While marine satellite internet cafes on cruise ships have typically been unwieldy and expensive to set up, the
RedPort router system with PBX offers marine satellite internet solutions in a box at a fraction of the cost. This blog will examine case studies of a cruise ship and large ferry that demonstrate the RedPort router system is both profitable and efficient for passenger internet cafe services in remote locations.
On the MS Expedition in the Antarctic, passengers were busy sending emails at the onboard internet cafe to tell friends and family of their day's adventures.
Background
Marine satellite internet cybercafes on cruise ships have typically been dominated by the big marine telcos like MTN and Marlink.
These telcos make available plastic scratch cards with a user ID and passwords randomly generated. Guests are allocated a certain time limit to browse. The cybercafe front end is typically via a captive portal that forces the web browser to a landing page where the user must authenticate before gaining access to the Internet.
The equipment is large and expensive utilizing Nomadix style captive portal units, Riverbed compression devices both on the ship and the land and a Cisco router to provide front end connectivity and IP based security. The landing pages are typically branded with the logo of the Telco.
Although the system works reasonably well there are several detracting factors. First, the equipment is extremely expensive. In order to justify the costs the licensing of the service from the telco is fierce. The ship is usually required to share revenue with the telco on a 50/50 basis however the telco typically covers the investment of the equipment and recoups it over the airtime contract period.
Second problem is by selling the service by the minute and not restricting concurrent logons the service becomes unwieldy with more people connected. This boosts profit for the ship as the slower the Internet the more profitable it becomes; however, there is a low tolerance threshold from passengers where they stop using it all together if it becomes too slow.
RedPort provides a solution in one box that replaces all the above equipment and includes a fully functional PBX at a fraction of the cost of mainstream hardware.
The cybercafe can be deployed quickly and fixed price service contracts provide a revenue stream for the ship that is not shared with anyone else.
Although time-based charging is available, with the byte sensitive hardware used by smaller ships it becomes a lot more practical to meter usage by the byte. This is very popular with experienced users and provides a fair billing system allowing efficient webmail clients to stay on line a long time without penalizing their low usage the way a time-based solution does.
The landing page can easily be customized to the logo of the cruise or tour company.
The RedPort solution also provides a local webmail solution so the passenger can elect to have an Email only account and not have to use Internet at all. Billing software can charge by the byte sent and received and is tailored to the cruise operators requirement.
RedPort also provides all the compression services over HTTP that the Riverbed does and combined with an onboard proxy server provides very efficient caching and distribution on web page data. It is customized to several levels of compression so the ship can decide on the level of graphics quality vs bandwidth cost.
Case Study A: 100 Passenger cruise ship operating via MTN, VSAT and Iridium
This ship has many roles – it operates in high latitudes for adventure tourism and also has served as a floating hotel in the Irish Sea servicing wind turbine farms.
In High latitude mode the ship is running 256 kbps up and down VSAT over C band. With the RedPort technology it can support in excess of 50 logons as well as running the ship's business.
Pax and Ship are on separate subnets and all browsing is filtered and compressed. General rules for both subnets filter nuisance web pages and popups. Crew browsing is more restricted blocking all service ports and forcing all Internet through the captive portal. This completely eliminates peer to peer processes like Skype and malware from occupying bandwidth. Numeric IP is banned by the Proxy server making the blocking of undesirable services very effective.
Logging of the proxy server by IP address shows any user who is abusing the service and blocking by website or web keyword is possible.
Pax paying by the byte have wide open access and most of the restrictions are lifted. Their IP address is dynamic and they have a lot more privacy.
When the ship is in work mode the bandwidth is opened up to 4 mb and the captive portal turned off. Here we can expect 100+ simultaneous connects. The bottleneck here oddly enough is the upstream off site compression. Compression allows more data to be transferred per user but we do notice a drop in performance if only when one or two users are on and we cannot get the full 4 mb bandwidth. This can be turned off and we get faster download but degraded overall throughput.
In all cases we can quickly identify IP addresses that are consistantly abusing the system. In this ship for instance, we identified 80% of the traffic initially was pornography download. With the logging we could quickly identify sites and file types and move to block this activity.
Case Study B: 2000 Passenger High Speed Ferry.
The ferry runs daily service with passage time of around 3 hours across a river estuary. Internet was installed to provide free service to passengers and be used as a sales tool to encourage regular commuters to use the ship service rather than the much faster plane service.
Here we had a 500 kbps link bursting to 1 mb via VSAT over Ku Band. Several PC solutions had been tried but all proved unreliable.
