Category: Blog

Land Mobile Radio communication has been integral to a variety of industries for years and continues to be important today. However, as technology changes, existing terrestrial radio networks are starting to reach the end of their lifespan. This satellite service is a cost effective alternative to installing, maintaining, and relocating land-based two-way radio communications systems. Professionals in many industries including construction, forestry, and electrical utilities are making the transition from terrestrial radios to the G2 dispatch mobile satellite radio for reasons outlined in this article. There are several key benefits to using satellite radios over terrestrial land mobile based solutions:

Reliability of the Satellite Network

The network of this geostantionary satellite covers North American and tip of Central America, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and coastal waters. While users of terrestrial land mobile radios have to depend on the coverage of cell towers, satellite dispatch radio users rarely experience service interruptions because of the singular network structure. During emergencies, should terrestrial land based communications become compromised, satellites are the only viable option for communications.

Ease Of Setup and Use

Satellite radios are extremely easy to install and program for immediate access to the network. The MSAT-G2 mobile satellite radio is comprised of three core component parts: the transceiver unit (the small black box), the antenna system (white domes), and the handset. An optional external speaker may be connected to the TU for remote monitoring. Serial and ethernet ports are provided for external interfacing, debugging, software upgrading, and future expansion capabilities.

The antenna unit is composed of the antenna element array, necessary high power and low noise amplifier systems, and a tracking system. Two AU versions exist: a 2-axis unit intended for land-mobile and fixed-site installations and a 3-axis unit for the maritime environment. Connection to both AUs is made by a TNC connector. The single co-axial cable carries RX,TX, power and tracking information. There is only one power connection for the entire radio. This must be connected to a 12 VDC power supply. The G2 also allows for the interfacing of devices with current terrestrial communications, so there is no need to worry about excessive downtime when implementing these systems.

Satellite Radio Security

G2 dispatch mobile satellite radio implements the IMBE, or Improved Multi-Band Excitation codec, which was created in the early 90s. IMBE is the current standard for many digital communication networks across the globe. Thanks to digital scrambling and coding technology, communications are safe from eavesdropping and call monitoring. This is especially important for those in certain industries, such as law enforcement and electrical utilities, where it’s essential to have confidential transmissions.

Today, a diverse group of end users, from oil professionals communicating on opposite ends of a job site to police officers in rural areas of the US reporting information back to headquarters, are making the switch to satellite dispatch radios.

The Situation

While most folks opt for jobs that are safe and free from danger, there are others that choose careers such as mining, law enforcement, fire rescue, mining, crabbing, and more. It may come as a surprise to learn that Alaskan crabbers top the list of people with the most dangerous job.

Crabbers are the men, and sometimes women, that take to the frigid waters north of 60 for a few weeks at a time in search of Alaskan king crab. This is considered by many to be the most dangerous job out there, with 20+ hour work shifts and an unforgiving sea some of the issues they have to face. Combine that with sub-zero temperatures and 40-foot waves and you have a recipe for extreme danger. It seems strange to most of us that people would put their lives at risk in order to put a delicious crab on our plates, but crabbers see the potential rewards as well worth the risk.

The roughly 300 fishing boats that make up the Alaskan crab fleet catch anywhere in the region of 10-15 million pounds of crab each and every year.

The Challenge

Try to maintain reliable satellite communications with dry land whilst in the midst of extreme conditions.

The Solution

The small town of Dutch Harbor, Alaska sees an influx of crabbers in the week leading up to the start of fishing season. They load up on pots, supplies, fuel and bait, all whilst trying to prepare themselves for the arduous work schedule ahead of them.

Of the satellite carriers that operate in the area, Lightsquared’s dispatch mobile satellite radio service is the one most used by the Pacific fishing community.

This particular service is chosen because of flat rated, person-to-person and one-to-many service that allows for an efficient satellite service via the MSAT G2 in even the most remote parts of North America. The captains that steer the fleet often refer to the Lightsquared dispatch mobile satellite radio phones as “TAG” phones. This is in reference to talkgroups where one captain might let another know that he will be available to call on TAG 1.

This is often the only way crabbers are able to communicate when out at sea. When you are out in the middle of nowhere, a simple push-to-talk service can often be the difference between life and death. Most captains would simply never think of heading to sea without it.

Each season, be it crab, cod, halibut or Pollock, requires fishing quotas to be met, which has driven the Pacific fleet to over 1400 MSAT G2 satellite systems. For these brave men, the MSAT dispatch radio has become almost as popular as a standard cell phone. This mobile satellite radio has become the way in which maps are downloaded, weather reports picked, e-mails sent and calls to loved ones on dry land made. It’s clear that Lightsquared’s Satellite Network has become an essential part of this industry day to day operations and without it, the job just couldn’t get done.

