Inmarsat Satellite Repositioning Update and Wideye Firmware Upgrade
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Inmarsat Satellite Repositioning
Please note that there is a change in the restoration schedule for services on the Inmarsat I-4 F1 satellite. Restoration is still scheduled to take place on February 24 and only the times have changed. It will be completed in two stages:
Stage 1 20:00 UTC BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband
23:30 UTC IsatPhone,
LandPhone and FleetPhone Complete
details of repositioning can be found on Stratos' site here. You can
also visit Inmarsat's repositioning site here. |
Delta Wave Introduces Iridium Hurricane Season Airtime Plan
Delta Wave has announced a Hurricane Season Plan for Iridium airtime subscribers.
For $350.00, customers receive 10 minutes of free usage per month for 6 months.
The plan also incudes Delta Wave's DirectCall service at no charge. With DIrectCall service, a domestic U.S. phone number is assigned to the Iridium phones for 10 digit dialing. Area codes include "337", "225", "504", "985", or "713". DirectCall service eliminates the need to dial internationally, and is much less expensive. ($1.45.minute for calls TO Iridium phones from land.)
There are no activation fees, or monthly fees incurred
Activation begins on the day of customer's request, and SIM cards can be shipped beforehand, with phone number assignments in place
Contact our sales department any time at 1-866-650-WAVE for additional details.
Repositioning Update
Please be advised that services in the
outage area caused by the repositioning of the Inmarsat-4 (I-4) F1 will be
restored at about 18:00 UTC on Tuesday, 24 February.
The services being restored
are:
· BGAN, FleetBroadband,
SwiftBroadband
· IsatPhone, LandPhone,
FleetPhone
Once service has been resumed, users
of Inmarsat's BGAN, IsatPhone and LandPhone services in the region will need to
re-point their antennas directly at the new in-orbit location of the I-4 F1
satellite at 143.5 degrees East.
Older BGAN terminals may also need a
software upgrade. End-users should contact their equipment supplier if
unsure.
During the outage, BGAN customers can
use the new version of BGAN LaunchPad to
determine the new location of the I-4 F1 satellite at 143.5 degrees East and to
re-point their terminal in readiness for the re-commencement of
service.
Users of Inmarsat’s FleetBroadband,
FleetPhone and SwiftBroadband services will automatically lock on to the new
satellite, and need take no further action. However, some FleetBroadband
terminals may require user intervention or software upgrades. Again, end-users
should contact their equipment supplier if unsure.
Distribution partners and service
providers contacted by end-users affected by the I-4 repositioning process are
requested to provide them with relevant information and
support.
More information about the
repositioning, including coverage maps and new versions of LaunchPad, can be
found on the Inmarsat website under Support.
Website support: http://www.inmarsat.com/coverage
BGAN LaunchPad: http://www.inmarsat.com/Support/BGAN/LaunchPad.aspx
Should you wish to discuss this matter
further, please do not hesitate to contact Customer Service.
UNSCHEDULED OUTAGE NOTIFICATION- Service Operational
UNSCHEDULED OUTAGE NOTIFICATION- Service Operational
Please be advised that the unscheduled Outage is over and that the service is operational.
Reason for Notice: Service restored
Services affected: ALL
Regions/Spots/Satellites affected: ALL
Teleport/LES Access Codes
Impact: No service
Date/time outage begins: 17/02/2009 13:45 UTC
Date/time service restored: 17/02/2009 16:00 UTC
Additional Information: firewall overload with degradation quality of services
We apologize for any inconvenience.
Iridium Collision Update
Just in this morning:
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Critical Upgrade Notice - HNS 9201
Dear HNS 9201
user,
I would like to advise you that HNS,
manufacturers of the HNS 9201 terminal, have just identified a critical error in
the recently released 9201 software version 3.6.2.8. If your requirements are
ISDN it is important that you continue to use or downgrade to version 3.6.1.5.
Please be advised that 3.6.1.5 is
compatible and has been fully tested with I4-Amercias and I4-EMEA satellites,
3.6.1.5 will also be compatible with the up and coming I4-Asia-Pacific
satellite.
If your HNS 9201
terminal is successfully using 3.6.2.8 and ISDN is not a requirement then you
are not required to downgrade to 3.6.1.5 but will be recommended to upgrade to
3.6.3.0 when released, more information on this release below.
If you have already
upgraded your software to 3.6.2.8 and require ISDN or have any difficulty using
your 9201 please install 3.6.1.5 by following these
instructions:
- Using the same PC that was used to
upgrade the HNS 9201 to 3.6.2.8 run the HNS upgrader application and select
“Restore” in the File Menu and then 3.6.1.5 in the pop up window. Ensure the
“New firmware Version” displays 3.6.1.5 and click the “Upgrade” button.
- Or download 3.6.1.5 from the
Inmarsat support site here: http://www.inmarsat.com/support and
run the upgrader as per the instructions. The application will downgrade to
3.6.1.5.
