EPIRBs — a primer

30. August 2009 by admin.

* I found this one on the Maritime Group on LinkedIn.com. — Alan Spicer.

http://www.linkedin.com/newsArticle?viewDiscussion=&articleID=62702853&gid=119261&trk=EML_anet_nws_title-cThOon0JumNFomgJt7dBpSBA

(redirects to…)

http://www.soundingsonline.com/news/dispatches/252-aug-25/239482-epirbs-a-pr

EPIRBs — a primer
Posted on August 21, 2009 Written by Chris Landry

Boaters who purchase an EPIRB can increase their chances of survival if they know how the device works and where it should be mounted on board.

“Understand how to deploy a beacon, understand its best operating orientation, and understand when the right time is to use a beacon.“ – Chris Wahler, ACR

“Know your safety gear,” says Tom Rau, a retired Coast Guard senior chief and an authority on recreational boating safety. “Boaters must understand that boats do go down quickly and that they may not have time to energize the EPIRB or reach it, or they could be injured and unable to reach the submerged EPIRB.”

EPIRB users need to read the product support manual thoroughly, says Chris Wahler, marketing manager for ACR Electronics, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based manufacturer of EPIRBs and other safety equipment. “And then it’s just as important to educate the crew that may someday be called upon to use that beacon in your absence,” he says. “So understand how to deploy a beacon, understand its best operating orientation, and understand when the right time is to use a beacon. These are all very important things to get across to the crewmembers.”

One of the mistakes EPIRB users make is holding the unit instead of allowing it to float freely, says Wahler. “It’s really better to tether it off and let it float and do its job. And give the beacon the best opportunity to communicate with the satellite by not putting obstructions in its way,” he says. And once the EPIRB is on, leave it on until rescue arrives.

Location, location, location

Selection of a mounting location for an EPIRB depends on whether it’s a Category I or Category II beacon.

(more at the link above…)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPIRB

Emergency position-indicating radio beacons or EPIRBs

Distress radio beacons, also known as emergency beacons, are tracking transmitters which aid in the detection and location of boats, aircraft, and people in distress. Strictly, they are radiobeacons that interface with Cospas-Sarsat, the international satellite system for search and rescue (SAR). When activated, such beacons send out a distress signal that, when detected by non-geostationary satellites, can be located by trilateration.^{[citation needed]} In the case of 406 MHz beacons which transmit digital signals, the beacons can be uniquely identified almost instantly (via GEOSAR), and furthermore, a GPS or GLONASS position can be encoded into the signal (thus providing both instantaneous identification and position). Often using the initial position provided via the satellite system, the distress signals from the beacons can be homed by SAR aircraft and ground search parties who can in turn come to the aid of the concerned boat, aircraft, or people.

A PLB that can use either GLONASS or GPS location services

There are three types of distress radio beacons compatible with the Cospas-Sarsat system:^[1]

The basic purpose of distress radiobeacons is to get people rescued within the so-called “golden day”^[2] (the first 24 hours following a traumatic event) when the majority of survivors can still be saved.

Since the inception of Cospas-Sarsat in 1982, distress radiobeacons have assisted in the rescue of over 22,000 people in more than 6,000 distress situations.^[3] In 2006, distress radiobeacons aided in the rescue of 1,881 people in 452 distress situations.^[3] There are roughly 556,000 121.5 MHz beacons and 429,000 406 MHz beacons.^[4] As of 2002, there were roughly 82,000 registered (406 MHz) beacons, and over 500,000 of the older unregistered kind.^{[citation needed]}

Civil Air Patrol members practice searching for an emergency locator transmitter. The member in front is using a manual radio direction finder.

(more at the link from Wikipedia. Alan Spicer’s note - I guess it’s more useful of a game than some might think, the game of Locating a Radio Transmitter in a large area - often played as a contest by Amateur Radio Operators!!!!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GEOSAR

Cospas-Sarsat

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  (Redirected from GEOSAR)

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The current logo for Cospas-Sarsat

Cospas-Sarsat is an international satellite-based search and rescue (SAR) distress alert detection and information distribution system, established by Canada, France, the United States, and the former Soviet Union in 1979.