On this ship we had a captive portal activated with an open Logon so the passengers were forced to the Ship branded landing page before they could browse. We could limit the maximum bandwidth to 100 k per passenger so one person could not hog the system.
Here the system would cope easily with 200 or more devices connected and, thanks to the captive portal mobile devices, could not consume bandwidth unless the user specifically passed the simple authentication process.
We would see typically over 1000 new IP addresses handed out over a day with up to 400 unique connections to the captive portal.
The system was very reliable and the only outages were due to satellite equipment failure after a 3 week initial trial period.
The Ferry company is very happy with the service; as the reliability becomes well known, passengers start to take the ship in preference to the plane.
The Operating company has ordered the same system for all their other ships.
Conclusion
RedPort provides a proven, cost effective and customizable solution that meets a variety of needs and can safely be deployed in the most demanding of environments.
Submitted and written by:
Jonathan Selby
GMN Systems Integrator SkyEye Systems Ltd New Zealand
Contact info@redportglobal.com for more information.
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.
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.
Posted by
John Dark on Fri, Jan 06, 2012 @ 09:58 AM
XGate satellite phone email and web browsing service is now available as an iOS App for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch users. Best of all, it's free to XGate subscribers. Simply download
XGate in the iTunes App store .
Those of you who have followed the
Iridium AxcessPoint launch will have an idea how this works. Others may ask: How can I get my satellite phone data service to work with my iPad, you ask? The iPad will only work with either cellular or Wi-Fi data. You need a way to turn your satellite phone data feed into a Wi-Fi signal. That's why we created the
RedPort wXa-202 satellite firewall and the
Optimizer. Simply plug in your USB (like you'd find on an Iridium 9555 or Extreme or IsatPhone Pro) or Ethernet cable (like you'd find on an Inmarsat BGAN or FleetBroadband device) and start XGate on your iOS device.
- The wXa-202 or Optimizer will create a Wi-Fi hotspot your iPad can see and use it to access your satellite phone.
- XGate will control your satellite phone through the wXa-202 or Optimizer to dial and hang up.
- The wXa-202 or Optimizer will act as a firewall, eliminating unwanted data requests from your computer, including Windows and virus updates, Skype background transfers, etc.
There are a couple of other advantages as well:
XGate will work over your cellular or Wi-Fi connection as well - that means you can save a lot of money on your data rates if you're internationally roaming, or if you're bumping up against your cellular data plan limit.
XGate stores your email on your iOS device, unlike Apple Mail which requires data access for anything more than your most current mail.
Posted by
John Dark on Fri, Dec 09, 2011 @ 03:36 AM
Digital Ship, a leading marine electronics publications with particular emphasis on data communications, covered the launch of RedPort Global, a complete satellite network managment suite for maritime and offshore satellite broadband networks. While RedPort is a new brand from Global Marine Networks, the core technology has been developed over the past year. The routers offer complete maritime voice and data services including routers, firewalls, voip and web acceleration. With several hundred systems already in the field, and orders for over 700 systems, RedPort is already keeping thousands of mariners in touch for ship operations, crew morale and prepaid passenger VoIP calling.
See the article on Digital Ship here:
http://www.thedigitalship.com/conferences/2006/displaynews.asp?NewsID=1951Satcom management from GMN
(Dec 9 2011)
Global Marine Networks (GMN) has launched RedPort Global, a satellite network management system for maritime and offshore satellite broadband users and distributors.
The company says that RedPort Global includes services that can save up to 80 per cent of satellite airtime using data compression, caching and control, as well as prepaid VoIP, e-mail and internet, least cost routing, firewall filtering and remote control.
"GMN has long been a leader in satellite data services," said Dr Luis Soltero, president and CTO of GMN.
"Now, with the launch of RedPort Global, we are offering satellite broadband users important new data services while building on the foundation of our popular webXaccelerator satellite routers and XGate satellite data products."
Concurrent with this new launch GMN is also launching two new webXaccelerator (wXa) satellite routers, which can work in tandem with RedPort Global services.
The original webXaccelerator satellite router was launched in October 2010, and GMN says it has received orders for over 700 units so far.
Posted by
John Dark on Wed, Nov 30, 2011 @ 01:27 AM
– Global Marine Networks (GMN), the leaders in advancing satellite data speed and services, was named Most Successful Solution Developer of 2011 by Inmarsat
in recognition of its satellite data hardware and service solutions for Inmarsat. In 2011, GMN has launched both XGate satellite email for Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro service, and RedPort Global vessel network manager services for Inmarsat Fleet Broadband and BGAN. XGate is a software application that keeps families and work groups in touch over satellite phone data services through email and web acceleration, one-touch blogging, and GPS vessel tracking, all optimized for use with narrowband satellite phone data service. GMN worked closely with Inmarsat to make XGate satellite email and web service available for the IsatPhone Pro concurrent with the launch of IsatPhone Pro data service. GMN XGate established the independent Inmarsat speed benchmark for IsatPhone Pro data service.