HNS anticipate release of new firmware (v3.6.3.0) on the 1st April 2009, the release will contain new features and be ready for the service introduction of 384+ streaming on the 1st of May.
Coming Soon - Free Gulf Of Mexico Weather Reports
Delta Wave has teamed up with Wilkens Weather to provide our customers with free once-daily weather reports. Delta Wave's customers operating vessels in the Gulf of Mexico can subscribe to these reports at no charge. More information will be forthcoming, as we intend to launch the service by Mar. 1, 2009.Iridium 33 Orbit
Iridium 33 Orbital Path (Former Path)Iridium Satellite Statement
Iridium Satellite Collision Update on satellite and performance status
The following information was provided per an update by Iridium senior managment...
Yesterday, Iridium lost an operational satellite. According to information shared with the company by various U.S. government organizations that monitor satellites and other space objects (such as debris), it appears that the satellite loss is the result of a collision with a non-operational Russian satellite. Although this event has relatively limited impact on Iridium's service, the company is taking immediate action to address the loss. The Iridium constellation is healthy, and this event is not the result of a failure on the part of Iridium or its technology. We have responded quickly to reroute service around the lost satellite and to work with the various government agencies that track satellites and debris in space to learn all that we can about the event. We are committed to the full restoration of service as expeditiously as possible. In the meantime, we want to share with you the current status. First of all, as you know, the Iridium constellation is uniquely designed to withstand the loss of an operational satellite, and Iridium is taking the necessary steps to replace the lost satellite with one of its in-orbit spares.
In terms of the impact to our customers, some may experience brief outages during the next three days until we are able to re-route traffic that is impacted by the Ka-band link that brings the Iridium constellation's commercial communications traffic to Earth. Iridium expects to implement this network routing change by Friday.
Over the course of the next 30 days, Iridium expects to move one of its in-orbit spare satellites into the network constellation to permanently replace our lost satellite.
US Iridium satellite collides with secret Russian military craft above Siberia (Pravda Ru)
Russian and US communication satellites collided in space today at the height of over 800 kilometers above the territory of Russia’s Krasnoyarsk region, an official spokesman for NASA Kelly Hamphries said. The incident occurred Tuesday, February 10, Itar-Tass reports.
"*"US Iridium satellite collides with secret Russian military craft above Siberia (Pravda Ru)
I-4 Satellite Repositioning Changes to IP Address Range for BGAN, FBB and SBB
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Inmarsat Update - Final scheduled outages
Critical Information: First Outage
The transfer of broadband services in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to the I-4 F2 satellite is scheduled to proceed at 16:00 UTC on Friday, February 6.
Once complete, the transfer will mark the end of the first outage caused by repositioning. At this point, the I-4 EMEA (25E) will be in commercial service covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband users who had been affected by the first outage will see a restoration of service.
Antenna Re-Pointing
The following users will have to manually re-point their antennas to the new I-4 EMEA satellite location at 25E (making sure there are no objects blocking line of sight):
BGAN users who were affected by the first outage
All IsatPhone and LandPhone users
FleetBroadband, SwiftBroadband and FleetPhone antennas will automatically track the new satellite and no user action is required.
Channel numbers for the various Inmarsat phone services remain as 38, 48 or 88. An updated channel number map can be downloaded here.
It is also important to note the following:
Users in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) that currently receive services from the I-4 F1 satellite will experience an outage of approximately one hour beginning at 16:00 UTC on February 6. BGAN customers can use the latest version of BGAN LaunchPad to help determine the location of the I-4 F2 satellite. Some BGAN and FleetBroadband terminals may require software upgrades and end users should visit our Repositioning Page for more information.
Critical Information: Second Outage
The transfer of services to the I-4 F2 satellite that begins at 16:00 UTC on February 6 also marks the start of the second and final I-4 outage.
The second outage will last until February 24 and will affect a limited number of ISPS, BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband users in parts of the Asia-Pacific region.
Complete information on the repositioning process and its impacts is available via:
Customer Support SiteURGENT THRANE 527 UPDATE NOTICE
Please
note the software upgrade below from THRANE.
CRM
290654/MITCHELA
THIS
IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!!!
***WITHOUT
THIS SOFTWARE Explorer 527 TERMINALS WILL NOT WORK AFTER
January 6th, 2009.***
Dear
All
Pls note the
following:
It is of great
importance to seek out all E527systems, and upgrade the software, in order to
ensure continual operation.
Systems not updated,
will no longer be working after 2-6-2009, do to the repositioning of the IOR
satellites.
The new software will
be avaiable for download on the eSupport download center tomorrow 6-2-2009
14:00 UTC
Iridium satellite phones second life (The Arizona Republic)
A decade later, the venture once written off for dead is thriving.
"*"Iridium satellite phones second life (The Arizona Republic)
The Past, The Present, and The Future
The Past, The Present, and The Future
Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellite systems provide various satellite communications systems and handheld satellite services in North America. Ten years ago, mobile satellite services (MSS) took communications to a new level in making handheld satellite services portable for the first time.