The system consists of both a ground segment and a space segment:

• Distress radiobeacons
• SAR signal processors aboard satellites
• Satellite downlink receiving and signal processing stations called LUTs (local user terminals)
• Mission Control Centres that distribute distress alert data generated by the LUTs
• Rescue Coordination Centres that coordinate SAR response to a distress situation

The space segment of the Cospas-Sarsat system currently consists of SAR processors aboard 4 geosynchronous satellites called GEOSARs and 5 low-earth polar orbit satellites called LEOSARs.[1]

Contents [hide] 1 Background information 2 Phase-out of 121.5 & 243.0 MHz distress radiobeacons 3 System composition 3.1 Space segment (SAR processors) 3.2 Ground segment 4 Technical information 4.1 Doppler processing 4.2 LEOSAR 4.3 GEOSAR 4.4 Beacon technical information 5 MEOSAR 6 Rescue statistics 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Background information

Cospas-Sarsat began tracking the two original types of distress radiobeacons in 1982. Specifically, these were:

• EPIRBs (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons), which signal maritime distress; and
• ELTs (Emergency Locator Transmitters), which signal aircraft distress

More recently, a new type of distress radiobeacon became available (in 2003 in the USA) [2]:

• PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons), are for personal use and are intended to indicate a person in distress who is away from normal emergency services (i.e. 9-1-1)

The four founding countries led development of the 406 MHz marine EPIRB for detection by the system. The EPIRB was seen as a key advancement in SAR technology in the perilous maritime environment. The aviation community had already been using the 121.5 MHz frequency for distress, so ELTs for general aviation were created using 121.5 MHz, a frequency listened to by the airlines. Military beacons using the 243.0 MHz frequency could also be detected by the system.

The design of distress radiobeacons as a whole has evolved significantly since 1982; the newest 406 MHz beacons incorporate GPS receivers; such beacons transmit highly accurate positions of distress almost instantly to SAR agencies via the GEOSAR satellites. The advent of such beacons has created the current motto of SAR agencies — “Taking the ‘Search’ out of Search and Rescue.” (See MEOSAR below.) [3]

COSPAS (КОСПАС) is an acronym for the Russian words “Cosmicheskaya Sistema Poiska Avariynyh Sudov” (Космическая Система Поиска Аварийных Судов), which translates to “Space System for the Search of Vessels in Distress”. SARSAT is an acronym for Search And Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking.^[1]

Cospas-Sarsat is an element of the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS). Automatic-activating EPIRBs are now required on International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) ships, commercial fishing vessels, and all passenger ships, are designed to transmit to a Rescue Coordination Centre a vessel identification and an accurate location of the vessel from anywhere in the world.

[edit] Phase-out of 121.5 & 243.0 MHz distress radiobeacons

Starting on 1 February 2009, the Cospas-Sarsat System stopped processing signals from the deprecated 121.5 MHz and 243 MHz beacons; now only signals from 406 MHz beacons are processed.^[2] The switch to 406 MHz is expected to result in a substantial reduction in wasted use of SAR resources on false alerts while simultaneously increasing the responsiveness of the system for real distress cases.

[edit] System composition

The ground segment of the system consists of:

• Distress radiobeacons
• Satellite downlink receiving and signal processing stations called local user terminals (LUT)
• Mission Control Centres that distribute distress alert data generated by the LUTs
• Joint Rescue Coordination Centers (also referred to as Rescue Coordination Centres) that coordinate SAR response to a distress situation

The space segment of the system consists of:

• SAR signal processors aboard satellites

[edit] Space segment (SAR processors)

The Cospas-Sarsat system space segment consists of SAR signal processors (SARP) aboard:

• 4 geosynchronous satellites called GEOSARs, and
• 5 low-earth polar orbit satellites LEOSARs.[4]

A SARP is basically a box attached to the side of a satellite.[5] In this way, SARP are considered a secondary payload onboard satellites with more lucrative core purposes. See the Technical Information below for lists of SARP and their associated satellites.

[edit] Ground segment

The satellites are monitored by receiving stations equipped with satellite-tracking satellite dishes called local user terminals (LUT). Each nation’s LUTs are monitored by an MCC (Mission Control Centre), a data distribution clearinghouse that distributes alert information to the various Joint Rescue Coordination Centers.

[edit] Technical information

[edit] Doppler processing

The Cospas-Sarsat system was made possible by the advent of Doppler processing. LUTs detecting non-geostationary satellites profit from the apparent Doppler frequency shift heard by LEOSAR and MEOSAR satellites as they pass over a beacon transmitting at a fixed frequency. The apparent frequency shift allows processing to triangulate the position of the distress radiobeacon. See Doppler Processing article at Cospas-Sarsat and Wiki on Doppler radar.

[edit] LEOSAR

Example of LEOSAR signal footprint.

LEOSAR predates the GEOSAR system, and it complements it. LEOSAR satellites are monitored by 44 LEOLUTs (low Earth orbit local user terminals).^[3] The complementary LEOSAR satellites provide periodic coverage of the entire earth with an emphasis on polar regions. The LEOSAR satellites operate in a store-and-forward mode for 406 MHz signals — they store distress signals and forward them to the next LEOLUT ground station they overfly. The 4-satellite polar-orbit constellation LEOSAR system provides frequent coverage of the poles with approximately 100 minute orbits.

