You asked for it...a video on how to use XGate Satellite Phone Email Service. We've delivered.
Watch as Dr. Luis Soltero demonstrates XGate, using the new GMN Optimizer to WiFi connect with an IsatPhone Pro handheld satellite phone.
Do you have an Iridium 9555 or Extreme 9575 instead? No worries, this video series is neither satellite phone nor computer specific. All satellite phone owners including Iridium OpenPort, Inmarsat FleetBroadband, Globalstar and Thuraya users will find useful information here. In addition, XGate is compatible with Windows OS, Mac OSX, Linux, Apple iOS (i.e. iPad, iPhone, iPodTouch) and Android smartphones.
These new videos explain:
- how to register for XGate satellite email service
- how to download and install XGate software on your computer
- what is a firewall and why it is important when using your satellite phone
- how the Optimizer can save you valuable satellite airtime
- how to create and send/receive email in iScribe, the built-in email component
- how to update your Twitter account (or FaceBook or LinkedIn) with your satellite phone
- an email session in real time
Watch and enjoy!
Part 1: Download, Install, Register XGate Satellite Phone Email
Part 2: Send/Receive Email
Part 3: Update Twitter, FaceBook, LinkedIn
Thank you for watching!
Click below if you would like to try XGate for yourself. No satellite phone is necessary!
We have many more helpful videos available. Learn about Web browsing using a satellite phone; the differences between the GMN Optimizer and the Iridium AxcessPoint WiFi Device. Click below to go directly to our Videos page.
Don't have a satellite communication system yet? Confused about all the options? Let our experts (many of whom have spent years on the water...on boats) help you design a system to meet your needs. Click below to get started.
Thanks Again!
Please keep those suggestions coming and we will do all we can to keep you informed.
Optimizer relays coordinates from any GPS-enabled satellite phone to reliably track vessels, vehicles or personnel virtually anywhere in the world.
Maryville, TN (PRWEB) June 29, 2012
R
edPort Global, leaders in marine satellite data and voice routers and services, today announced the launch of GPS tracking service with the RedPort Optimizer. When connected to a GPS-enabled satellite phone or terminal, Optimizer works as a GPS Satellite Tracker, and can transmit the device’s GPS location at user-defined intervals, working with select tracking services to let users view GPS locations online or input them directly into their existing tracking systems.
“Reliable, affordable GPS vessel tracking is a critical part of any vessel operations – from the smallest boat to the largest ship,” said Dr. Luis Soltero, President and CTO of RedPort Global. “For users of GPS-enabled satellite phones and terminals, Optimizer is the simplest and most affordable to gain all of the benefits of GPS tracking with none of the cost and complexity so common in the tracking industry.”
Optimizer comes 
wired for 12V power, making it perfect for a vessel, and available options include 5-hour external battery supplies and 12V car power adapters, to accommodate vehicle or portable uses.
RedPort Optimizer also serves as a firewall and Wi-Fi hotspot for users of mobile satellite data service, providing access to accelerated email, web and weather data through virtually any satellite phone and computer or Apple iOS device, including the iPad. The combination of tracking and accelerated satellite data services makes Optimizer particularly well suited for anyone seeking a complete satellite communications solution.
In addition to its tracking capability, Optimizer is a small Wi-Fi hotspot with a built in firewall that stops all unwanted data requests from a user’s computer. Because it generates a Wi-Fi hotspot, users can easily connect to the service with virtually any modern computer or iOS device, eliminating setup and support issues otherwise common with satellite data services. The included firewall saves customers airtime fees by blocking all unwanted traffic, while allowing compressed email, web and weather data when using a compatible email acceleration service such as GMN XGate, OCENS Mail or GMPCS Speedmail.
