Iridium 9555 or Iridium Extreme, he had some questions:
1) Could he get GRIB files onto his Ipad with the IsatPhone Pro
2) How long it would take for a typical GRIB file download, and
3) How should he compare the total price of hardware and service between the IsatPhone Pro and Iridium offerings?
Excellent questions and here are the answers:
1) Yes, You can download GRIB files to your iPad (or any iOS device, like an iPod Touch or iPhone) using an IsatPhone Pro - with the Optimizer satellite firewall and Wi-Fi hotspot
What You Need:
1. an IsatPhone Pro
2. an iPad or other Apple iOS device
3. either iNavX or Weather4D weather software
4. an Optimizer satellite firewall and Wi-Fi hotspot
5. XGate satellite email service App
You can use the identical setup with and Iridium phone, or a similar setup with the Iridum AxcessPoint and Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web App.
Let's look at the elements of this:
- Optimizer's firewall ensures that all of the very narrow IsatPhone data feed is available.
- Optimizer's Wi-Fi hotspot allows the iPad to connect to the data feed.
- iNavX and Weather4D work with XGate so when you request a GRIB file, the request is sent to XGate.
-XGate then sends the GRIB file request as an email, and receives the reply email from the GRIB file provider.
How Long Does It Take to Download a GRIB File over a Satellite Phone?
There are two calls that need to be made - first the request, then the download of the file. The first call can generally be done in the minimum calling increment of the satellite service:
IsatPhone minimum calling increment: 1 minute
Iridium minimum calling increment: 20 seconds
Then, you can look at the time it will take to download the reply email from the GRIB service (For this example, we are using a 3 day GRIB File with 12 forecasts of wind every 6 hours arrows every degree for the size of the Caribbean sea) :
When using the IsatPhone it takes a full minute to bring up a connection on an IsatPhone before you start downloading data. Once connected you can transfer about 12Kbytes of data per minute. A typical GRIB file is about 15Kbytes. So, it takes a bit over a minute to download this grib file on an IsatPhone. 1 minute to connect + 2 minute of airtime to download (one minute plus a few seconds is billed as two minutes) = 3 minutes of airtime
IsatPhone Pro billing time to request and receive a GRIB file: 4 minutes
Iridium runs a bit faster: 18Kbytes per minute on an iPad is routinely seen. It takes 20 seconds to get connected to the network and the billing increment is 20 seconds. So you are looking at 4 billing increments, or 1.33 minutes, to download the same file.
Iridium billing time to request and receive a GRIB file: 1.66 minutes
How Much Does It Cost To Request and Recieve a GRIB File?
Based on some typical airtime plans, let's do the math to compare pricing.
Lets assume that you your have a 100 minute prepaid airtime plan for IsatPhone... the retail price for this is $99 or $1 per minute. In this case:
IsatPhone airtime costs to request and receive a grib file: $4.00
For an Iridium user with a 500 minute plan the cost is $1.29 per minute or .43 cents per billing increment. In this case:
Iridium airtime costs to request and receive a grib file: $2.15
Total Cost of Ownership
Baseline costs: the IsatPhone costs about $595 and the Iridium 9555 costs $1,195. However, additional hardware such as a dock or external antenna, must-haves for most boaters, will eliminate any hardware pricing advantage. The options are complex, but should be called out. A firewall/Wi-Fi hotspot is required for either service and should be factored in.
Additionally, your time has value - if you're staring at your screen waiting for a download, is that worth the $1.85/minute difference in this example to you? Maybe, maybe not.
The short answer is that for heavy data users who will be using their service for years, the Iridium solution is preferred due to the extra speed and lower price for airtime. For light users or those who will only be out on the water a limited time, the IsatPhone Pro will likely cost less depending on accessories, and will certainly work well when paired with Optimizer.
Take Away: Yes, you can download GRIBS at sea over your IsatPhone Pro or Iridium 9555. Contact us to help you compare total costs.
Please contact us if you have more questions!
Posted by
John Dark on Tue, Feb 28, 2012 @ 04:27 PM
Marine Satellite Communications
Marine communications are more important than ever, but the solutions that work on land don't work at sea. Fortunately, we live in an era when satellite communications are the answer for everyone from the most casual boater to the most sophisticated cruise ships.
Everyone from recreational boaters to megayacht owners to commercial fishing and marine transport companies need reliable communications on the water. Cellular services work only a few miles offshore, and are completely unavailable in most coastal regions. VHF radios are required for communicating with other nearby boaters, but aren't really options for ship to shore communications. Satellite communications provide the coverage that boaters need, and have grown to offer services that rival land-based communications.