If you are interested in learning everything there is to know about machine-to-machine (M2M) satellite communication solutions, you need look no further than the team of Inmarsat, Skywave and International Satellite Services. At the top of their services list is the low data rate solution known as the IsatData Pro, that gives users the capability to manage and communicate with remote assets scattered all over the globe.

Switching to IsatData Pro means seeing an increase in the payload capacity offered by many other satellite based M2M companies. The ISatData Pro delivers up to 10,000 bytes to a device and 6,400 from it. That is huge when compared to the 270-340 bytes of data connectivity that other solutions are offering.

By being able to deliver almost 37 times as much data as the competition, IsatData Pro has the ability toisatdata pro satellite m2m meet the increasing demand for richer information in the service. Businesses are now able to diversify their operations and share more via e-mail, electronic forms, remote management and more. The applications delivered by this M2M Satellite service include the maintenance of driver logs, text messaging remote workers, vehicle telemetry information, and the control and management of fixed assets.

Information that is critical to business can be delivered at an incredibly quick 100 bytes in 15 seconds or less. That translates to a 1,000 byte message being sent in 45 seconds, which can be essential when trying to contact drivers in high-risk areas, or to effectively use sensors for the management of remote equipment.

Drew Brandy, Director of Land Services at Inmarsat, believes that the M2M market is one that is going to continue to grow as a rapid pace. While others fall behind, Brandy believes that the IsatData Pro will be able to support the increase in demand. He also feels that it will make business operations that much more visible, whilst allowing for a more efficient service and risk management. Another benefit derived from the IsatData Pro service is that it comes with the support of the most reliable global mobile satellite network, the Inmarsat-4s, giving it an operation life that should easily reach into the 2020’s.

Sean Faulkner, Vice President for IsatData Pro at SkyWave Mobile Communications, believes that IsatData Pro will change the rules of the game for clients, Inmarsat and his own company. He believes that the increase in data will allow businesses to go beyond the tracking, monitoring and security aspects of their business to being able to deliver enhanced logistics services. He explained that utilities now have the ability to send more data from multiple sensors in a reliable fashion. That allows the operation to go from simply monitoring to actually driving performance. This is done by allowing the organization to keeping in touch with remote workers and assets that were previously impossible sue to the high costs associated with such practices.

The rapid integration of applications is more than covered by the fully-functional satellite terminals, modems and software tools offered by SkyWave and International Satellite Services. IsatData Pro is now being fully integrated by a number of global partners that support the transportation, oil & gas, utilities, SCADA, maritime, defense & security, commercial fishing and heavy equipment sectors.

Included in the SkyWave IDP 600 series of all-weather data terminals are such things as integrated GPS, not to mention both digital and analog ports for connecting sensors to relay data such as fuel levels, engine temperature and speed. Access to the diagnostic and operation information that businesses require to see how equipment is being used and tom make necessary productivity changes is provided by serial interfaces. Terminals can be customized to deliver a more unique operation to each organization, with GUI-based programming tools making that option available.

The MSAT-G2 just might be the most underrated, over achieving communications satellite radio on the market today. Although understating its capabilities in this writer’s opinion, “blue collar” is another term one sometimes hears used to describe the MSAT-G2, more on that later.

Originally launched in the mid 1990’s when satellite communications was truly in its infancy, the MSAT 1 and 2 satellites have been providing yeoman-like service to all of North America ever since. Skyterra 1, the massively (school bus size) powerful communications satellite launched in 2010 has taken over the original bird’s responsibilities now but MSAT continues to maintain Birds 1 and 2 in fully operational status just to provide redundancy in the event that it is needed. A sister satellite, Skyterra 2, sits on the ground ready for launch, also, just in case. MSAT-G2 Satellite Radio Service Area

For the first 10 years or so of MSAT satellite’s existence, Mitsubishi and Westinghouse manufactured the hardware that drove usage on the constellation. A few years back Hughes stepped up and contracted with MSAT to offer the G2 MSAT satellite, a much more compact, lighter, easier to install (and operate) terminal than those earlier versions. The G2, engineered to operate exclusively on the MSAT satellite constellation, was a huge success the minute it hit the market. It remains a best seller today!