Up until mid-2007, two of the LEOSAR satellites were Cospas satellites provided by the former Soviet Union and operated by the Russian Federation. However, they were recently taken offline, and now, the American NOAA Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) and the EUMETSAT MetOp-A are the only LEOSAR satellites in service. COSPAS satellites characteristically orbit at 1000 km altitude.

The five operational LEOSAR satellites are the Sarsat satellites provided by the United States NOAA. These orbit at an altitude of 850 km. They are: ^[4]

• Sarsat-7 SARP aboard NOAA-15
• Sarsat-8 SARP aboard NOAA-16
• Sarsat-9 SARP aboard NOAA-17
• Sarsat-10 SARP aboard NOAA-18
• Sarsat-11 SARP aboard METOP-A

[edit] GEOSAR

The GEOSAR satellites are monitored by 16 GEOLUTs (Geostationary Earth Orbit Local User Terminals.) ^[5] The GEOSAR satellites provide continuous coverage of the entire earth below 70 degrees latitude with a view toward the equatorial sky. Some locations have poor radio reception toward the GEOSAR satellites and polar regions are not well covered.

SARP are installed on the following geostationary satellites: ^[6]

• The GOES geostationary satellites GOES-East at 75° W and GOES-West at 135° W
• The INSAT-3A geostationary satellite at 93.5° E
• The Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) geostationary satellites MSG-1 at 9.5° E and MSG-2 fixed over the Prime Meridian

[edit] Beacon technical information

Main article: Distress radiobeacons

Typical rescue beacon radios transmit a 5 watt signal for 0.5 second once every 50 seconds. Most of these terminals sold since 1997 include a GPS receiver so they can report precise GPS lat-lon location. Aircraft distress radiobeacons (ELTs) are automatically activated by acceleration switches after a crash, while maritime radiobeacons (EPIRBs) are normally activated by contact with sea water.

The “406 MHz” channel is 170 kHz wide and centered at 406.05 MHz. The message is either a 112-bit “short” message or a 144-bit “long” message both including 49 bits of identification plus position information.

[edit] MEOSAR

DASS MEOSAR Logo

Supporters of the Cospas-Sarsat system are working to add a new capability called MEOSAR (Medium Earth Orbit Search and Rescue satellites.) In its current (project) form, it is being called the Distress Alerting Satellite System (DASS) by NASA.^[7] This system will put SAR processors aboard the GPS satellite constellation and the Galileo positioning system constellation. MEOSAR satellites will be able to provide near-instantaneous detection, identification, receipt of encoded position, and determination of Doppler triangulated position of 406 MHz beacons (exclusively.) MEOSAR assets will report signals from Cospas-Sarsat search and rescue beacons in the 406.0–406.1 MHz band.^[8] There is also the possibility that the system will be able to download information back to the distress radiobeacon via the GPS downlink.^[7]

[edit] Rescue statistics

In 2006, the Cospas-Sarsat system provided assistance in rescuing 1,881 people in 452 SAR events.[6]

category	people rescued	SSAR events
aviation	102	56
maritime	1,647	308
land	132	88
total	1881	452

[edit] References

1. ^ Cospas-Sarsat. “Cospas-Sarsat Acronyms / Definitions“. http://www.cospas-sarsat.org/Management/acronyms.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-24. 
2. ^ Cospas-Sarsat. “Cospas-Sarsat Phase-Out of 121.5/243 MHz Alerting Services“. http://www.cospas-sarsat.org/FirstPage/121.5PhaseOut.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-24. 
3. ^ Summary Status
4. ^ http://www.cospas-sarsat.org/DocumentsSystemDataDocument/SD32-DEC06.pdf
5. ^ GEOLUT Description
6. ^ Space Segment Status
7. ^ ^{a b} NASA Search and Rescue Mission Office : Distress Alerting Satellite System (DASS)
8. ^ ESA Portal - Improving Daily Life - Galileo to support global search and rescue

[edit] External links

• Official website for the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme
• Official website for the USA’s Sarsat Program
• Detailed SARSAT and COSPAS satellite information
• Lay Person Explanation of the Satellite System
• Official website for Techno-Sciences, Inc. SARSAT program

Retrieved from “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cospas-Sarsat#GEOSAR“

Categories: Maritime communication | Maritime emergency | Emergency communication | Rescue | Law of the sea

 

—
Alan Spicer

DBA Alan Spicer Telcom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
Computer Services, Wired/Wireless Networking,
Cell/Sat/Landline Communications, General Consulting…
Marine, Business, Small Office and Home Office (SOHO)

* Cost Savings and Integration of Multiple Internet Technologies
on board Sail and Motor Yachts * Documentation, Operating
Instructions, and Support after the Sale *

* http://www.marinetelecom.net/
* http://www.internetforyachts.net/
* http://www.wifiyacht.net/
* 954-683-3426

Mobile Internet! Step up to the HSPA 3G Fast Internet!

