It is sometimes difficult to be “out of touch”. Family emergencies, business contacts, and a thousand other reasons require a communications link. My wife and I took a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico recently. While on the ship, we used an on board satellite link for Internet communications. The satellite system was smart enough to continuously correct for movement of the ship. It was very useful for us to be able to answer email and find travel information on-line while we were at sea or docked.
Similar systems are available for land vehicles, most often trucks and RVs. These systems are called mobile very small aperture terminal, or VSAT. The most commonly used dishes for mobile VSAT are 0.74 Meters (About 29 inches) in diameter. The systems designed for land vehicles are different from the ship borne system in that they are not designed for use while the vehicle is moving, but for when the vehicle is parked. The ship only had a speed of 20 MPH. There are currently more than 10,000 land vehicle VSAT systems in use.
The signal with a satellite dish is usually superior to that found with a “dome” antenna. The dome systems must be kept clean and must be wiped off after a snowstorm or rainstorm in order to maintain good reception. It can be a hassle to frequently climb onto your vehicle to perform maintenance on the antenna.
HDTV and TV:
It is possible to purchase a system that is capable of simultaneous Internet communications and Television reception (including HDTV, MHDTV). HDTV using DirecTV, Dish Network, Star Choice, or Bell ExpressVu is available. However, the major networks (NBC, FOX, ABC, CBS) can be a problem. Because of FCC rules, these signals are broadcast with spot beams, which will prevent their reception except within a limited area.
The satellite dish deploys on command, identifies the current location, and precisely points the dish. It usually takes less than five minutes to achieve a communications lock, and then the system is capable of high speed internet communications.
It works in most of the world, even where cable Internet and DSL are not available. However, if you travel in the mountains, the system will not be able to communicate with the satellite when you are on the north face of the mountain, or in heavy forest.
Performance:
With a typical user account, downstream speed is typically 500-800 kbps. Upstream speed is usually less. The sales literature says to expect up to 128 KBPS, but 20-30 KBPS is much more typical. With more advanced hardware (F2 or XF2 and XF3 antennas), and higher monthly cost, 500 KBPS upstream and 2 MBPS downstream speed is available. Static IP addresses are also available (extra charge) for virtual private network (VPN) connections. The system includes the capability for VoIP (voice).
A mobile satellite system cost about $5000-$5500 for purchase including installation, and $50-$160 a month for internet service. The bandwidth (communication speed) impacts the price of service.
The hardware is available from several suppliers: C-Com’s iNetVu, Ground Control MSS, DTI DirecStar, and the Motosat Datastorm are the main vendors. The satellite service is available from HughesNet (formerly DirecWay) and Starband. Motosat/HughesNet have historically been the most common combination, but that is likely to change.
Ka Band (iNetVu):
C-Com’s iNetVu is now offering a new technology for mobile VSAT. The iNetVu Ka66 has been designed to take advantage a new satellite, Telesat Canada’s Anik F2 Satellite. Anik F2 is the world’s largest commercial communications satellite. The Ka66 is the first mobile satellite internet offering to operate in the Ka band frequency range.
The main advantage of Ka band is that it requires a smaller dish (26″ x 30″) to offer very good performance levels. Ka Band utilizes spot beams, which are more efficient than a traditional Ku satellite (the technology used by the other mobile VSAT systems). The result is that more users can enjoy a high level of performance. The service should be able to deliver significant improvements in performance.
Communications service is provided by WildBlue. Wildblue also offers fixed systems. Hardware costs and communications service should be significantly less expensive when compared to current alternatives for similar performance.
Professional Installation Required:
The installation of a mobile satellite system requires professional installation. The system is complex, and the wiring of the communications downlink is critical. Also, it is important that the external gear be mounted so that it does not get torn from the vehicle during transport, or more likely since the gear recesses when not used, during a high wind. A wind in excess of 60 MPH can damage a dish when it is not recessed. When recessed, the system is tolerant of highway speeds of less than 100 MPH. In addition, a poorly installed system can interfere with other users, so usually HughesNet will not support a system that has not been professionally commissioned.
Summary:
If you are a telecommuter, with mobile VSAT is possible to work from just about anywhere. VSAT can be a powerful and inexpensive method of communicating from remote areas not supported by cellular networks. Mobile systems can communicate with bandwidth that cannot be provided over cellular networks.
Being able to use the internet while remote can be important. A few years ago, that meant using a dataport to make a phone call to a dialup Internet Service Provider (ISP).
But now our choices are getting better. WiFi hotspots are being added, and WiMax will be available in major cities soon. Cellular services are adding high speed, low cost data access. Other services will undoubtedly be available in coming years.