Today, four MSS operators offer voice and data services to North America. Depicted below are the basic services offered and available from each provider.
When considering the tables above, it is important to know specifically what it is you are looking for or hope to accomplish with your satellite coverage. If a company’s primary concern is data services, then any provider will deliver optimal coverage. However, if a primary concern is global coverage, there is only one service of choice that offers optimal coverage while another provider does not have any degree of coverage available. Let’s say for example that voice and mobile data services are options you would like to have available, but you do not require optimal coverage of these features. In this instance, a company can settle for partial coverage from a company such as SkyTerra (formerly Mobile Satellite Ventures — MSV) as opposed to necessitating optimal coverage from a provider like Iridium.
The satellite provider of choice for any company depends upon the services they require. The graph on the previous page does show that services vary, but to get the best overall service, the choice is clear. Something also important to consider when reviewing current services is to ask what services will made available in the near future? The first table on the previous page offers a glimpse into what nexgen services are planned to be made available to customers.
in addition to the four satellite providers outlined in the tables, there is one new anticipated player — TerreStar — which has two satellites under construction and is planning their first launch in either this year or next (originally scheduled for 2007/8).
TerreStar’s TerreStar-I will be the world’s largest and most powerful commercial satellite and is expected to better existing satellites’ signal sensitivity and number of spot beams generated. Such a system would cause quite a change for MSS in the U.S., but there are currently major uncertainties and risks associated with the system. These “challenges” include prolonged financing and the actual building and launching of satellites.
Assuming these concerns do not become a problem, TerreStar’s planned all-IP next generation mobile communications network over an integrated satellite-terrestrial system still depends on successfully deploying satellites and implementing an ATC network in order to leverage FCC licenses.
Major Decisions
The major contenders in the U.S. satellite market: Globalstar, Inmarsat, Iridium, and SkyTerra are each able to offer different services, strengths, and weaknesses. The key to provider selection is in knowing which services, and the quality of those services, willl be available today and in the future.
About the author
As Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Carlton van Putten is responsible for worldwide sales and marketing for Blue Sky Network. His responsibilities encompass sales and channel management, corporate communications, and product marketing activities In more than a decade of senior management experience, Carlton has filled several senior management positions at both start-ups and multi-national corporations including COO of Maredy Corporation, President of Rivus Internet Group, and as Vice President of Marketing at Stream International and Focus Enhancements. Earlier in his career, he held several marketing and sales positions at “A-list” companies like Apple Computer, and has worked to help them develop and execute business strategies that refine their focus and capitalize on emerging market trends. van Putten holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Business Administration from the University of California, Los Angeles.
BGAN Update
Please be advised that the scheduled Service Outage is complete and the service is operational.
Inmarsat confirms that the transfer of broadband services in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) from the Inmarsat-4 (I-4) F1 satellite to the I-4 F2 satellite will go ahead at 16:00 UTC on Friday, 6 February.
Once complete, the transfer will mark the end of the outage caused by the repositioning of the I-4 F2 satellite to 25 degrees East, affecting users of Inmarsat's BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband services in the following areas:
· BGAN - in Iceland, Ireland and parts of West Africa, the UK and Greenland
· FleetBroadband - in a narrow strip of the east Atlantic Ocean
· SwiftBroadband - in a narrow strip of the east Atlantic Ocean.
Please note: this is a change to the previously published end-date for this outage, which was originally scheduled for 2 February. The outage will now end after the transfer of services from the I-4 F1 to the I-4 F2 satellite, starting at 16:00 UTC on 6 February.
At this time, 16:00 UTC on 6 February, those end-users currently receiving broadband services in the Indian Ocean Region through the I-4 F1 satellite will experience a short outage, scheduled to take place within a window of approximately one hour, while these services are transferred to the I-4 F2 satellite.
On resumption of service, all BGAN users in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia (as far east as Bangladesh) will need to re-point their terminals at the I-4 F2 satellite in its new in-orbit location at 25 degrees East.
Before and during the outage, BGAN customers can use the latest version of BGAN LaunchPad to help determine the new location of the I-4 F2 satellite and to re-point their terminal in readiness for the re-commencement of service.
Users of Inmarsat's FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband services will automatically lock on to the new satellite and need take no further action. However, some BGAN and FleetBroadband terminals may require software upgrades. End-users should contact their equipment supplier if unsure.
The transfer of broadband services to the I-4 F2 satellite, commencing at 16:00 UTC on 6 February, also marks the start of the second and final planned I-4 outage for these services, to enable the repositioning of the I-4 F1 satellite to 143.5 degrees East. This outage will last until 24 February, and will affect a limited number of BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband users in parts of Asia-Pacific.
More information about the repositioning, including coverage maps and new versions of LaunchPad, can be found on the Inmarsat website under Support. Go to: Inmarsat Coverage.
Should you have any questions, feel free to contact us at any time.