GMN Optimizer wXa-102 Physical Specifications
- Model Number: wXa-102
- Size: 90 x 60 mm
- Weight: 14 grams
- Temperature:
- Operating: 0ºC to 40ºC (32ºF to 104ºF)
- Storage: -20ºC to 60ºC (-4ºF to 140ºF)
- Power input: 12-20V/1A
Compatibility
Optimizer Tracking works with the following GPS-enabled satellite phones and terminals:
- Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro
- Inmarsat FleetBroadband
- Inmarsat BGAN
- Iridium OpenPort
Optimizer is compatible with:
- Windows XP, Vista and 7, both 32 and 64-bit versions
- Apple Mac computers
- Apple iOS devices including iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch
- Any Debian-based Linux system
Additionally, Optimizer works as a tracking device with the industry-leading GSatTrack service from Global Satellite Engineering. Optimizer provides tracking data using the GPS chip built into satellite terminals including Inmarsat FleetBroadband, BGAN and IsatPhone Pro devices. Optimizer works with a variety of satellite tracking services including GMPCS, GSatTrack, OCENS OTrak™, and RedPort Tracking.
Pricing and Availability
RedPort Optimizer has a suggested retail price of $150.00, and is immediately available through RedPort Dealers.
About RedPort Global
RedPort Global is a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Marine Networks (GMN), the leaders in advancing satellite data speeds and services. GMN helps marine satellite Internet users manage their satellite networks with satellite data routers, satellite VoIP routers and services. 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 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.
Provider of satellite data and VoIP services grew from the satellite industry’s original satellite phone email provider a decade ago.
Global Marine Networks (GMN), the leader in advancing satellite data speeds and services, over the last decade has grown from a startup satellite phone email provider to become a global provider of satellite data and VoIP routers and services. Under both the GMN and RedPort Global brands, GMN has become a trusted partner of satellite service providers, mobile satellite network operators, and individuals accessing satellite email, web, weather, social media and satellite network management services from pole to pole.
“Our mission is to help people and organizations get the most out of satellite data services,” said Dr. Luis Soltero, CTO of GMN and RedPort Global. “We’ve been relentless in introducing ground-breaking new products like those providing satellite connectivity to smartphones and tablets, and VoIP services that offer multi-voice calling for a fraction of the price of most satellite voice calls. We have worked closely with the world’s best satellite carriers and airtime providers to create value-added services that give customers value and drive airtime revenues.”
As an independent value-added service provider, GMN RedPort products and services work with any satellite or IP-based service, unlike most value added services which are tightly limited to a specific provider.
Founded in August 2002, GMN launched with a single product: XGate, the world’s first satellite phone email client, which accelerates satellite email, web, weather, and now social media services for use with satellite data service. Over the years, XGate added new services including weather, web and the integration of social media services including Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. The company also embraced social media to provide free education and practical advice to satellite data users through its satellite data blog and YouTube page.
Today, XGate works hand in hand with the newest GMN product: Optimizer. Optimizer is a satellite firewall and Wi-Fi hotspot that allows Apple iOS and Google Android smartphone and tablet users running the XGate Mobile App to access email and web services via virtually any satellite phone or terminal.
In 2011, GMN launched RedPort Global, a new brand helping satellite service providers offer value-added VoIP and data services to maritime, land-mobile and aviation satellite services users. With data services including intelligent firewall, routing, compression, caching, pin-code access for crew, passenger and soldier morale, RedPort routers help customers save time and money on their per megabyte satellite airtime costs, while increasing the value of their airtime through management and the ability to sell VoIP and data services.
Leading satellite network operators Inmarsat, Iridium and Globalstar have all recognized GMN and RedPort products through their certification processes, and in 2011, GMN was named “Most Successful Solution Provider” by Inmarsat, and was contracted by Iridium to provide Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web services.
“We are driven to continually create new products and services that connect people in the places and times that matter most,” said Soltero. “That’s the value of satellite communications, and after ten years, we feel like we’re just starting to hit our stride.”
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 email, 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.
Recently GMN received the following email about installing and using the Optimizer with an Iridium phone for email and weather at sea. We think it has great value and received permission to reprint it verbatim. Enjoy!
Hi Luis,
I just wanted to follow up with you on the install of the Optimizer for our Iridium phone and thank you for your recommendation. After struggling with connecting my MacBook to the Iridium phone via RS-232, I decided to take your advice and purchase the Optimizer instead. It was a breeze to install and worked right away! Great product, and along with the XGate service, I'm really happy that we can now stay in touch with family and get our weather files while offshore.
Here's a blog post about my experience with your products: http://zangeziatlarge.com/2012/07/23/email-access-at-sea/
Best regards,
Doug Hibberd
s/v Zangezi, Brisbane, Australia
The blog follows:
I’m happy to report that we now have a solution up and running on-board Zangezi for sending and receiving email and downloading weather data while at sea. This is a project that I have been working on for some time, and required quite a bit of research and experimentation to arrive at our final solution.
