| It is sometimes difficult to be "out of touch". | | | | The hardware is available from several suppliers: |
| Family emergencies, business contacts, and a | | | | C-Com's iNetVu, Ground Control MSS, DTI |
| thousand other reasons require a communications | | | | DirecStar, and the Motosat Datastorm are the |
| link. My wife and I took a cruise to Cozumel, | | | | main vendors. The satellite service is available |
| Mexico recently. While on the ship, we used an on | | | | from HughesNet (formerly DirecWay) and |
| board satellite link for Internet communications. | | | | Starband. Motosat/HughesNet have historically |
| The satellite system was smart enough to | | | | been the most common combination, but that is |
| continuously correct for movement of the ship. It | | | | likely to change. |
| was very useful for us to be able to answer | | | | Ka Band (iNetVu): |
| email and find travel information on-line while we | | | | C-Com's iNetVu is now offering a new technology |
| were at sea or docked. | | | | for mobile VSAT. The iNetVu Ka66 has been |
| Similar systems are available for land vehicles, | | | | designed to take advantage a new satellite, |
| most often trucks and RVs. These systems are | | | | Telesat Canada's Anik F2 Satellite. Anik F2 is the |
| called mobile very small aperture terminal, or | | | | world's largest commercial communications |
| VSAT. The most commonly used dishes for | | | | satellite. The Ka66 is the first mobile satellite |
| mobile VSAT are 0.74 Meters (About 29 inches) | | | | internet offering to operate in the Ka band |
| in diameter. The systems designed for land | | | | frequency range. |
| vehicles are different from the ship borne system | | | | The main advantage of Ka band is that it requires |
| in that they are not designed for use while the | | | | a smaller dish (26" x 30") to offer very good |
| vehicle is moving, but for when the vehicle is | | | | performance levels. Ka Band utilizes spot beams, |
| parked. The ship only had a speed of 20 MPH. | | | | which are more efficient than a traditional Ku |
| There are currently more than 10,000 land vehicle | | | | satellite (the technology used by the other mobile |
| VSAT systems in use. | | | | VSAT systems). The result is that more users |
| The signal with a satellite dish is usually superior to | | | | can enjoy a high level of performance. The |
| that found with a "dome" antenna. The dome | | | | service should be able to deliver significant |
| systems must be kept clean and must be wiped | | | | improvements in performance. |
| off after a snowstorm or rainstorm in order to | | | | Communications service is provided by WildBlue. |
| maintain good reception. It can be a hassle to | | | | Wildblue also offers fixed systems. Hardware |
| frequently climb onto your vehicle to perform | | | | costs and communications service should be |
| maintenance on the antenna. | | | | significantly less expensive when compared to |
| HDTV and TV: | | | | current alternatives for similar performance. |
| It is possible to purchase a system that is capable | | | | Professional Installation Required: |
| of simultaneous Internet communications and | | | | The installation of a mobile satellite system |
| Television reception (including HDTV, MHDTV). | | | | requires professional installation. The system is |
| HDTV using DirecTV, Dish Network, Star Choice, | | | | complex, and the wiring of the communications |
| or Bell ExpressVu is available. However, the major | | | | downlink is critical. Also, it is important that the |
| networks (NBC, FOX, ABC, CBS) can be a | | | | external gear be mounted so that it does not get |
| problem. Because of FCC rules, these signals are | | | | torn from the vehicle during transport, or more |
| broadcast with spot beams, which will prevent | | | | likely since the gear recesses when not used, |
| their reception except within a limited area. | | | | during a high wind. A wind in excess of 60 MPH |
| The satellite dish deploys on command, identifies | | | | can damage a dish when it is not recessed. When |
| the current location, and precisely points the dish. | | | | recessed, the system is tolerant of highway |
| It usually takes less than five minutes to achieve | | | | speeds of less than 100 MPH. In addition, a poorly |
| a communications lock, and then the system is | | | | installed system can interfere with other users, so |
| capable of high speed internet communications. | | | | usually HughesNet will not support a system that |
| It works in most of the world, even where cable | | | | has not been professionally commissioned. |
| Internet and DSL are not available. However, if | | | | Summary: |
| you travel in the mountains, the system will not | | | | If you are a telecommuter, with mobile VSAT is |
| be able to communicate with the satellite when | | | | possible to work from just about anywhere. |
| you are on the north face of the mountain, or in | | | | VSAT can be a powerful and inexpensive method |
| heavy forest. | | | | of communicating from remote areas not |
| Performance: | | | | supported by cellular networks. Mobile systems |
| With a typical user account, downstream speed is | | | | can communicate with bandwidth that cannot be |
| typically 500-800 kbps. Upstream speed is usually | | | | provided over cellular networks. |
| less. The sales literature says to expect up to 128 | | | | Being able to use the internet while remote can |
| KBPS, but 20-30 KBPS is much more typical. With | | | | be important. A few years ago, that meant using |
| more advanced hardware (F2 or XF2 and XF3 | | | | a dataport to make a phone call to a dialup |
| antennas), and higher monthly cost, 500 KBPS | | | | Internet Service Provider (ISP). |
| upstream and 2 MBPS downstream speed is | | | | But now our choices are getting better. WiFi |
| available. Static IP addresses are also available | | | | hotspots are being added, and WiMax will be |
| (extra charge) for virtual private network (VPN) | | | | available in major cities soon. Cellular services are |
| connections. The system includes the capability | | | | adding high speed, low cost data access. Other |
| for VoIP (voice). | | | | services will undoubtedly be available in coming |
| A mobile satellite system cost about $5000-$5500 | | | | years. |
| for purchase including installation, and $50-$160 a | | | | But, for now, satellite VSAT is the only way that |
| month for internet service. The bandwidth | | | | will work virtually anywhere. Besides, it's fun |
| (communication speed) impacts the price of | | | | playing Buck Rogers. |
| service. | | | | |