Available in Land/Mobile (vehicular), Fixed (terrestrial) and Marine configurations, the MSAT-G2 is fully “plug and play”. The Land/Mobile unit COMPLETE, ships in a box 1 foot cubed and weighs less than 10 pounds, including the antenna, transceiver, handset and all cables. If you can open a box you can have this MSAT satellite radio configured, powered up and operational in less than 15 minutes!

If you’re looking to spend a lot of money on a satellite terminal that will take you and your crews days to install, weeks to learn to use and cost a small fortune to operate (assuming you can understand the rate plans at all!) then the MSAT-G2 is not for you. However…

• If your business operates somewhere between Alaska and South America, Puerto Rico and Nova Scotia, including all North America coastal waters, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean AND…
• If you DO want your crews to welcome the satellite upgrade rather than dread it AND
• If you like the idea of FLAT RATE UNLIMITED 24/7 voice communications between your entire fleet AND
• If paying one nominal rate per minute for ALL your TELEHONE voice and data calls, (checking with the wife at home or emailing a document to the office) appeals to you then the MSAT-G2 may just be for you!

The price point for the G2 is comparable to other satellite radios on the market today, with the exception of the handhelds. Realistic retail pricing for the Land/Mobile unit will be in the mid to high $3,000.00 range, low to mid $4,000.00 for the Fixed and Marine versions due to the pole mount kits and longer heavier antenna cables that come with the fixed unit and the ruggedized salt water environment 3-axis antenna included with the Marine terminal.

This is fact! 75% of all satellite radio customers OVER estimate the bandwidth that they will need for their data requirements and under estimate the time they will spend using voice communications. As a result they spend too much money buying too much terminal, suffer an inordinately long learning curve, and end up using the terminal less than expected because of the cost of operations.

The MSAT-G2 solution will handle 90% of most customers’ data needs as well (emails and file attachments) and 100% of inter and extra company voice transmissions, all while saving you money. Oh, and don’t forget GPS asset tracking, built into the MSAT-G2 antenna, no additional hardware required.

In less than 20 years, the mobile satellite communications business has evolved from a nicheMSAT G2 Satellite Radio market consisting of a very few very expensive options to today’s market, offering a wide variety of terminals supporting a near infinite range of functionality, spanning an equally confusing price point range. However, navigating the complexities of todays portable sat com market, doesn’t have to be difficult. All it requires is having a little knowledge of what technology is available, being realistic as to what constitutes your specific communications needs and setting egos aside.

This article considers a typical business with multiple remote locations, all operating within the North American footprint (more on that later). The locations could be vessels at sea, vehicles or fixed terrestrial installations. The MSAT G2 is available in all three configurations. What all the locations have in common is that they need both inter and intra company voice communications as well as some data capability and they have no access to cell phone or terrestrial PSTN telephone service. This business is a prime candidate for mobile satellite communications.

Available industry data shows that the majority of Voice and Data communications is typically inter-company, with Voice requirements being of primary concern in most cases. The G2 is the only sat com available on the market today that supports flat rate unlimited all you can eat, inter-company voice communications for one nominal monthly charge.

Known as Dispatch Radio or Push-to-Talk (PTT) this service functions similarly to a VHF radio but without the geographic limitations and static ridden transmissions. Voice transmissions over PTT are crystal clear, often more clear than talking on your cell phone.

Another feature unique to PTT is the ability to choose to communicate privatelywith just one location at a time or select the “broadcast” mode option and speak with all company locations simultaneously, conference calling if you will. Add the “Dial-In” feature (for literally pennies per month) and you can Dial Into a PTT transmission from any landline or cell phone and enjoy the same flat rate benefits as if you were calling from another MSAT G2.

Do you really need High Speed Data capability?

We all know the guy that just has to own the latest and the greatest, sexiest product on the market, even if he doesn’t need or use it. (Just check out the line at any Apple store the first day of a new iPhone release.) Leave your ego at the door when you’re shopping satellite technology or you’ll likely end up spending too much money purchasing too much terminal resulting in not using it as much as you should (or need to) because of the steep learning curve and cost of operation.

Interface the MSAT G2 with the very inexpensive (under $200.00) Optimizer and you’ll be sending and receiving emails and files all for a nominal rate per minute, usually under $1.00.

High Speed Data is available in satellite communications and when you need it you need it, we get that. Just expect to pay a heavy premium for it.

If your requirement is for satellite communcations and your business operates within an area bounded by Alaska to the North, Venezuela to the South, California to Nova Scotia, all US coastal waters including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean

• AND you need primarily Voice and Data
• AND you don’t want to spend a fortune
• AND you don’t have an Engineering degree from MIT

Consider the MSAT G2, perhaps the most under-rated hard working mobile satellite terminal on the market today.

