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Satellite Communications News
Options for communicating on a boat and out of VHF & cell phone range include satellite and SSB. SSB can get you some very cheap air time after the initial start up costs. However new developments in satellite technology is making this option cheaper. There are 3 major players in the satellite field; Inmarsat, Iridium, and Globalstar. At the present time, the two best options must be Inmarsat and Iridium. Inmarsat has its Fleet Broadband network which includes FB150, 250 and FB500 which offers fantastic data connections , while iridium offers the cheapest worldwide phone calls, in a small portable package. Globalstar has been around for a while, but have had problems with their satellites over the past few years. However for the future Globalstar has funding which will help it launch new satellites to get them back in the game. Press release from Globalstar. The French government is behind this and with Thales Alenia space providing the satellites. To give you an idea of costs a phone call via cell phone from the Bahamas to the US may cost more than via sat phone. Satellite phone costs vary from close to $1/minute to $1.5/minute, so if you use the phone sparingly fro important calls its not that expensive. One new feature from satellite providers is free incoming text messages to subscribers via web site. This works by a party going to say the Iridium messaging site and entering their friends Iridium phone number and typing in a message. The text message then appears on the Iridium phone within a few minutes. This article latest update June 2010 Index
Satellite Systems how they work Communication Satellites have three basic orbits around the earth. They are GEO (geosynchronous), MEO (medium Earth orbit) and LEO (low earth orbit). GEO satellites are 22,800 miles above the earth surface, while the MEO are around 8,000 miles and LEO between 200 and 930 miles. GEO satellites are geostationary because they appear to be stationary in the sky as they mimic the Earths rotation. A little visualization is required to see that a GEO satellite's beam can cover a much greater portion of the Earths surface (footprint) simply because its much further away. Therefore for worldwide coverage only 5 satellites are needed. The GEO satellite are out or reach of the gravitational pull of the earth and so require little power. The problem with the GEO satellites is, for you to send a signal to one you will need a large directionally stable antenna. Being almost 23,00 miles away a very accurate signal is required from the sender. These antenna are too large for smaller boats as they need a stable mounting. MEO and LEO satellites can be accessed with much smaller antenna. Because of their lower orbit these satellites need to travel around 17,000 MPH to counter gravity. Also because of the lower orbit, many more satellites are required increasing costs. Iridium for example was named for the element Iridium whose atomic number is 77 and represents the original number of satellites in that system. To get a worldwide coverage they use what they call "store and forward" signals. Because of the number of satellites you send a signal to the closest one and it stores the signal and then forwards it on the next satellite and the another and so on until it gets to satellite which is closest to the party you are trying to contact. The Satellite Systems
The first products for the yacht use was the Mini M telephone. Too small and slow to surf the web but OK for small text based messages Inmarsat-C, is a text only e mail system between 70N and 70S. GMDSS safety distress signal sends out MMSI number lat & lon, course & speed, when the red distress button is pushed.. Priced per character The latest from Inmarsat is FleetBroadband; Cost-effective, faster data FleetBroadband is the first maritime communications service to provide cost-effective broadband data and voice, simultaneously, through a compact antenna on a global basis. FleetBroadband antenna comes in FB500, FB250 and FB150. FleetBroadband 150 is the latest service from Inmarsat and is their smallest unit. At 150 Kbps, the data speed can keep you online without the side effects of a large antenna. Antenna sizes are around 11 inches diameter and weigh only 9 lbs. The stabilized antenna rotates 360 degrees, and down for pitch and roll. Hardware Manufacturers of the FleetBroadband 150 include Thrane & Thrane and the Skipper 150 from AddValue. Cost of the FleetBroadband system is varied. The sailor costs around 5,650 Euros, or close to $8,000 US. Skipper 150 has a price under $5,000 and also claim better features check them out at Skipper 150 FleetBroadband solution The middle picture shows a Volvo 70 round the world racer which uses a Thrane & Thrane Sailor 500 to provide not only communications, but streaming video. FleetBroadband 505 emergency callGood news for Inmarsat and FleetBroadband users is the new 505 emergency call service. Due to come into effect on October 1st 2009 the new service allows users to connect directly to a coast guard rescue center. These centers are called RCC for rescue co-ordination center and operate 24/7. IsatPhoneis for Voice communications. The IsatPhone costs around $500 and calls cost around $1/minute. The new isatPhone pro is due in late June 2010.
Iridium uses a constellation of 66 satellites. The number 66 is the atomic number for iridium. The satellites use a LEO orbit.
Iridium phones have their own numbers like they are their own country. The 12 digit numbers beginning with 8816. Calls from landlines or mobiles are expensive and to save on expensive calls use two-stage dialing. This involves calling a routing service in the USA and entering the Iridium phone number you wish to contact. The caller will pay the call to the routing service, and the Iridium phone-holder will pay for the satellite portion of the call. The data speed is still only 2,400 bps, so surfing the web will be slow and e mails sent judiciously. However employing XGate or OCENS to compress data will be a great benefit. The new USB port allows easy connection.
For data you can go to Iridium Open Port. Iridium introduced the Open
Port fin mid 2008. Worldwide Communication with such a small antenna (9 X 21
inches) and up to 128 Kbps makes this unit viable for offshore boats yachts
that are too small for a large dome. Open port costs around $4,900 for the
hardware.