RedPort Global is a complete suite of satellite network management solutions. The RedPort wXa routers are Inmarsat-certified for use with Inmarsat VLA accounts for Fleet Broadband service. With RedPort Global, Fleet Broadband and other IP-based data users can save up to 80% on their satellite airtime usage while generating new revenue streams through a host of features including:
- Prepaid VoIP voice service giving up to 25 minutes of talk time from each megabyte of data
- Prepaid email and Internet services for crew morale, passenger sales, or ship’s operations
- Data compression, caching and control
- Least-cost routing, failover and load-balancing
- Firewall filtering by MAC or TCP/IP address and/or port number provide advanced controls as well as Skype and Adobe Flash blocking
- On-board management – Access and control a ship’s IT network as if on the ship.
- Weather and Oceanographic data
As an independent solutions provider, GMN works directly with Inmarsat Service Providers (SPs) and Distribution Providers (DPs) to help them offer their customers best-in-class voice and data services.
About Global Marine Networks, LLCGlobal 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 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 www.globalmarinenet.com.
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Posted by
John Dark on Wed, Nov 30, 2011 @ 01:23 AM
Complete solution of satellite routers and software saves up to 80% on satellite airtime rates while offering VOIP, Prepaid Crew and Passenger Voice and Data Access and Onboard IT Management MARYVILLE, TN NOVEMBER 29, 2011 – Global Marine Networks (GMN), the leaders in advancing satellite data speed and services, today announced the launch of RedPort Global, a satellite network management solution suite for
maritime and offshore satellite broadband users and distributors. RedPort Global offers an array of satellite voice and data services that will save up to 80% of satellite airtime while giving more utility for any maritime satellite voice or data user. “GMN has long been a leader in satellite data services,” said Dr. Luis Soltero, President and CTO of GMN. “Now, with the launch of RedPort Global, we are offering satellite broadband users important new data services while building on the foundation of our popular webXaccelerator satellite routers and XGate satellite data products.” RedPort Global is a complete suite of satellite network management solutions that can save customers up to 80% on their satellite airtime fees while generating new revenue streams through a host of features including:
- Prepaid VoIP voice service giving up to 25 minutes of talk time from each megabyte of data
- Prepaid email and Internet services for crew morale, passenger sales, or ship’s operations
- Data compression, caching and control
- Least-cost routing, failover and load-balancing
- Firewall filtering by MAC or TCP/IP address and/or port number provide advanced controls as well as Skype and Adobe Flash blocking
- On-board management – Access and control a ship’s IT network as if on the ship.
- Weather and Oceanographic data
RedPort Global services work together with GMN webXaccelerator (wXa) satellite routers. Concurrent with the launch of RedPort Global services, GMN is launching 2 new wXa satellite routers. The original webXaccelerator satellite router was launched in October, 2010, to give users of satellite data systems unprecedented control of their installations, while providing firewall, compression and caching service. GMN has received orders for over 700 webXaccelerator satellite routers.
By launching RedPort Global, GMN is offering new services including prepaid VOIP calling for passengers and crew morale, and email and web access for Apple iOS products including the iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone products via Wi-Fi when used with the award-winning XGate satellite phone email acceleration service.
A new web site featuring RedPort Global services and wXa routers is available at http://www.redportglobal.com.
Availability and Launch Partners The GMN webXaccelerator wall-mount, rack-mount and wifi versions are available to the public through Global Marine Networks Channel Partners, as found on the company’s web site at
http://www.redportglobal.com . At launch, RedPort Global distributors include GMPCS Personal Communications, OCENS Satellite Systems, MVS and Evosat.
CompatibilityRedPort Global services are designed to work with every major satellite data service, purchased from any satellite service provider, including VSAT, Inmarsat Fleet Broadband and BGAN, Iridium OpenPort, Thuraya IP, or any IP-based connection. RedPort Services running on the GMN webXaccelerator are certified for use with Iridium OpenPort and Inmarsat Fleet Broadband services, and Inmarsat VLA pricing plans.
Select services also work with narrowband satellite services including Globalstar and Iridium data service.
About Global Marine Networks, LLCGlobal 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 and brand names 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 www.globalmarinenet.com.
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