Category: Blog

Without a doubt the MSAT G2 Dispatch capable satellite radio is the satellite terminal of choice when it comes to North American emergency response and crisis management. There are several reasons for that but the primary one is that DISPATCH RADIO WILL FUNCTION WHEN NOTHING ELSE DOES.

Dispatch Radio service operates independently of all public telephone switches (PSTN’s). When landlines

MSAT G2 Satellite Radioare down and cell phone towers are inoperable, Dispatch Radio via satellite will be there. The capacity of the satellite is such that its’ virtually impossible to overload it. The only negative, unfortunately MSAT will only work within the North American footprint. (see satellite footprint below)

The MSAT constellation was launched in the 1996. It consisted of two geosynchronous (high earth fixed orbit) satellites, MSAT 1 and MSAT 2. The constellation has been in continuous operation ever since. In 2011 MSAT launched Skyterra 1, its second generation satellite and, at the time, the most powerful commercial communication satellite in existence. Skyterra 1 has an estimated useful life of 20 years.

It’s important to note that construction of Skyterra 2, the sister satellite, has been completed. Skyterra 2 could be launched on short notice should the need arise. Also, both of the original satellites are still in orbit, still functional and could be brought back into service within hours should a problem arise with Skyterra 1.

If you are considering satellite communications for the purpose of providing communications redundancy for your operations, you should also consider satellite constellation redundancy…. and MSAT has it in spades. Also, given the instability in the world today, many of our MSAT customers find peace of mind knowing that MSAT is a joint venture solely between the United States and Canada, two governments with a very long history of being friends.

While a substantial part of our MSAT business deals with every day operational commercial use, an even MSAT G2 Satellite Footprintgreater segment of it supports emergency management and crises response capabilities. There are literally thousands of MSAT units in use throughout federal, state and local governments in both the US and Canada. The US Departments of Homeland Security, Justice and Transportation would be three of the largest federal agencies employing this service. We even have special Talk Groups established that can be utilized only by these agencies.
On the subject of cost…

The MSAT G2 radio can be configured for vehicular, terrestrial (fixed), marine installations and portable “go kit” use. All four configurations utilize the same “radio”. Variations include the length of the antenna cables (longer options available for building/fixed installations) as well as ruggedized antenna mounting brackets for the fixed version. The marine unit includes a 3 axis antenna.

There are also a variety of peripheral/3rd party products which are available. These are designed to facilitate specific “install” requirements. Two of the most widely used are:

– handset extenders which can be used to locate radio handsets as far as 3,000 feet from the actual radio itself. These are great for installations in large office buildings.
– as many as 50 different individuals can have access to a single MSAT radio via our PST/RST unit. This means that employees can access the MSAT Dispatch from their individual desks.

The cost of a Dispatch Radio Talk Group (TG) is spread among all member radios in that Talk Group. As an example, if there are 100 radios in a TG the cost per radio per month would likely be less than the cost of a Starbucks coffee. The more member radios in the Talk Group the more cost effective the TG, simple as that.

Numerex, an Atlanta, Ga. based Machine-to-Machine (M2M) service provider, is looking at ways to expand its services internationally by using satellite. About 90 percent of the company’s business is cellular, but Steve Baker, VP of network product management at Numerex, told Via Satellite that satellite plays an integral role in the company’s operations, and that Numerex sees satellite as a way to bring new services and new customers online around the world.

Full article…..

For more information about our entire portfolio of Satellite M2M Solutions check out our website here

[SatNews] The Volvo Ocean Race is a testament to the skill and endurance of the crews battling the sea and the elements in a trial of seamanship and boat design.

The race also illustrates the crucial part communications play in modern sailing. Cobham has a major role in the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15, supplying technology that not just keeps the boats in touch with the control center and provides vital contact in time of emergency, but is also a key element in video coverage of the race.

Full Story….

For more information about getting access to affordable internet at sea, please check out the Fleet One solution now.

[SatNews] Globalstar announced that it will support its Value Added Re-seller, FindMyAnimal, at the Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA), Abu Dhabi, March 9-10, as they demonstrate their innovative animal tracking devices, which are enabled via Globalstar’s low-powered STX-3 Chipset and LEO Simplex network. Globalstar and FindMyAnimal will exhibit a variety of solutions for the farming community as they explore new ways of using satellite technology to promote sustainability and business efficiencies.

One of the highlights at the show will be FindMyAnimal’s satellite tracking animal collar, which are already being used to track over 12,000 valuable sheep and cattle in Norway, monitor cattle in Brazil and endangered species in North Africa.

Full Story Here…..

[SatNews] Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) has announced four industry-leading, value-added manufacturing partners that will design, manufacture and distribute products compatible with Iridium Certus broadband, the company’s next-generation broadband service.

Iridium Certus will leverage the enhanced capabilities of Iridium NEXT to deliver versatile, enterprise-grade, reliable communications, anywhere and everywhere in the world.

Full story here….

For more information about Iridium products and services check out our website.

Hey,

Check out this short video testimonial from the founder of impossible2possible Ray Zahab. Ray talks about how important his Iridium Extreme handheld Satellite phone is to his day-to-day operations.

Watch Ray’s Testimonial Now

[SatNews March 10, 2015]

Inmarsat, the UK-based company that provides satellite voice and broadband services to users in the air and on land and sea, is today announcing that it will open its platform for all developers to access.

Full Story here…..

Rescued by Iridium

Canadian Air Force Major, Meagan McGrath an experienced mountaineer, left on an adventure to become the first Canadian to solo ski from Hercules Inlet in Antarctica to the South Pole. Although Meagan had done everything right, she lost her footing and found herself up to her armpits in a crevasse with her Iridium satellite phone as her only hope.

Hear the rest of Meagan’s story below

Press Release Source: INMARSAT, Posted Tuesday, March 17, 2015

As part of its open technology strategy announced in January, Inmarsat is pleased to announce that the Parrot Bebop Drone has been certified for use over the Inmarsat network, joining the CAP (Certified Application Partners) program. The certification is announced following six-months of collaboration with Parrot, a leading provider of advanced technology wireless products for consumers and professionals. The lightweight and portable Parrot Bebop Drone is the first commercially-available drone to stream live media over BGAN and BGAN HDR, Inmarsat’s global 3G IP streaming services, enabling high-quality aerial footage to be broadcast from anywhere in the world.

Full article…