Ericsson W35 released in the USA. This you’ve gotta SEE!!
Better looking presentation than W25 (you might not want to
hide this one in the Doghouse!) + High Speed Upload which
the W25 did not have.
http://www.marinetelecom.net/Ericsson_W35/

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AT&T and Apple Admit Deal to Block VoIP on iPhone

27. August 2009 by admin.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/170661/atandt_and_apple_admit_deal_to_block_voip_on_iphone.html?tk=nl_bpx_h_cbstories

Tony Bradley, PC World | Monday, August 24, 2009 6:50 AM PDT

AT&T and Apple have each responded to the FCC inquiry regarding the rejection of the Google Voice app from Apple’s App Store. The problem is that their answers don’t seem to be in sync and neither of them really sounds like the truth.

In its response to the FCC, Apple claims that the Google Voice app has not been rejected and is still under consideration. As explanation for removing Google Voice-related apps that had already been approved, such as VoiceCentral, Apple alluded to app store policy related to apps that duplicate iPhone functionality or alter the iPhone experience. I thought the whole point of having thousands of apps was so users could customize the iPhone experience to their liking.

AT&T responded to say they have an agreement with Apple that no app should be allowed which enables VoIP (voice over IP) calls over AT&T’s cellular network, but that Apple did not ask them about Google Voice and they had no input into the decision to block or delay the app.

In a statement on their site, AT&T said “any AT&T customer may access and use Google Voice on any web-enabled device operating on AT&T’s network, including the iPhone, by launching the application through their web browser, without the need to use the Apple App Store.”

It sounds like Apple is hedging its bet by claiming the Google Voice app isn’t even officially rejected yet. AT&T denies any part in it, but at the same time claims that there is a standing agreement not to enable VoIP over its cellular network. The whole thing seems silly since, as AT&T points customers can use Google Voice without a Google Voice app through the web interface, and customers who place calls with Google Voice will still be using cellular or data services or both.

Ironically, Google is being probed by the FCC for similar shady practices related to the use of Skype for placing VoIP calls using Android-based phones. Google’s response to the FCC seems to imply that the mobile provider, TMobile, requested that Skype be blocked. Apparently Apple and AT&T are not the only ones feeling threatened by alternate services being used from its mobile platform.

The practices of trying to block competition by denying access to the platform seems to have stirred the hornets nest and drawn unwanted attention. The FCC probe of the Google Voice app rejection is a part of a larger FCC inquiry into wireless industry agreements and business practices. The larger probe is also looking at wireless provider billing practices and whether or not exclusivity agreements between wireless providers and wireless device manufacturers violate consumer rights.

(more at the link above…)

See also:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/170596/fcc_probes_wireless_industry.html

FCC Probes Wireless Industry

Tony Bradley, PC World | Friday, August 21, 2009 11:43 AM PDT

The FCC is challenging the foundation of the wireless industry business model. Exclusivity agreements and billing practices serve the capitalist free market interests of the wireless providers, but conflict with what is in interest of public good and providing a stable infrastructure.The wireless industry was already put on notice recently when Apple rejected the Google Voice app for the iPhone. That was not the first issue that woke up the sleeping giant affectionately known as the FCC, but it may have been the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back. There are also potential FTC issues regarding the relationships between companies like Apple and Google which are both partners and competitors depending on the day and the market you look at.

One of the biggest issues being investigated by the FCC is the concept of exclusivity. FCC Chair Julius Genachowski committed during his confirmation hearings to explore the ethics of such arrangements and whether or not exclusivity is unfair to consumers. For example, the Apple iPhone has been a tremendous success, but requires that you switch to AT&T as your wireless provider to use it (unless you work some unlocking magic called ‘jailbreaking’ which also violates the warranty). Consumers in areas not serviced by AT&T are simply unable to use the iPhone at all.

(more at the link above…)

* Alan Spicer will continue to monitor the wireless communications industries to try and keep track of what works and doesn’t work that can benefit my readers and customers.

—

Alan Spicer

DBA

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

+1 954 683 3426

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Alan Spicer - Authorized Cradlepoint Partner

25. August 2009 by admin.

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom is in the process of being set up to be a Cradlepoint Authorized Partner.