Globalstar has been around for a while, but have had problems with their satellites over the past few years. However for the future Globalstar has funding which will help it launch new satellites to get them back in the game. Press release from Globalstar. The French government is behind this and with Thales Alenia space providing the satellites 
In the meantime
Globalstars Spot satellite messenger is making inroads in the tracking
field. Spot is not a voice satellite but a tracking device. The advantage of
the Spot messenger is that friends can follow your adventures online with
your position plotted on Google earth. Spot inc is a subsidiary of Globalstar. Spot personal tracker is a more than a tracker it allows messages other than distress to be sent. Spot uses the simplex side of the Globalstar network so may not be influenced by the poor duplex Globalstar coverage of late. See www.panbo.com for more on that. For more on SPOT and Globalstar www.equipped.org and look for SPOT. The fee is $150 one time and $99/year subscription.
V SAT VSAT
terminals are very sophisticated and hence expensive. They cost more than
Inmarsat and Iridium or sat TV, but do offer unlimited airtime and data
reception rates as fast as 2 Mbp.Trackphone V7 "Broadband Communicationuses VSAT and alternative to Fleetbroadband.New from KVH is Trackphone V7 a 24" dome which will provide broadband communications at sea and onboard. New technology called VSAT is an alternative to FleetBroadband. This technology allows data and voice expected on mega yachts. V7 hardware costs $32,995 including voice; data will run more starting at $995. The bottom image is of a KVH Trackphone V7 setup on a 130ft Westport. This is the personal boat of a NFL football team Owner. He needs lots of data communications so he is OK with the very high startup costs and the low monthly fees he gats with the V7 VSAT antenna. Press Release; "KVH Industries, Inc. today introduced a new type of satellite communications service that enables small, 24" antennas to provide affordable, "always on" broadband data connections to vessels. The new mini-VSAT Broadband service uses sophisticated spread spectrum technology to provide vessels with data reception rates as fast as 2 Mbps and data transmission rates as fast as 512 Kbps via a 24" KVH-developed marine terminal. To support this service, KVH, under a joint development agreement with ViaSat, Inc. , developed the TracPhone(R) V7 two-way broadband satellite terminal.
Skymate has received full type approval by NOOA for its
VMS Vessel Monitoring System which is required for fishing vessels.
This chart give you a quick comparison of cost v data speed, air time,
antenna size and coverage. All the costs are approximate.
Use the pricing as a guide. The prices are approximate as different providers have various discounts and airtime prices. All pricing can change per plan depending on commitment time, data speed and Satellite Antenna Manufacturers using Inmarsat and VSAT If you opt for Iridium or Globalstar or Skymate they will set you up with antenna. If you opt for the Inmarsat or VSAT system you will need to buy an antenna from the following list of manufacturers. There are others but this is a pretty good list. Remember these are stabilized antenna. We already looked at KVH & Thrane & Thrane, Here are two more satellite hardware and airtime providers for Inmarsat and VSAT. There are more providers.
Sea
Tel
Based on the most powerful communications satellites ever launched, the SKIPPER™ 150 now makes it easy for Captains and Crew members to talk, send and receive text messages and email around the world. Get the information you need to make your work easier, when you need it most. With amazingly fast data speeds, up to 150kbps, you can now receive full color weather images, navigational charts, maintenance information and browse the internet with ease. Send reports, regulatory and management information, requisitions or pictures while simultaneously receiving the latest news and sports updates, even phone calls
Authorities and Government organizations who govern all aspects of communications
The IMO splits communications into three zones; - Area A1 Within range of VHF coast stations with continuous DSC alerting available (about 20-30 miles)
Satellite Training Courses
The Long Range Certificate is the radio qualification for mariners venturing out of VHF range. (valid for vessels up to 300 grt).
GMDSS Long Range Certificate allows you to operate on any maritime MF/HF/VHF frequency/channel and Inmarsat from onboard your Yacht.
Hamble UK based Course.
This book is a complete guide to all forms of communication at sea. It examines the international marine use of cell phones, satellites, amateur radio, and email, cutting through the jargon and sales hype to enable readers to make the right choice for their needs. Comprehensive appendices on radio procedure, tables of radio frequencies and weather broadcast times provide invaluable reference information not available from any other single source.
Developed
by the United States Power Squadrons, the world's largest private,
nonprofit boating organization, Marine Amateur Radio is a complete
guide to the use of ham radio for two-way and network communications among
boats and between boats and shore stations. Briefly, succinctly, and
clearly, this sturdy handbook lays out the advantages of ham radio for
boaters. It explains how to get an operator's license, how to select and
install a receiver and antenna, and how to use the radio for voice and
Morse code communications with other boats and to shore--including
inexpensive telephone patches to home. It also shows readers how to link
up with marine voice nets for weather and safety communication.
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Iridiums latest phone the 9555 comes with full global coverage and
voice and data capability at a reasonable cost considering the benefits.
Iridium 9555 retail around $1,500 and call costs of $1 for iridium to
iridium and $1.5 for iridium to PSTN, (public switched telephone
network). 
For
under $1,000 you get silver box e mail system, which connects to your
computer. and VHF style antenna. Skymate is a "store and forward
system" and charges by character. In addition to text only skymate
offers the ability to send faxes and even voicemail, Weather downloads are
also a benefit. The outgoing message is read by computerized voice and
delivered to a phone number. Skymate is not GMDSS capable. The antenna is
a 38 inch whip. Pricing is per character transmitted, ranging from
a $16/month plan for 8,000 characters sent and received, to $70/month for
50,000 characters. 
