Satellite Signals News

The Global Positioning System (GPS) has become vital to the maritime community. Proper use of properly functioning equipment can allow ships to safely navigate worldwide. It’s signals are now integrated into a variety of shipboard items, including the automatic identification system (AIS) and the electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS). It has been copied by Russia’s GLONASS, Europe’s GALILEO, China’s BeiDou, India’s IRNSS, and Japan’s QZSS. Originally developed for the US Navy for ship positioning and navigation…

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Navigation Center (NAVCEN) is involved in a number of activities that have an impact on all Americans, even if they don’t realize it.From motorists checking directions with their Global Positioning System (GPS) to boaters to ships coming and going to U.S. ports, the NAVCEN plays an unseen but vital role.With a staff of19 officers, 17 enlisted personnel and 19 civilians, NAVCEN falls under the Director of Marine Transportation Systems (CG-5PW) at USCG Headquarters…

Maersk Tankers said on Wednesday it has entered into an equity agreement with U.S. hedge fund CargoMetrics, giving it access to analytical models and algorithms to better manage its tanker operations. Maersk Tankers, a unit of shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk , has invested a "significant" but undisclosed amount in the Boston-based hedge fund, which will give the firm exclusive right to its analytical models, algorithms and capabilities. CargoMetrics links satellite signals, historical shipping data and proprietary analytics for trading purposes in its systematic investment platform. "Data about the ninety-percent of global trade that moves by sea is a powerful trading edge," said Scott Borgerson, Chief Executive of CargoMetrics in a statement.

The risk of cyber attacks targeting ships' satellite navigation is pushing nations to delve back through history and develop back-up systems with roots in World War Two radio technology. Ships use GPS (Global Positioning System) and other similar devices that rely on sending and receiving satellite signals, which many experts say are vulnerable to jamming by hackers. About 90 percent of world trade is transported by sea and the stakes are high in increasingly crowded shipping lanes.

Intellian launched the dual-band, 3-axis s100HD WorldView satellite TV system, featuring the company’s latest generation LNB (Low Noise Block-Down Converter) technology. The new system, set to debut this week at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, is an exact aesthetic match to the company’s GX100 and v100 products, which are the most popular satellite communications terminals in the world today. The newly designed 1 meter (40 inch) antenna system simultaneously receives two Ka-band satellite signals and one Ku-band signal for DIRECTV North America’s HD programming, enabling uninterrupted coverage across all channels and the full ‘just-like-home’ experience.

A British-led initiative to create a back-up to satellite navigation systems for ships has been pulled after failing to garner interest from other European countries, despite its proponents pointing to the growing risk of disasters at sea. Vessels increasingly rely on devices that employ satellite signals to find a location or keep exact time, including the Global Positioning System (GPS). Paper charts are used less frequently due to a loss of traditional skills among seafarers. Experts say GPS is vulnerable to signal loss from solar weather effects or radio and satellite interference or deliberate jamming, which South Korea experienced from North Korea in recent years.

OriginGPS announced that Geoforce, an international provider of asset management solutions for oil and gas and other industries has integrated OriginGPS technology into its GTx series of GPS tracking devices to minimize GPS power consumption while reducing the time to first fix (TTFF) to make it easier for customers to track their assets, even in harsh environments, remote locations and in motion. “Power is everything for Geoforce,” said Gary Naden, CTO of Geoforce. “We chose OriginGPS because we can rely on them to provide both fast cold fix time anywhere…

The federal government is now taking steps to reverse its 2010 decision to terminate the nation’s LORAN program. The LORAN program was initiated during World War II, when US and Allied forces fighting in the Pacific Theater needed a good means of navigation in that vast ocean. The US Coast Guard was charged with establishing and operating chains of Loran-A stations throughout the Pacific. With war’s end, the program was extended to coastal areas of the United States and elsewhere. Over time, Loran-A was replaced by Loran-C, which provided both greater coverage and improved accuracy.

Europe has yet to fully wake up to the danger of maritime disasters caused by signal jamming and blackouts of satellite navigation devices, say the proponents of a back up system on trial in British and Dutch ports. Ships increasingly rely on systems that employ satellite signals to find a location or keep exact time including the Global Positioning System (GPS) and GLONASS. But experts say such systems are vulnerable to signal loss from solar weather effects or radio and satellite interference and can also be affected by intentional jamming by criminal gangs, nation states or potentially from militant groups. The General Lighthouse Authorities of the UK and Ireland (GLA) is pioneering a radio-based back-up prototype called eLoran.

