Tdma News

ITC Global, a provider of satellite communications to remote and harsh environments, has announced its three-year contract extension with Youth With A Mission Medical Ships Australia, Ltd (YWAM MSA). Under terms of the agreement, ITC Global will provide critical connectivity services to the nonprofit’s medical ship serving the Papua New Guinea (PNG) region, along with new crew welfare services for staff leisure use not previously available to the YWAM team. The all-volunteer-operated vessel based in Townsville…

Ocean Signal has rolled out its new ATA100 Class A and ATB1 Class B AIS transponders as fully compliant solutions to increase visibility, aid collision-avoidance and enhance navigational safety for a range of commercial workboats, support vessels and fishing boats. The AIS transponders were unveiled for the first time at Asia Pacific Maritime. The ATA100 is a combined SOLAS and Inland approved single-unit device capable of exchanging dynamic and static ship data with other AIS systems and developed to meet the latest IMO carriage requirements and IEC standards.

The world of AIS can be confusing to newcomers and experienced professionals alike. What is AIS? What data does it gather? How can it help my business? Do I need AIS if I don’t have a business? Class A or Class B transponders? Do I actually need it? There’s a plethora of questions from those looking to get the most out of their tracking tools, or from those looking into entering the maritime industry. The following is a comprehensive guide to AIS that covers a wide range of topics from specific AIS units to getting the most out of the data gathered.

March Coast Guard deadline represents milestone for AIS use in U.S. From increasing situational awareness and enhancing the safety and security of maritime transportation, to its use in accident investigation, search and rescue, Aids to Navigation and asset monitoring, the role of AIS (Automatic Identification System) as a flexible and developing technology continues to grow in significance. The month of March 2016 – has come and gone – and represents an important milestone which will increase the prevalence and general awareness of AIS.

MSC Cruises has started a fleet-wide optimization installed by Marlink to improve shipboard VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) connectivity. MSC Cruises said it is the first cruise line in the world to benefit from the iDX 3.2 software and X7 modem from iDirect. Their cruise lines will receive enhanced service delivery and performance, resulting in higher allowance and richer end-user functionality for ship management, passengers and crew. After successful testing of the iDirect X7 modem in August 2014, Marlink began the rollout across the 12 ships of the MSC Cruises fleet in October 2014.

VT iDirect, Inc. (iDirect), a company of Vision Technologies Systems, Inc. (VT Systems), today announced that UK-based independent teleport operator Cobbett Hill Earth Station is upgrading the network of its maritime services unit, ION (International Ocean Services) to the iDirect Evolution 3.2 Platform. The acquisition of maritime satellite communications provider ION in 2013 marked Cobbett Hill Earth Station’s expansion into the commercial maritime market, which according to NSR will hold close to 1 million in-service units by 2023. This will be the first in a series of technology investments that Cobbett Hill Earth Station has planned for ION. iDirect is a world leader in satellite-based IP communications technology.

Richard Simonian is the President of Maritime Solutions, a business unit within Harris CapRock Communications. MR picked his brain for insights on the shape and direction of maritime comms. We understand that you recently unveiled your Advanced VSAT solutions at Satellite 2014. Can you give us a brief on exactly what this is? The problem increasingly being faced by ship and rig operators is that their communication needs are dynamic, yet the traditional buying approach is static. They have had two choices.

To serve its growing commercial maritime customer base in the Asia-Pacific region, KVH Industries, Inc. said it has doubled the service delivered by the JCSAT-1B satellite, which is part of KVH’s mini-VSAT Broadband network. This additional capacity, available as of last month, will support mariners in the Asia-Pacific region, which includes some of the world’s busiest shipping routes, and is one of the fastest-growing areas in the world for maritime broadband demand. “The additional…

VT iDirect, Inc. say that RigNet, Inc. has deployed an iDirect Series 5IF Universal Satellite Hub in Guaratiba, Brazil, which will enable RigNet to accelerate its penetration of the region's growing oil and gas and energy maritime markets. Based on the network expansion, RigNet will offer a managed service for energy, deep-water maritime and remote applications such as VoIP, Internet, video-conferencing and video services. The network delivers Ku-band bandwidth over iDirect's Evolution iDX 3.1 software and X5 remote.

