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Inmarsat Brings 3G Broadband to North America
Jessup writes "The Earth just got one step closer to true global broadband through satellite based communications.
With the launch of the Zenit-3SL rocket the Inmarsat-4 F2 satellite brings 3G high speed cell technology to North America. From the article: 'Their onboard technology is designed to allow people to set up virtual offices anywhere around the world via high-speed broadband connections and new 3G phone technology.'"
Now were only 2 years behind Korea, Japan, and the rest of the 3G world!
From the article: "It is the second in a planned two-satellite constellation."
It only takes two items to make a constellation?? Three would be a crowd, I guess.
$nice = $webHosting + $domainNames + $sslCerts
"Virtual offices".. yeh ok, we all know it will be used for porn, porn and more porn. 3G porn on the go!
Most of the world is still using 2Ghz computers. Does this mean they simply won't be able to communicate as fast as 3G (i.e. only use ¾ of the pipe) or are they completely unable to sync?
Try not. Do or do not, there is no try.
-- Dr. Spock, stardate 2822-3.
Can we back up, and make a phone that actually works before we put 100 different things on it?
Well it is most likely (The article didnt confirm this) be in a geosynchronous orbit. That means the satellite stays in a fixed position in the sky relative to the ground. The position of the satellite in space (at an altitude of 22,237 miles) is where the speed of the satellite matches the speed of Earth's rotation. It is unlikely it performs a faster orbit around the planet as then it would also provide services to the other side of the world.
INMARSAT is International Maritime Satellite, a company originally dedicated to ship communications. They're also a pipeline for information hacked by ship pirates to analyze booty to steal.
INMARSAT has enough satellites to cover the globe, and they've bribed every major government of the world to require large cargo ships to use their system, greatly increasing the cost. They now are manipulating the added profits to extend 3G internationally.
I'm a fan of 3G, but not by a megacorp that earned its income through coercion. The fact that large shippers are m ndated to use INMARSAT and that pirates are already receiving the information (speed, cargo weight, location) increases our costs of goods and puts more control powers to the company.
You think Haliburton is bad?
What's the purpose of having so much bandwidth without a decent ping time to make it worth gaming on? That's what offices are for, isn't it?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inmarsat
430kbps. Not bad!
Yes, the article is lacking. But, you can get the answer by googling for "BGan Inmarsat" (I got the terms from TFA). Or you can go directly to Inmarsat's webpage: http://countdown.inmarsat.com/bgan/default.aspx?to p_level_id=31&language=EN&textonly=False.
It's up to 492Kbps, send and receive, for variable bit rate. For guaranteed bit rate, it's up to 256Kbps. I don't know if that means X Kbps each direction, or combined. Maybe someone else can fill in the gaps.
Download Speeds
3G: max 384kbps
GPRS: max 48kbps
Upload Speeds
3G: max 64kbps
GPRS: max 24kbps
In the late 90s, I talked to a very nice fellow who owned a gorgeous 120' yacht and was travelling around the world as he chartered it. Of course cut-price or no, a 120' yacht is not one of the cheapest things in the world to run, even if you get your diesel from Venezuela at $0.10 a gallon!
:-(.
We got to talking about boats and Inmarsat and the like, and he was kind enough to tell me his 56k connection cost $12 a minute. The mere act of emailing me must have cost a few bucks an email!
So it's not at all meaningful to know that INMARSAT service is getting better, without understanding how expensive it is. I think the satellite phone service is a couple of dollars a minute.
If it's that expensive, I fear it's of limited interest to most Slashdot users
D
I've had 3G in my pocket for more than a year now. When I first got it, I browsed the front page of slashdot. When my bill came in, I saw that it had cost me $11.
I hope you get it a bit cheaper over there..
Namaste
Inmarsat is mandated has a ship-to-shore communication system for distress signaling purpose. Along with a specially enabled VHF radio and a GPS (I believe a 406EPIRB is also required), it forms part of the GMDSS (Global Marine Distress something something).
Inmarsat has basically taken the place used by a traditional HF radio. It should be noted that it's not that expensive if it is used solely has part of the GMDSS requirements. The pricing model on Inmarsat is a bit extortionary, but they don't really have much competition.
This is nothing new, 3G (3rd Generation, not 3gig) has been offered in many US metropolitan areas (DC, LA, Chicago, Madison). 3G is still provided by standard cell towers, the problem is how to get that fatty pipe to each tower. There are a few ways. The expencive way is to run fiber from tower to tower. A cheaper route is Microwave (look for a 20' dish with LOS to another tower/20' dish), but it requires line of sight. Satelite allows the cell towers to connect via terestrial means, or in cases of isolated or expencive locations they can toss a small dish on the tower for a fraction of the cost.
This is not to be confussed with Magellon or other SatPhones that actually did communicate directly to the satelites. Those phones, while wikkid cool, were insanely expensive. And just how many phone calls are you going to make from the top of Everest when your minutes cost you $20 a pop?
-Rick
"Most people in the U.S. wouldn't know they live in a tyrannical state if it walked up and grabbed their junk." - MyFirs
A 56k connection (or voice call) on Iridium is about $1 minute. It works almost anywhere in the world and at 35,000 feet. My company uses the motorola 9505 on aircraft and we use SMS and voice mostly because data is just so slow... but it is cheap, can be cheaper than international cellphone roaming charges!
These comparisons to cellular data networks are a bit off the mark. Inmarsat's BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) of which the I4 satellites are the space segment, only supports fixed applications. You need a directional antenna that is pointed at, and has clear line of site to, the satellite.
The closest satellite equivalents to cell networks for voice are the Irridium and Thoria services. Irridium is heavily used for mobile data applications, but doesn't offer GPRS-like speeds or IP connectivity.
I used to work on that launch project, Sea Launch. It was alot of hard work, but it was also alot of fun. http://www.sea-launch.com/ Novel to follow: For three to four weeks at a time we would put to sea, with the rocket resting peacefully in the hangar. During the one and a half week trip to the equator from Long Beach the crew would spend the time performing launch rehearsals and verifying their system readiness to support the launch. Needless to say there was plenty of time for recreation. Basketball, volleyball, table tennis, and spin classes in the cargo hold followed by poker and darts in the bar. But nothing beats launch day! You have been preparing for this day for the past three months. You have spent countless hours double-checking your launch procedure and launch support equipment. At L minus one hour it starts to get real intense. I take my usual position in front of the RF tracking station after launching the final weather balloon to check upper atmospheric winds. I watch my spectrum analyzers and AGC levels to ensure maximum signal quality. You take one final look over your shoulder at the rocket standing 6 kilometers away on the Launch Platform. Then the final countdown; 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Launch! I see the position change in the signal and I engage autotrack, my fingers poised above the handwheels ready to take over should the autotrack fail. Finally the sound hits the ship and you see the equipment rack light up in this bright orange-yellow light, but you cannot look away from the antenna control. The next three minutes of telemetry data rest solely on your shoulders. Finally the call comes over the net, TDRS has picked up the signal; data recorders are switched to the NASA feed and you relax knowing that you job is done. You stow the antenna and secure your position before signing off the net to go party with the crew on the weather deck. And then there is the sail home, one week of the most absolute boredom you can ever experience. I read all 5 Harry Potter books in an row, twice, because I needed something to do. But eventually that passes and you hear that call of Catalina Island off of the starboard bow. Seeing the smog of LA is one of the sweetest sights of that whole trip. You take a couple of days to get to know your family again, and then do it all over again. Justin Miles Former Sea Launch RF Technician