Cradlepoint, in case you don’t know, makes Cellular Mobile Broadband Router products - such as the MBR1000 - that handles the newer Cellular Internet Cards that you get when signing up for Mobile Internet from the cellular companies.

Two USB ports and 1 Express Card port for Modem Card connectivity:
USB and Express Card Cellular (laptop style) cards are supported. Many other mobile broadband routers just don’t support these newer style cards.

Cradlepoint also has 802.11n wireless for onboard your vessel, and ethernet CAT5 jacks for wired networking and for expanding your onboard network.

I’ve had a web page for awhile on the MBR1000:

http://www.marinetelecom.net/Cradlepoint-MBR1000.htm

which will get updated soon. Meanwhile if you use multiple cellular Internet cards on your boat - you might want to consider this one. One of the key benefits of the MBR1000 is that you can change cellular carriers (and hence technologies) between AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, etc. … and have it work without having to change your system hardware. Maybe you want to use someone else’s cellular data card temporarily? Maybe you changed carriers (and maybe later changed back? or changed again?) - No problem as long as you use a supported card for the Cradlepoint MBR1000. It should be noted that this does not do cellular voice … if you need voice to analog phones or PBX then please see the Ericsson gear that I sell and support as well.

It has uses for businesses on land as well, and can go mobile with the appropriate power arrangements.

—

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

+1 954 683 3426

communications @ marinetelecom.net

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Cost Saving - Back Up Internet and Voice Telephone for Yachts

25. August 2009 by admin.

Cost Saving - Back Up Internet and Voice Telephone for Yachts - means not only the physical hardware systems … but the knowledge in the industry and systems to support their use to provide multiple systems, and cost savings for marine (sail and motor yacht) vessels…

In order to save $$$ on communications costs - Alan Spicer is often called in to implement solutions using multiple technologies in a heterogenous onboard network onboard sail and motor yachts - including those with existing Satellite Communications Systems.

Cellular 3G+ and WiFi Hotspot Sharing Broadband Router systems can be used to give a vessel more options (= choices) in their Voice and Internet Communications.

Often WiFi is available when at anchor or in dock in a marina or yard. WiFi is often free, or pay per (day, week, month, …) and has high bandwidth/speed compared to other Internet Communications methods. Voice over IP can be used for telephone across most Internet Connections to save on roaming charges.

When in your home area (assuming the U.S. for U.S. customers) for cellular it’s often more readily available to use Cellular 3G Internet because you don’t have to search for WiFi Hotspots, or they just may not be available. And Cellular 3G Internet is usually a fixed monthly fee (as long as you watch to not exceed typical 5Gb per month limits.)

Satellite Systems are good for deep blue cruises when you are out of range of cellular and wifi signals. Typical currently used systems are Fleet Broadband (FBB) and Tracphone V7 (Mini-VSAT), as well as some remaining Inmarsat Fleet and Mini-M Systems. Not to mention some Iridium and Globalstar systems. The latter two don’t provide much speed on Internet but can give you voice and fax when nothing else is available.

Alan Spicer assists with Satellite activations and maintenance of related onboard networking, and sells and consults on implementing solutions for cellular and wifi Internet and Voice systems to augment those satellite systems and for cost savings on voice and Internet communications.

Alan Spicer writes yearly consulting and support agreements, which many vessels renew year-after-year because of the excellent support provided.

Thank You!

—

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954 683 3426

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Mobile Broadband Router Dot Biz

25. August 2009 by admin.

Please visit http://mobilebroadbandrouter.biz/

Welcome to Mobile Broadband

Router dot Biz

Mobile Broadband Router is a service of http://www.marinetelecom.net.

So what are Mobile Broadband Routers?:

In order to go mobile such a router has to be wireless - other than that they are often similar to home broadband routers used on DSL or Cable Internet. Mobile Broadband Routers work on Cellular 3G Service similar to how your hand cellular phone works.

Some such routers also produce Dial Tone and allow ordinary home style telephone sets to be connected to share Cellular Voice Telephone with 1 or more Telephone Sets or PBX systems. On the Internet side some of them have built-in WiFi Access Points to share the Internet with wireless clients such as laptop computers. They also often have a 4 port switch-hub and obviously the router or “Internet Sharing” functionality built-in - allowing wired computers to take part in a Local Area Network and the Internet as well. This also allows expansion of this Local Area Network to add additional Wireless Access Points (user supplied) to extend the whole thing into more areas

For mobile use in motor vehicles such as RV’s, SUV’s, Buses, Cars, and Trucks - you can often run them off of the vehicle power supply (often 12v battery) and connect an external antenna outside on the vehicle roof top - to provide better signal and range for the system.