The new Intellian v100GX 3-Axis Ku-Band VSAT communications antenna will be unveiled at Norshipping 2013. The technically advanced antenna is fully prepared for the upcoming Global Xpress (GX) Ka-band broadband service from Inmarsat, and can be upgraded to the service with minimal technical intervention. The 1m v100GX incorporates a superb dual-band, carbon fiber reflector and tuned radome for consistent service, whether operating on the existing Ku- band, or converting to Ka- band when available next year.

Intellian showed  itsnew v110GX 3-Axis Ku-band VSAT communications antenna at SMM 2012. Prepared for the upcoming Global Express (GX) Ka-band broadband service from Inmarsat, the 1m Intellian v110GX incorporates a dual-band, carbon fibre reflector and tuned radome for consistent service, whether operating on either Ku- or Ka- band. The high-gain precision carbon fiber reflector is designed to provide optimum performance on either Ku- or Ka- band. When converting the system the antenna reflector does not need to be changed and the RF section is mounted on a single modular chassis enabling quick conversion to Ka-Band operation without any system re-balancing. The new radome has been developed to ensure efficient operation on both bands and minimise signal loss of the radome itself.

Esri recently installed a GPS base station to assist its GIS developers and to support surveyors, engineers, scientists, and those in public works and public safety in the community surrounding the Esri campus in Redlands, California. The base station, named GISA, has been accepted by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) and incorporated into the national Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) network. "GPS, originally designed as a US Department of Defense system, has become part of everyday life, with the technology in all types of devices from smartphones to shipping containers," said Brent Jones, Esri surveying and engineering industry manager.

122 ships, including Coast Guard vessels and a passenger vessel, have reported malfunctions in their navigation systems since the apparent jamming of satellite signals by North Korea last week, reported 'Safety4Sea'. According to the Coast Guard in Incheon, west of Seoul, a total of 122 ships were affected by the disruption to Global Positioning System (GPS) signals. Among the vessels were eight patrol boats belonging to the Coast Guard, a passenger liner carrying 387 people and a petrol products carrier. Fishing boats operating near the tense western maritime border with North Korea also reported errors in their navigation systems, although none of them led to accidents, Coast Guard officials said.

Intellian introduce their v110GX Ku-Band maritime communications antenna, which is upgradable to Inmarsat Global Xpress Ka-Band service (Global Xpress will allow Inmarsat partners to offer a full range of broadband data services to customers). The equipment includes a fully optimized Ku-/Ka-band antenna reflector and radome, enhanced to meet  RF performance and capability for the future. Intellian’s v110GX is a 1 meter (41”), 3-Axis Ku-band maritime VSAT antenna communication…

For Use With Any Electronic Automotive Speedometer With 8K or 16K Pulse Signal. Convert your electronic speedometer into a GPS speedometer with this GPS Pulse Antenna. The antenna receives GPS satellite signals and outputs the information to 8,000 or 16,000 pulse signal to your existing speedometer. This antenna eliminates connections to the transmission or the need to calibrate to your vehicles tire size. This fast update antenna receives signals 10Hz (10 per second) driving your speedometer to display your true speed (no pointer lag).

BMT Group, the international maritime design, engineering and risk management consultancy, is pleased to announce that the SafePort research project has completed initial sea trials of a prototype vessel management system at Dublin port. SafePort offers the first advanced vessel traffic management system designed for constrained ports, or waterways with high traffic densities, with integrated portable pilot unit. SafePort delivers accurate, secure and reliable navigation and positioning information which in turn enables for safer and more efficient navigation and berthing.

The upgrade of DGPS stations includes adding capability to use Modernized GPS signals and the additional functionality required for tracking the future Galileo and GLONASS signals without further complex upgrade. The upgrade program will also ensure that the GLA service is compliant with the latest International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolutions and recommendations from the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA). VTC will also provide ongoing support of DGPS for a further 10 years. The award of this contract builds on VTC’s expertise in the field of electronic navigation and its relationship with the GLAs, where it is delivering a state-of-the-art eLoran navigation service from its radio communications facility in , as part of a 15 year contract signed in 2007.

U.K.-based EJ Bowman has manufactured its range of marine heat exchangers and oil since 1919. The company recently had its range of hydraulic EC to PK shell and tube oil coolers design approved for marine use by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and now hold certificate no. 02-LD302798-PDA. Bowman heat exchangers and oil coolers are suitable for use on engines up to 1,400 kW (1,880 hp) and for gear boxes up to 1,800 kW (2,400 hp). As a result of this design approval EJ Bowman are exhibiting at the Workboat Show in New Orleans in December 2003. Guests at Universal Orlando theme parks benefit from complimentary, on-site transportation to and from its resort hotels and theme park attractions.

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