Just recently completed, The World Solar Challenge was held in the outback of Australia. The race began October 6th in Darwin and finished on October 13th near Adelaid.

Held every two years, this solar-powered electric terrestrial vehicle competition always faces the extreme challenges. This year was no different.

Challenged with providing real time sharing of vehicle performance information with their support teams for the purpose of maximizing vehicle performance, several of this year’s participants relied on BGAN satellite technology supported by the Inmarsat satellite constellation.

The Netherlands-based Team Twente, The University of Michigan and the team from Kogakuin University in Japan all reported exceptional results using BGAN Satellite technology to report such information as weather forecasting, road conditions and possible driving hazards to their support teams. The teams also were able to keep supporters and the media informed of their progress by using BGAN to post images and videos on social media sites.

Along with Inmarsat, other supporting sponsors were JSAT Mobile Communications and Add Value Technologies.

“Inmarsat is proud to support the solar car teams as they seek not only to excel in this year’s World Solar Challenge but also to further global efforts to harness natural sources of energy,” said Gerbrand Schalkwijk, Vice President, Inmarsat Energy.

You’re in the market for a hand held satellite telephone?  You have choices, not many, but choices nonetheless.  Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to stay within the same species of “fruit” when comparing your options… apples with apples, oranges with oranges, etc., easier said than done I know.

Your sales agent will ask you where you’re going to be traveling, where you will be using the phone?  Tell him or her that you don’t know where you are going, that you want it to work everywhere, well, virtually everywhere.  (In order for any satellite telephone to operate, hand held or not, the antenna has to have “clear line of sight” to the satellite.  There will be places where this isn’t realistic but more on that later.)  By establishing that you want the phone to be able to work anywhere on the planet you have just eliminated a couple of “regional” satellite constellations, leaving you now with two choices, the Iridium 9575 and the IsatPhone Pro.

The Iridium 9575, which operates on the 15+ year old canopy of 66 low earth orbit (LEO) satellites and the IsatPhone Pro, which operates on the four (4) year old Inmarsat constellation consisting of three (3) geosynchronous high earth orbit (HEO) satellites.

You have the Iridium 9575 at a price point of $1,500.00 + or – and the Isatphone Pro at (generally) under $700.00.  (Remember there’s always a premium on “sexy” and the 9575 is definitely sexier.)

You have the near schizophrenic rate structure policies of Iridium compared with the “not quite but almost as” schizophrenic Inmarsat rate plans.  (I swear, you would think that neither of these companies had spoken with an actual customer in years.)  You can take some comfort in knowing that virtually every satellite constellation is fixated on making their usage plans just as convoluted as they possibly can, and they’ve succeeded brilliantly!  A good sales rep can help you navigate this mine field though.

Here’s a look one at a time:

A canopy of 66 LEO satellites means that there should almost always be one overhead, making for easy connectivity.  It also means that during the course of your conversation the earth is rotating out from under the bird that you’re using, necessitating “passing you off” to the next satellite moving into range.  That can cause “dropped calls”, not always but it can.  Latency, the time it takes for the listener to hear what you said after you stop talking, is negligible with LEO satellites.

The fact that at 15 + years old the satellites are nearing the end of their useful life, well, only you know your tolerance for gambling.  For a couple of reasons, one being the shorter distance traveled to the satellite, the 9575 initializes quicker and will get you “on the phone” making calls faster.  No Bluetooth compatibility with the 9575.

Once you lock on to one of Inmarsat’s (3) HEO geosynchronous satellites you will not need to be “passed off” to another bird, minimizing the chance of dropped calls.  However, if you get your head between the antenna and the satellite you can drop the call anyway so just keep the antenna pointing straight up and you’ll be fine.

The fact that all (3) satellites are located high above the equator means that it might be more difficult to “see” the satellite, especially at extreme Northern and extreme Southern latitudes where the curvature of the earth can block the signal.  (See “clear line of sight” comment earlier). This should be a non-issue from everywhere else on the planet.

The IsatPhone Pro is Bluetooth compatible and GPS capable.  Handhelds are often carried just for emergencies so I don’t have to tell you how important it could be to be able to text your GPS coordinates to someone should the need arise. You will experience a bit more latency than with the 9575 but nothing you won’t adapt to after a minute or two of conversation.  Both phones offer really clear transmission quality.

We’ve already addressed the cost of owning these phones.  Only you can speak to your budget.  Generally speaking it will cost you less to maintain the IsatPhone Pro in an operable status while it collects dust sitting on the shelf in your home or office, where most handhelds hang out.