But, for now, satellite VSAT is the only way that will work virtually anywhere. Besides, it’s fun playing Buck Rogers.
By: Brian Bradshaw
Archive for December, 2009
Internet Communications From Anywhere With Mobile Satellite Systems
December 29th, 2009Technology Based Features Dominate the Latest Mobile Phone Handsets
December 28th, 2009
For years now the mobile phone manufacturers have been attempting to pack increasingly sophisticated and numerous technological functions into smaller and smaller handsets. Recent years have seen the addition of functions such as Bluetooth, MP3 players and GPRS become standard features of our mobile phones.
Sony Ericsson, Samsung, Nokia and LG and other major manufacturers of mobile handsets are constantly innovating and periodically herald the arrival of the ‘next generation’ of mobile phones. The next generation is underpinned by technological features and functions that become the norm within handsets and are fervently consumed by the public whilst the mobile phone companies hibernate for the following months seeking to unearth the next batch of technologies for the generation to come. So with the rapid development that we have seen in the mobile industry to date, what can we expect to see in the ‘next generation’ of handsets that will form the latest mobile phones and how they will differ from the current batch of phones available from mobile phone stores and online retailers.
A good place to keep up to date with the rumours emanating from mobile phone manufacturers is, of course, the online tech blogs and news sites. Recent rumours doing the rounds are that a refined version of Google Mobile Maps is being developed for integration into handsets. Google won’t be charging for the technology but mobile networks may charge a fee fort the technology. Google Mobile Maps is downloaded via the phones web browser and provides up to date directions and traffic information to your mobile. The keypad on the phone can be used to move the area of the map allowing you to plot journeys and identify traffic problems en-route. The ‘get directions’ function allows you to plot start and end points for a journey, essentially allowing your mobile phone to act as a GPS system.
Gaming is high on the agenda for mobile phone manufacturers and much work is being done to increase the functionality and playability of mobile phones to accommodate better gaming. Game developers, Square-Enix are currently developing Final Fantasy 13 for PS3 but are also developing an separate version of the game, Final Fantasy Agito, for use on mobile phones – just one example of a number of sophisticated gaming developments for mobile phones.
Increased functionality drives the mobile phone industry and this looks no different with the forthcoming generation of mobile phones. Also riding high on the agenda of mobile phone manufacturers is security, with features such as fingerprint and voice recognition technologies currently being tested.
Whatever happens – we’ll find out in 6 to 9 months just what we can do with our new mobile phone.
http://www.gransha-taxi.co.uk/Belfast-airport-taxis.htm
By: Michael Hanna
VoIP Reseller Programs – Channel That Links Resellers With End-Users
December 28th, 2009
In the present-day world, the way one communicates holds immense significance especially in the business and corporate sector. The innovation and advancement of communication technology is on continual progress over several years. But, with the emergence of latest VoIP technology, businesses and corporate users are bidding an adieu to the years old PSTN services. The latest voice over IP technology is facilitating easy and cheap vocal communications across boundaries.
The best part of VoIP services is that the cost of call termination is reduced by up to 40 to 60 percent. Therefore, for this reason, large number of users is dependent upon internet telephony services for their daily need of communications. Any interested user can venture into the domain of VoIP reselling, as it requires low investments. As a matter of fact, infrastructural and hardware requirement are put in place by the providers and wholesalers in most instances. The VoIP platform providers smoothen out the entire process.
The VoIP resellers avail some portion of IP switch from wholesalers and then sell VoIP minutes to end users. Therefore, it can be said that these IP resellers hold a definite position; they ensure the wide-spread use of these innovative services. They also ensure that corporates and individuals are making the best use of emerging opportunities in this domain. The wholesaler provide VoIP reseller programs as two plans-a standard plan and a white label or platinum plan. Both these programs are profitable as well as convenient.
It can be said that the market is replete with VoIP reseller opportunities. The white label programs allow resellers to re-brand their products or services with their own brand and re-sell them. This helps the resellers in marketing the services for the users in a unique way, by making themselves distinct from existing brand names. This fact, in turn, distinguishes white label programs from standard programs. In the standard program, resellers sell already branded products and services to end users. Thereby, the main difference between the two programs is in branding. It is important that a VoIP reseller must select the right service provider to ensure that the services conform to certain established quality standards.
To conclude, it can be stated that the VoIP resellers buy services or products in wholesale and sell minutes in retail to end-users or real users. Depending upon the scale and requirements in specific instances, resellers can opt for either standard programs or they could go with white label programs.
By: Kristen Kiya