Marine Satellite Communications History
The industry started with the founding in 1979 of the International Maritime Satelite Organization (Inmarsat) as a not-for-profit international organization, set up at the behest of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a UN body, for the purpose of establishing a satellite communications network for the maritime community. In the subsequent years, Inmarsat has been privatized, many other companies have launched commercial efforts for large vessels with C-band and other satellite technologies throughout the eighties and early nineties, and new Low-earth Orbit providers Iridium and Globalstar introduced services in 1999 and 2000 respectively.
Marine Satellite Communications Services
Marine satellite communications services cover the entire gamut of communications, but there are key areas that customers need depending on their situation. Common services include voice calling, data services for satellite email and Internet Access, and weather and oceanographic data access for navigation and fishing. Many vessels also use satellite vessel tracking services in order to keep shoreside operations apprised of their location. Distress alerting has also been one of the driving forces in satellite adoption on the water, with GMDSS services, Personal Locator Beacons, and more recently Satelite Emergency Notification Devices like SPOT and Delorme Inreach.
Marine Satellite Voice Communications
Voice calling keeps recreational vessels in touch with family, friends and businesses back home; commercial vessels use voice calling for ship operations and crew morale. Voice service is available from Inmarsat and Iridium.
Marine Satellite Phone Email Service
One of the most efficient ways to communicate on the water is through satellite phone email. However, because satellite data services are either much slower or more expensive (or both) than land-based data service, specialized satellite email service is required to have the best experience. Satellite phone email service can provide up to 20 times faster service than using uncompressed service, and in many cases can make the difference in whether email service can be used over satellite data at all. Satellite email services also allows boaters to send a single message to a virtually unlimited number of recipients with the press of a single button. Additionally, satellite phone email service can be used for related services such as retrieving GRIB files, posting GPS locations, or updating blogs and social media sites.
Many vessels are now deploying (Voice over IP) satellite VoIP services to take advantage of the lower data rates. This solution requires using VoIP service that is specifically designed for satellite. Buyers should look for a VoIP service that uses no more than 1MB per 20 minutes of talk time, as this will give the best payback, and can reduce voice per-minute pricing by more than 50% compared to standard voice service. Satellite VoIP service also makes crew calling easier because cards can be sold on a prepaid basis independent of a satellite service provider.
Marine Satellite Internet Service
Marine satellite Internet access is available at a number of different speeds and prices.
For limited browsing, many boaters find that a setup as simple as an Iridium satellite phone with its 2.4 kbps uncompressed data feed will work to browse mobile sites and get weather data when used with specialized satellite weather software.
Newer satellite broadband services are available such as Iridium OpenPort and Inmarsat FleetBroadband that can provide an experience similar to DSL/Cable service when used with satellite compression software. However, many satellite broadband users have run into "bill shock" after inadvertently downloading megabytes of unwanted data such as windows updates or Skype sessions when they connected their computer to an open satellite broadband line with no firewall in place. Satellite firewall routers are critical in any satellite broadband installation to ensure maximum speed and block unwanted traffic.
At the most sophisticated end are VSAT installations and Inmarsat FleetBroadband VLA services that can provide very high speed access, generally at prices that make sense for commercial ship operations or for megayacht owners. These services also rely on satellite network management routers and services to manage crew and passenger prepaid voice and data access, as well as complex ships operations. An effective router can reduce bandwidth dramatically through compression and blocking unwanted data-hogging sites and services.
Conclusion
In summary, there is a maritime satellite communications service for everybody who spends time on the water. Care must be taken to select services and equipment that is developed specifically for satellite to get the best pricing and experience. The best way to do this is to consult with an experienced satellite communications specialist.
Satellite communication technology continues to evolve and today Global Marine Networks offered detailed training at the Iridium Partner's Conference 2012 on AxcessPoint Mail & Web. GMN developed AxcessPoint Mail & Web for Iridium.
Click button below for access to the videos to view now or later.
These three videos deliver detailed instructional information about satellite email, satellite web, marine weather and more:
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Video 1 - AxcessPoint Introduction and Registration: advantages, requirements and demo of registration process (9 minutes)
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Video 2 - Installation and Satellite email and web demos: iOS compatibility, demos of download and installation, how to create and send email, web browsing, important app control areas (17 minutes)
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Video 3 - Marine Weather and GPS demos: put it all together to download GRIBs, forecasts, GPS location and more on your iPod, iPad or iPhone at sea (18 minutes)
You will learn:
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How to use your iPod Touch, iPad, or iPhone with the Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web Apple iOS app for satellite phone email and web browsing
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How to use your Iridium satellite phone, an optional Iridium AxcessPoint WiFi hotspot and Marine Weather apps.
This is a complete reliable solution to receive, display and manage email, web and weather on open seas or any remote location with your iPod, iPad and other iOS devices.
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