Comtech EF Data of Tempe, Ariz. Comtech EF Data, Tempe, Ariz., is being awarded a $7,548,254 cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract for development and production of Advanced Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) Interface Processor (ATIP). The ATIP will replace the legacy TDMA Interface Processor. The ATIP is a Layer-2 ethernet bridging device that will be installed on ship, shore and submarine platforms. It provides transparent bridging capability among internet protocol users that are geographically dispersed and connected via Milstar Medium Data Rate (MDR), Advanced Extremely High Frequency MDR/Extended Data Rate (XDR) or Enhanced Polar XDR links.

Next-generation remote powers high-bandwidth applications, unleashes the performance of high throughput satellites. VT iDirect, Inc. (iDirect), a company of VT Systems Inc. (VT Systems), has announced key performance statistics for the Evolution X7 remote, the first in a family of next-generation remotes that have been optimized to deliver best-in-class Adaptive TDMA throughput performance and operate with high throughput satellites. Built on an entirely new multi-core hardware system…

Thales Communications, Inc., has announced that its AN/PRC-148 Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Enhanced Multiband Inter/Intra Team Radio (MBITR), or JEM, has received Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) certification for the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) satellite communications (SATCOM) Integrated Waveform (IW). Thales’s SATCOM IW capability eliminates the need for warfighters to carry their existing heavy, manpack tactical radio systems, and enables each member of the team to deploy with a fully-interoperable, beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) capability. The JITC certification allows users access to SATCOM IW on their fielded AN/PRC-148 JEMs via software upgrade, producing minimal impact on deployed radios and requiring minimal operator intervention.

Five-year contract for SeaAccess solution designed for the commercial maritime market. Solution will provide corporate networking, Internet access and crew morale services. Successful, 5-vessel pilot program provided first-hand experience with SeaAccess service. Harris CapRock Communications, a global provider of fully managed communications for remote and harsh environments, has been chosen by Farstad Shipping to deliver turnkey Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) communications to its fleet of 53 vessels. Farstad Shipping is an international supplier of modern offshore supply vessels that operate in the North Sea, Brazil, Australia and Indian Pacific regions.

KVH distributor Mackay Communications offers a unique, transportable terminal for mini-VSAT Broadband service. KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI) today announced a portable configuration of its ultra-compact TracPhone® V3 mobile satellite communication system designed for use by emergency responders. The kit, created by KVH distributor Mackay Communications, houses the TracPhone V3 antenna, modem, control unit, and cabling in two compact, hard-sided cases that can be transported easily and are even small enough to be checked as baggage on commercial aircraft.

KVH Introduces TracPhone V3, which the company touts as the smallest and most affordable maritime VSAT System, at 2 Mbps and $0.99 per MB. The ultra-compact TracPhone V3 represents the latest advancement in maritime satellite communications from KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI). It was introduced at the Miami International Boat Show, the TracPhone V3 is the world’s smallest maritime VSAT antenna, measuring 14.5" (37 cm) in diameter and weighing 25 pounds (11 kg). "The TracPhone V3 will definitely change the way mariners think about satellite communications. We are excited to offer accessible, affordable broadband Internet access via this ultra-compact system and our proven…

Intellian has announced a new addition to its range of VSAT communications antennas, the v60G. Designed for recreational, smaller commercial and oil and gas vessels, or for use in space-constrained installations, the v60G, a powerful redesign of the popular v60, provides exceptional performance, enhanced remote monitoring and control, reduced cabling, and unlimited azimuth. The new v60G provides seamless, uninterrupted broadband connectivity for worldwide on-demand communications, is compatible with a comprehensive list of service providers and ensures professional mariners and yacht owners reliable, unlimited connectivity at sea. The three-axis v60G has unlimited azimuth, eliminating cable wrap and the lengthy loss of signal connection as the system unwinds.

Sea Tel has released the first USAT (Ultra Small Aperture Terminal) antenna. Sea Tel announced a smaller, lighter 60 cm antenna system, the first 60 cm marine antenna to meet FCC’s and ETSI’s specification allowing multi mode use with Spread Spectrum, TDMA and SCPC services. The USAT 24 is aimed at Coastal trading vessels and inland craft. Services are currently being Beta trialed with a number of modem providers including Hughes, Viasat, iDirect, and STM on a number of satellite operator’s footprints world-wide. Service in Europe and the US is expected to start in the 4th Quarter of 2008.

systems within their STN Atlas VTS installations. in the efficiency and safety of their operations. operator complete control over it. automatically. receive its messages. within a designated area for which there is a central control. options unavailable on the AIS system. reporting intervals and content of the transponder signals. from the display if crowding makes it desirable. the radar track table data back to the port control. data links between each station and the control headquarters. linked to a TDMA receiver. pilots and harbor craft. a TDMA unit operating within the area.