Satcom1 shows off satellite communications capabilities for Chinese market

Denmark-based satellite communications service provider Satcom1 is currently putting on a show of its satcom capabilities in China, one of its fastest growing markets.

The large intermediate-gain and high-gain satellite antennas offered by Satcom1 enable high-speed communication between aircraft and satellites aboard government, military, and VVIP aircraft and large-cabin business jets

Satcom1 configures and supports satellite communications equipment, sets up airtime services and billing, and taps its very own in-flight services and software to offer value-added capabilities to its customers. The Company offers the capability to aggregate extreme/high-gain satellite channels on Inmarsat SwiftBroadband satellite broadband systems. This delivers nearly double the peak speeds to VVIP customers and those who can afford the $35 per minute cost. A similar but cheaper service that bonds standard SwiftBroadband channels is also in the works for cost-conscious business jet operators.

Satcom1 and its business partner MCN can activate satellite communications services for Chinese aircraft thanks to a legal agreement with the Chinese government.

C-COM shows off iNetVu Ka-band, Ku-band satellite antenna systems at NAB 2013

C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. is proudly putting its new iNetVu line of Ka-band and Ku-band auto-pointing antenna systems on display at NAB 2013. The iNetVu FLY-75V Flyaway Antenna, iNetVu Ka-75V Drive-Away Antenna, and iNetVu 981 Drive-Away Antenna will be basking in the spotlight for the perusal of interested consumers.

The SNG market considers the iNetVu mobile antenna series to be one of the most advanced, cost-effective, and reliable solutions in the market. The proven iNetVu solution transmits video in real time, providing instant communication to press and media groups worldwide leverage. Broadcasters have deployed the C-COM satellite antenna systems in various locations across the world.

The acclaimed antenna designers at C-COM recently rolled out the iNetVu FLY-75V Flyaway Antenna. Measuring 75 centimeters, the Flyaway product is highly portable, motorized, self-pointing, and capable of full auto-acquisition. It can be configured with the iNetVu 7710 Controller and was designed with the new Ka-band in mind. The C-COM satellite antenna system only takes minutes to deploy and acquire satellites once deployed. In addition, it is priced very effectively, making it highly attractive for cost-conscious users.

Next in line is the iNetVu Ka-75V Drive-Away Antenna. Also measuring 75 centimeters, this auto-acquire satellite antenna system can be mounted on the roof of a vehicle. It is perfect for providing direct broadband access over any configured satellite to smaller vehicles and broadcast applications. Ka-75V uses the iNetVu 7024C Controller and takes advantage of the recently-emergent VIASAT / KA-SAT satellite Surfbeam II/PRO Nomadic modems. It is robust, extremely accurate, and economically attractive to broadcasters.

Last but not least is the 98 centimeter iNetVu 981 Drive-Away Antenna. This Ku-band auto-acquire satellite antenna system is ideal for bigger vehicles and SNG applications. It is paired with the iNetVu 7024C Controller and is compatible with the most popular commercial Ku modems and services in the world. It can be upgraded to Ka-band while in the field and comes an optional, aerodynamic and aesthetically-pleasing pod.

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ViaSat VR-12 Ka band antenna qualifies for FAA, global standards

ViaSat Inc. announced that its VR-12 Ka-band satellite antenna system has qualified for FAA and international regulations covering electrical and electronic equipment installed on commercial aircraft. The ViaSat product has recently completed industry standard DO-160G testing; the first batch of the newly-certified production units will be available for shipping in a few weeks.

The DO-160G standard applies to every aircraft ever built. This includes general aviation and business jets, helicopters, commercial jets, and modified civilian aircraft operated by the government. The standard test covers altitude, dust and sand, lightning and electrostatic discharge, power input, RF susceptibility, temperature, vibration, requirements, and other relevant criteria.

When partnered up with a ViaSat mobile satellite modem, the VR-12 Ka antenna system can deliver Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) airborne satellite communications. Its very high data rate is suited for military intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) applications that use both commercial and military Ka-band frequencies and require intensive bandwidth.

On previous flight tests, VR-12 Ka successfully tested satellite Internet (achieving upwards of 10 Mbps of aircraft-to-satellite transmission rates,) simultaneous transmission of HD video, video teleconferencing, and VoIP applications.

The VR-12 Ka succeeds the VR-12 Ku band satellite antenna. The older ViaSat system serves aboard more than 300 government aircraft and has accumulated more than half a million mission hours.

ViaSat has learned from its customers that a simple flight line maintenance action can quickly swap antennas in order to adapt the aircraft BLOS communications capabilities. To this end, the Company ensured that the VR-12 Ka system is a form and fit interchange with the older Ku-band system.

The VR-12 Ka-band satellite antenna can be installed aboard Gulfstream, King Air, Pilatus, C-130, and other aircraft. The ViaSat systems will be able to operate in Ka-band overlay regions covered by the Company's growing worldwide mobile satellite communications network.

Blue Sky gets EASA certification for Iridium SATCOM service aboard military aircraft

Blue Sky Network announced that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has given a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to Blue Sky and its reseller partner, S4A. The certification clears Blue Sky's voice system for service aboard C-212-200 Airbus Military aircraft.

The EASA certification specifically certifies the deployment of Kit 2, a value-added aviation satellite phone system. The Kit 2 solution leverages the Iridium satellite network for airborne voice communication and tracking services. The integrated single channel antenna and cable of the Kit 2 is certified by the FAA for use aboard aircraft. The satellite antenna and cable can accept either the Iridium 9555 or Iridium Extreme satellite phone, which plug into the antenna outlet.