These Mobile Broadband Routers are also popular in Marine Mobile environments such as Sail and Motor Yachts - where they can provide Dial-Tone and Cellular Voice to the Boats PBX System as well as 3G Fast Internet to Crew, Owners, and Guests onboard the Vessel.

This web site is under construction - so please have a look at the link above, as well as http://www.marinetelecom.net/Ericsson_W25 and http://www.marinetelecom.net/Ericsson_W35 for now

Thank You!

—

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954 683 3426

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Back Up Voice and Internet Dot Com

25. August 2009 by admin.

Check out:

http://backupvoiceandinternet.com/

Your Internet Connection and your Voice Telephone Service have become critical to business and Home Office. If these services go down you lose money, time, and productivity. Staff ends up working on the clock but can’t get things done because of the lack of Internet and Telephone Communications.

Prevent that from happening by using 3G Cellular Voice and Internet Routers to step up and provide these services when the normal landline services fail. The gear we’re talking about can connect to standard RJ11 telephones and PBX systems - and the Internet part of these units provides an RJ45 (CAT5 or CAT6) network switch hub as well as wireless Access Point functionality. If you use a server or a router that can fail over to a 3G Cellular Router when the Landline fails then you can remain quite nicely operational!

Otherwise we can consult for you on how to inexpensively provide that failover functionality either via manual switching or automatic failover hardware and methods.

—

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954 683 3426

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New ad posts on Boatpile.com: E W35 Cellular 3G+ and WiFi Hotspot System for Yachts

25. August 2009 by admin.

Please stop by Boatpile.com (Fort Lauderdale, US/South East) and have a look at my new ad posts on there for Ericsson W35 3G+ Cellular and WiFi Hotspot systems.

You can find them here: http://www.boatpile.com/50/posts/8/

Thank You!

—

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954 683 3426

communications @ marinetelecom.net

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Ericsson W35 Mobile Broadband (Cellular 3G+) Router Sale Continues

25. August 2009 by admin.

 

The sale continues on the Ericsson W35 Mobile (Cellular 3G+) Mobile Broadband Voice and Internet Router. See pictures and web control panel screen shots here:

http://blog.marinetelecom.net/page/2 (near the bottom of the page.)

$440.00

$     8.00 - MCX to N-Female Radio Pigtail (mates with LMR 400 or other coax cables ending in N-Male Connector.)

$ 25.00 - Shipping to US destinations

—————————————

$473.00 total

(Not including external antenna or coax cable run. Call or email for those items.)

* Many customers are upgrading from their Ericsson W25 units - or purchasing new W35 units. They are very flexible mobile Internet Routers working on 10-28vDC allowing installation in Boats/Yachts/Motor Vehicles/Temporary - Work Sites/and Remote Data Acquisition.  Providing dial tone on RJ11 telephone jack for standard telephones or Private Branch Exchange (PBX) systems.

* WiFi is becoming HOT at this time … Smart Phones and PDA’s with WiFi Capability are becoming VERY POPULAR. With an Ericsson W35, which provides a WiFi Base Station built-in, you can share the Internet to all of your “i” devices such as iPod Touch, iPhone, and other Smart Phones supporting WiFi. Share Internet with your friends! Share Internet with your Yacht Crew! Share Internet with your automobile passengers!

* Share USB hard disk drives and USB memory sticks via Windows WORKGROUP networking.

—

Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

+1 954 683 3426

http://www.marinetelecom.net

http://www.wifiyacht.net

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Radio Amateurs Handbook 1922 (?) Invention of the Wireless Telephone, “this was connected an Ericsson telephone receiver, then the most sensitive made.”

21. August 2009 by admin.

* I thought this was interesting… I love telephone and radio history stuff. I was browsing through a CD I had burned, downloaded from Project Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page. The etext is The Radio Amateur’s Hand Book, by A. Frederick Collins.

Another interesting site I found while reading a bit of this Radio Amatuers Hand Book, is:

http://www.ericssonhistory.com/templates/Ericsson/StartPage.aspx?id=2049&epslanguage=EN (The history of Ericsson). By now you may have guessed that this is interesting to me especially (besides being a U.S. Radio Amateur, and having an interest in Radio and Telephone Communications in general…) is because I sell and support the Ericsson W25 and W35 Cellular Voice and Internet Mobile Broadband Router line of equipment.