I originally looked into using one of the new satellite broadband systems but the data transfer charges (around $15/megabyte) were just not practical, so in the end I decided to stick with our existing Iridium phone and install a data gateway and email compression software from Global Marine Networks (GMN).
Testing the satellite email system. The little white box next to the computer is the Optimizer. The Iridium handset is at the right hand side of the photo. The XGate software is running on my MacBook.
This solution uses a data interface between any computer (or iPad) running the XGate email software and an Iridium phone, plus an email account and subscription to the GMN email service. Our Iridium phone has an RS-232 data port, so I originally tried using a USB-Serial adapter between the MacBook and the phone, but I had a lot of problems getting it running, and I didn’t like the idea of having to keep the drivers and software for the USB-Serial adapter up to date on my computer, so instead I tried a new product from GMN they call an Optimizer.
The Optimizer handles the serial communication with the Iridium phone, and knows how to connect to the XGate email service. It has a built in WiFi interface so any computer or iPad/iPhone can connect to it over WiFi. Once connected, I use the XGate software to handle reading, writing, sending and receiving email. XGate provides compression and attachment management so it reduces the connection times needed over the sat phone, so is quite economical. The Optimizer also blocks any non XGate network traffic, so virus scan programs and the infamous Adobe updater can’t establish an expensive and unnecessary data connection to the Internet. The installation of the Optimizer was super easy, and everything just worked with no hassles or complicated configuration.
Here’s the Optimizer installed in its permanent home in the cupboard under the Nav Station. The cable at the bottom runs over to the Iridium transceiver RS-232 port.
This solution won’t work for browsing the Internet (it’s just not fast enough) but it will allow us to keep in touch with our family and friends and download weather forecasts. And since Iridium has global satellite coverage, we can stay connected no matter how remote we happen to be.
Luis Soltero, CTO Global Marine Networks Comments:
As stated in the blog web browsing over iridium can be challenging. The Iridium link runs at a nominal raw rate of 2400 bps which means that you can transfer a total of 15 Kbytes or so per minute. With web sites these days being large (cnn.com is 1.2Mbytes) this means that it is not practical to use this technology to browse the internet.
Having said that it is possible to do limited web browsing. GMN's XWeb product provides up to 5x acceleration for browsing. This means that the amount of data transferred from a webserver over iridium when using XWeb can be on 75Kbytes. This allows for reasonable browsing of many mobile sites including m.cnn.com. The home page for mobile cnn usually displays in about 30 seconds when using iridium.
Also, websites which don't have much graphics or are mostly textual can also be browsed without too much difficulty.
So... it is possible to browse the internet using XWeb, Optimizer, and Iridium if users spend some time selecting which sites are valuable enough to expend the airtime on.
Posted by
John Dark on Wed, Jul 11, 2012 @ 12:15 PM
Now, Android smartphone and tablet users can access email and accelerated web browsing with XGate for Android, and the RedPort Optimizer.
There's nothing like the convenience of staying in touch via email and the web with your Android device - but what happens when you're away from cellular or Wi-Fi connections? Satellite phones and terminals can provide service anywhere in the world, but data rates are slow and/or expensive compared to land-based wireless services. XGate, when paired with the RedPort Optimizer, solves these problems.
XGate satellite phone email is the easy way to access email while on the water or in remote locations. XGate is simply the fastest, easiest and most reliable satellite phone email available, saving you time, money and frustration.
Optimizer works as a firewall, and creates a Wi-Fi hotspot from the USB port of any compatible handheld satellite phone, or to the ethernet port of any satellite broadband terminal. Android users can connect to the Wi-Fi hotspot, and use XGate to access accelerated email and web service. XGate even controls the satellite data link - dialing and hanging up as needed.
XGate, the world's leading independent satellite phone email service has been connecting computer users with satellite phone email and web service for over 10 years. 2011 saw the introduction of the XGate for iOS app for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch. Now, XGate for Android brings the speed and convenience of XGate to millions of Android users.
The Android app is a free download in the Google Play store. Its use requires an active XGate subscription.
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?