According to S4A, customers can rely upon the fleet management solutions of Blue Sky Network to provide them with advanced global voice and data communication services. The STC awarded by EASA officially confirmed S4A's confidence in its partner. S4A looked forward to offering the EASA-certified satellite communications products of Blue Sky Networks on the C-212-200 military aircraft developed by Airbus.

ORBIT Communication Systems successfully tests Triple Band feed system

ORBIT Communication Systems, Inc. was proud to announce the successful first operational deployment of its new, auto-tracking Triple Band tracking antenna systems at the US Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

Triple Band technology promises to deliver unmatched performance for long-range telemetry missions while also smoothly augmenting C-band communications.

The telemetry market is adopting C-band frequencies in parallel to their legacy L- and S-bands. ORBIT designed the patent-pending feed solution to take full advantage of the new opportunity.

The Triple Band feed is a single feed that uses ORBIT's concentric coaxial cavity technology to support simultaneous telemetry communication in all three bands. It also allows users to switch between tracking bands on the fly without a drop in performance. Finally, it is compatible with antenna reflectors of various sizes, including the older ones used by L-band and S-band systems.

ORBIT delivered two of its Triple Band systems to the Naval Air Warfare Center telemetry team for strict field testing. The US Navy personnel set stringent test requirements when they performed the actual tests. They reported that ORBIT's new feed performed better, indeed, than any other available technology.

ORBIT is debuting its Triple Band solution at the International Telemetering Conference (ITC) in San Diego, California from October 23 to 25. The innovative feed solution can also be ordered, and interested customers can acquire it as part of an ugprade and refurbishment program, or as part of a new satellite communications system.


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ACTi retrofits cable MSO sites with Simulsat-5b multi-beam antenna kits

According to Antenna Technology Communications Inc. (ATCi,) its Simulsat-5b retrofit kits have been adopted and implemented by major U.S. cable multiple system operators (MSOs) at their multi-beam satellite antenna sites.

ACTi participated in the recent SCTE Cable Tec Expo in Orlando, Florida, where it made the announcement. The Company designed its Simulsat-5b system from the ground up with the latest in composite fabrication, computer simulation, and solid modeling technologies.

The original Simulsat-5 multi-beam satellite antenna can seamlessly transition into the new -5b system, which improves upon its predecessor's established full-arc and flexibility.

According to Gary Hatch, CEO of ATCi, cable MSOs needed to upgrade their older systems to the latest high-tolerance design if they wanted to ensure their digital reception remained of the highest quality when handling the MPEG-4/DVBS2 modulation. He described the Simulsat-5b update to be extremely quick and cost-effective as it can use a standard maintenance window and only replaces the reflector and feedbox of a satellite antenna system, allowing the customer to keep their old, expensive, and hard-to-replace mount.

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Beam Communications installs IsatDock Pro at Russian Antarctic polar station

Beam Communications recently installed its Inmarsat IsatDock Pro product at the remote Antarctic Polar Station in Russia. The Inmarsat product will support the station’s various satellite communications systems.

The Russian Federation operates five research stations in the polar regions. During research seasons, the sites’ population can grow to more than 150, which is a significant number considering the inherent difficulties of supplying polar sites.

The Russian polar stations rely on a number of satellite communication systems such as Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro, BGAN, and Iridium. They can access the Inmarsat satellite communications network even at 78 to 79 latitudes due to the uniqueness of the Antarctic landscape.

The installation process put a number of antennas to the test. The ISD710 Maritime Active Antenna and the ISD700 Fixed Passive Antenna were singled out for providing high voice quality despite the severe environment. Beam’s IsatDock Pro SATCOM solution achieved similar performances.

In addition to maintaining communications between several polar stations, satellite communications systems also allows station personnel to contact the mainland head office and their own families.

An intelligent docking station for the IsatPhone Pro, the IsatDock Pro uses Bluetooth and RJ11/POTS to support voice services. The Inmarsat dock is key lockable and serves as a snug fit for the handset. It also charges the satellite phone and has a USB data port, a ringer antenna built into the dock itself, and permanent power connection.

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Enjoy ViaSat Exede satellite broadband through C-COM iNetVu mobile VSAT antennas

C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. recently announced that its iNetVu Ka-75V system can now access the Exede Professional Ka-band satellite broadband service that ViaSat provides to the entire United States.

ViaSat gave its official approval to C-COM after the latter subjected its iNetVu antenna systems to six months of thorough beta testing. INetVu not only met all mechanical, optical, and RF performance requirements for interoperability with Exede satellite services, but it also achieved high levels of pointing accuracy and repeatability.

Consumers, governments, enterprise, and the military from all across the world rely on ViaSat for satellite communications, Internet, and network access. ViaSat's Exede satellite service can match fiber optic broadband connection speeds, with top download speeds of 12Mbps down and upload speeds of 3Mbps.

C-COM's NetVu units are mobile self-pointing, automatically-deployed antennas. They are easily installed inside or on top of vehicles and interface with a large number of readily available satellite modems, creating a very mobile and versatile VSAT platform. And now that C-COM products have reached compatibility with Exede's satellite broadband services, customers can enjoy a seamless auto-point acquisition through the world's highest capacity satellite.

ViaSat has already received a number of iNetVu Ka-75V mobile antenna systems from C-COM. Full production rollout is already ongoing, and the new C-COM systems should be immediately available.