THE RADIO AMATEUR’S HAND BOOK
A Complete, Authentic and Informative Work on Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony

BY
FREDERICK COLLINS

Inventor of the Wireless Telephone 1899; Historian of Wireless 1901-1910; Author of “Wireless Telegraphy” 1905

1922
——————————————————————————–

TO
WILLIAM MARCONI
INVENTOR OF THE WIRELESS TELEGRAPH

INTRODUCTION
Before delving into the mysteries of receiving and sending messages without wires, a word as to the history of the art and its present day applications may be of service. While popular interest in the subject has gone forward by leaps and bounds within the last two or three years, it has been a matter of scientific experiment for more than a quarter of a century.

The wireless telegraph was invented by William Marconi, at Bologna, Italy, in 1896, and in his first experiments he sent dot and dash signals to a distance of 200 or 300 feet. The wireless telephone was invented by the author of this book at Narberth, Penn., in 1899, and in his first experiments the human voice was transmitted to a distance of three blocks.

The first vital experiments that led up to the invention of the wireless telegraph were made by Heinrich Hertz, of Germany, in 1888 when he showed that the spark of an induction coil set up electric oscillations in an open circuit, and that the energy of these waves was, in turn, sent out in the form of electric waves. He also showed how they could be received at a distance by means of a ring detector, which he called a resonator.

In 1890, Edward Branly, of France, showed that metal filings in a tube cohered when electric waves acted on them, and this device he termed a radio conductor; this was improved upon by Sir Oliver Lodge, who called it a coherer. In 1895, Alexander Popoff, of Russia, constructed a receiving set for the study of atmospheric electricity, and this arrangement was the earliest on record of the use of a detector connected with an aerial and the earth.

Marconi was the first to connect an aerial to one side of a spark gap and a ground to the other side of it. He used an induction coil to energize the spark gap, and a telegraph key in the primary circuit to break up the current into signals. Adding a Morse register, which printed the dot and dash messages on a tape, to the Popoff receptor he produced the first system for sending and receiving wireless telegraph messages.

Photograph unavailable
Collins’ Wireless Telephone Exhibited at the Madison Square Garden, October 1908.

After Marconi had shown the world how to telegraph without connecting wires it would seem, on first thought, to be an easy matter to telephone without wires, but not so, for the electric spark sets up damped and periodic oscillations and these cannot be used for transmitting speech. Instead, the oscillations must be of constant amplitude and continuous. That a direct current arc light transforms a part of its energy into electric oscillations was shown by Firth and Rogers, of England, in 1893.

The author was the first to connect an arc lamp with an aerial and a ground, and to use a microphone transmitter to modulate the sustained oscillations so set up. The receiving apparatus consisted of a variable contact, known as a pill-box detector, which Sir Oliver Lodge had devised, and to this was connected an Ericsson telephone receiver, then the most sensitive made. A later improvement for setting up sustained oscillations was the author’s rotating oscillation arc.

Since those memorable days of more than two decades ago, wonderful advances have been made in both of these methods of transmitting intelligence, and the end is as yet nowhere in sight. Twelve or fifteen years ago the boys began to get fun out of listening-in to what the ship and shore stations were sending and, further, they began to do a little sending on their own account. These youngsters, who caused the professional operators many a pang, were the first wireless amateurs, and among them experts were developed who are foremost in the practice of the art today.

Away back there, the spark coil and the arc lamp were the only known means for setting up oscillations at the sending end, while the electrolytic and crystal detectors were the only available means for the amateur to receive them. As it was next to impossible for a boy to get a current having a high enough voltage for operating an oscillation arc lamp, wireless telephony was out of the question for him, so he had to stick to the spark coil transmitter which needed only a battery current to energize it, and this, of course, limited him to sending Morse signals. As the electrolytic detector was cumbersome and required a liquid, the crystal detector which came into being shortly after was just as sensitive and soon displaced the former, even as this had displaced the coherer.

A few years ahead of these amateurs, that is to say in 1905, J. A. Fleming, of England, invented the vacuum tube detector, but ten more years elapsed before it was perfected to a point where it could compete with the crystal detector. Then its use became general and workers everywhere sought to, and did improve it. Further, they found that the vacuum tube would not only act as a detector, but that if energized by a direct current of high voltage it would set up sustained oscillations like the arc lamp, and the value of sustained oscillations for wireless telegraphy as well as wireless telephony had already been discovered.

The fact that the vacuum tube oscillator requires no adjustment of its elements, that its initial cost is much less than the oscillation arc, besides other considerations, is the reason that it popularized wireless telephony; and because continuous waves have many advantages over periodic oscillations is the reason the vacuum tube oscillator is replacing the spark coil as a wireless telegraph transmitter. Moreover, by using a number of large tubes in parallel, powerful oscillations can be set up and, hence, the waves sent out are radiated to enormous distances.

