Until now, however, our choices for marine satellite communications have boxed us into two extremes. Either low-bandwidth handheld options or high-bandwidth pricey ones. The former have formed the backbone of voice and data connections for a couple decades
and have been invaluable tools for basic communication and offshore safety. In recent years, though expensive, the broadband options have opened up access to the Internet and the more aggressive movement of data
between ship and shore.
But now a third path has emerged. It’s a revolutionary middle-ground with the release of several mid-band solutions that deliver speeds between 80 and 200 kbps. Not only are these speeds 40 to 80 times faster than what the low-band options can deliver,
they are available in hardware packages one-third to one-half the cost of the popular broadband systems. What’s even more exciting for OCENS customers? Couple these mid-band solutions with the OCENS suite of apps
and services and data transfer and internet access possibilities soar!
Whether it’s the popular Fleet One package from Inmarsat or one of the Certus systems that flow from Iridium’s state-of-the-art NEXT constellation, OCENS is eager to answer your questions about these mid-band communication systems!
The OCENS communications platform provides solutions to help you save time, reduce costs, and maintain reliable, global contact, at sea and from the shore. With OCENSMail, you have access to efficient email over
your satellite phone. And with the integrated OneMail, you’ll have access to nearly any email platform so you can simplify your onboard communications. And, your OCENS communication solutions provides access to
OneMessage, the only tool of its kind that allows text messaging from anywhere, to anywhere, globally. Message from ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore and shore-to-ship, or participate in public or private messaging groups.
With near-instant send and receive, you’ll minimize your satellite phone air time for greater cost savings while staying in constant communication.
WeatherNet
WeatherNet delivers global coverage, award winning design, and the largest library of:
GRIB
Weather charts
Text forecasts
Satellite imagery
NEXRAD Radar
Lightning
Ocean temps and currents
And more
This widely compatible solution works on PC, Mac and with almost every satellite device on the market. WeatherNet uses state-of-the-art compression routines and file transfer procedures to deliver data to you fast and affordably.
GRIB Explorer
GRIB Explorer
allows anyone, from day sailors to coastal cruisers and fishermen, to put to use the weather and ocean insights offered by GRIB data. Easily display data as contours lines, color filled contours, arrows or wind
barbs, and even data point values. Customize contour line intervals, number of contours, and ranges on the fly while viewing the data to pinpoint the information that is most important. GRIB Explorer supports almost
every conceivable weather and ocean data variable available and in many cases, spatial resolutions reach as low as 1/32 degree lat/lon. GRIB Explorer also includes tools that allow users to view GRIB data like 500mb
and sea surface heights the way they are meant to be viewed, in 3D.
SAGA Explorer for iPad
The
most powerful yet easy-to use iPad GRIB tool available for the everyday enthusiast. SAGA Explorer Plus for the iPad includes the engine to acquire GRIB files through your satellite connection. Once that data is
downloaded the data is melded into interactive images carrying unparalleled insights into the environment around you. SAGA Explorer Plus is designed specifically to work with Wi-Fi integrated or enabled satellite
phones as well as with your standard Wi-Fi connection.
SnapTrack
For when you “Simply
Need a Position”. SNAPTrack is OCENS response to the requests of many of our customers for a clean and simple solution to the tracking question. SNAP makes it easy to post your positions, and allows those back home
to follow your travels no matter how far you go! SNAPTrack is compatible with the Iridium 9575 and GO!, Spot, inReach and other devices.
Choose Your Satellite Broadband Solution
All the information you need
Download
the data sheet to see:
Additional features
Specifications
On-board requirements
LarsThrane LT-4100
The immediate response of many to a first view of the LT-4100 is that it was built with an eye for the professional maritime market. The look and feel is that of the VHF radio systems that have long been routinely a part of the vessel bridge. The difference
the LT-4100 brings is global data access with the push of a button and reliable voice service from pole-to-pole.
Whether it be for the professional workboat, fishing boat or deep sea operator or the leisure cruiser seeking rugged dependability, the LT-4100 emphasizes functionality over glamour. Its active antenna permits long antenna cable runs so big boat installs
don’t present a hassle and its 2 voice channels provide ready answers to questions revolving around crew or guest access to a phone line.
Inmarsat FleetOne Equipment and Airtime from OCENS
The FleetOne showed us what was possible in the mid-band world when it was launched in 2014. Inmarsat had produced a product that appeared to have found the sweet spot between price and performance. It then accentuated that positive by introducing one
of the first unlimited data packages for the smaller boat market.
Unfortunately, a lot has changed since 2014. The capital cost of the FleetOne has continued to climb. Its antenna footprint is now substantially larger than anything available in this niche. Its Unlimited data
plan is limited to coastal regions and when it hits a volume threshold even there it slows your data speed down for the rest of the month by a lot. For the first time, there are meaningful challengers to
its lordship over the mid-band world. Nevertheless, the FleetOne is a proven commodity made by a reliable manufacturer with decades of experience in the marine market. We recommend the FleetOne for small
boat fleets who can operate the system with OCENS software, services and Sidekicks to control data consumption and thereby fully benefit from the unique FleetOne Unlimited data plan.
With the Fleet One, you can:
Retrieve weather data, check your email, call home, and get updated charts – all through one device
Boost the performance of your at-sea internet connection
Choose from affordable month-to-month airtime plans that fit your browsing habits and budget
Enhance your safety at sea and keep in touch with your contacts back home
Access the OCENS suite of satellite-optimized communication apps
The LT-4200 Satellite Communications System (Iridium Certus® 200) is a maritime satellite communication product from Lars Thrane A/S. The LT-4200 system is designed for the professional market (deep sea, fishing, and workboats), but can be used for the leisure market as well.
The LT-4200 maintains the same VHF like feel and the simplicity of user interface as the LT-4100 but takes the data speeds up a few notches (176kbps up /down).
What does the 176 kbps footprint of the Certus 200 mean to the mariner? That 3-day GRIB file you need will take about one second to retrieve. The photo you just took with your 12 MP iPhone and saved as a 600 kilobyte picture will transfer back home in
about 30 seconds (compared to 40 minutes with your Iridium GO). And the 35 slide, 3 MB Powerpoint the office just called and wants to send to you can be downloaded while you are offshore in less than 3 minutes
(as opposed to about forever with an Iridium or Inmarsat handheld).
So it means speed. Speed in a package with a much smaller antenna footprint and lower capital cost than has ever been before possible. Speed no matter whether you are sending or receiving files or whether you
are sitting south of Grenada or north of Greenland. As such, the Certus 200 is our recommendation for mariners who don’t want to just stay connected but stay connected at noteworthy speeds without breaking
the upfront or ongoing bank to do so.
Iridium GO! exec® is the world’s first portable, touchscreen-enabled satellite access device for smartphones, laptops and tablets. Powered by the Iridium Certus® 100 midband service, it enables Wi-Fi connectivity for select email, chat, social media, weather, and light web-browsing apps, as well as simultaneous access to two high-quality voice lines.
This light and compact product offers portable personal and office connectivity and combines the features of a battery powered Wi-Fi access device with the built-in functionality of an Iridium® satellite phone. Users can make phone calls directly on Iridium GO! exec® using the built-in speakerphone and microphone or connect wirelessly to the device within a range of up to 30m (100ft) from their smartphone using an Iridium GO! exec® app for phone calls and internet access.
Iridium GO! exec® is ideal for users that require portable communications with voice and IP connectivity.