While oscillator tubes were being experimented with in the research laboratories of the General Electric, the Westinghouse, the Radio Corporation of America, and other big companies, all the youthful amateurs in the country had learned that by using a vacuum tube as a detector they could easily get messages 500 miles away. The use of these tubes as amplifiers also made it possible to employ a loud speaker, so that a room, a hall, or an out-of-door audience could hear clearly and distinctly everything that was being sent out.

The boy amateur had only to let father or mother listen-in, and they were duly impressed when he told them they were getting it from KDKA (the Pittsburgh station of the Westinghouse Co.), for was not Pittsburgh 500 miles away! And so they, too, became enthusiastic wireless amateurs. This new interest of the grown-ups was at once met not only by the manufacturers of apparatus with complete receiving and sending sets, but also by the big companies which began broadcasting regular programs consisting of music and talks on all sorts of interesting subjects.

This is the wireless, or radio, as the average amateur knows it today. But it is by no means the limit of its possibilities. On the contrary, we are just beginning to realize what it may mean to the human race. The Government is now utilizing it to send out weather, crop and market reports. Foreign trade conditions are being reported. The Naval Observatory at Arlington is wirelessing time signals.

Department stores are beginning to issue programs and advertise by radio! Cities are also taking up such programs, and they will doubtless be included soon among the regular privileges of the tax-payers. Politicians address their constituents. Preachers reach the stay-at-homes. Great singers thrill thousands instead of hundreds. Soon it will be possible to hear the finest musical programs, entertainers, and orators, without budging from one’s easy chair.

In the World War wireless proved of inestimable value. Airplanes, instead of flying aimlessly, kept in constant touch with headquarters. Bodies of troops moved alertly and intelligently. Ships at sea talked freely, over hundreds of miles. Scouts reported. Everywhere its invisible aid was invoked.

In time of peace, however, it has proved and will prove the greatest servant of mankind. Wireless messages now go daily from continent to continent, and soon will go around the world with the same facility. Ships in distress at sea can summon aid. Vessels everywhere get the day’s news, even to baseball scores. Daily new tasks are being assigned this tireless, wireless messenger.

Messages have been sent and received by moving trains, the Lackawanna and the Rock Island railroads being pioneers in this field. Messages have also been received by automobiles, and one inventor has successfully demonstrated a motor car controlled entirely by wireless. This method of communication is being employed more and more by newspapers. It is also of great service in reporting forest fires.

Colleges are beginning to take up the subject, some of the first being Tufts College, Hunter College, Princeton, Yale, Harvard, and Columbia, which have regularly organized departments for students in wireless.

Instead of the unwieldy and formidable looking apparatus of a short time ago, experimenters are now vying with each other in making small or novel equipment. Portable sets of all sorts are being fashioned, from one which will go into an ordinary suitcase, to one so small it will easily slip into a Brownie camera. One receiver depicted in a newspaper was one inch square! Another was a ring for the finger, with a setting one inch by five-eighths of an inch, and an umbrella as a “ground.” Walking sets with receivers fastened to one’s belt are also common. Daily new novelties and marvels are announced.

Meanwhile, the radio amateur to whom this book is addressed may have his share in the joys of wireless. To get all of these good things out of the ether one does not need a rod or a gun–only a copper wire made fast at either end and a receiving set of some kind. If you are a sheer beginner, then you must be very careful in buying your apparatus, for since the great wave of popularity has washed wireless into the hearts of the people, numerous companies have sprung up and some of these are selling the veriest kinds of junk.

And how, you may ask, are you going to be able to know the good from the indifferent and bad sets? By buying a make of a firm with an established reputation. I have given a few offhand at the end of this book. Obviously there are many others of merit–so many, indeed, that it would be quite impossible to get them all in such a list, but these will serve as a guide until you can choose intelligently for yourself.

F. C.
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER

I. HOW TO BEGIN WIRELESS
Kinds of Wireless Systems–Parts of a Wireless System–The Easiest Way to Start–About Aerial Wire Systems–About the Receiving Apparatus–About Transmitting Stations–Kinds of Transmitters–The Spark Gap Wireless Telegraph Transmitter–The Vacuum Table Telegraph Transmitter–The Wireless Telephone Transmitter.

II. PUTTING UP YOUR AERIAL
Kinds of Aerial Wire Systems–How to Put Up a Cheap Receiving Aerial–A Two-wire Aerial–Connecting in the Ground–How to Put up a Good Aerial–An Inexpensive Good Aerial–The Best Aerial That Can be Made–Assembling the Aerial–Making a Good Ground.

III. SIMPLE TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE RECEIVING SETS
Assembled Wireless Receiving Sets–Assembling Your Own Receiving Set–The Crystal Detector–The Tuning Coil–The Loose Coupled Tuning Coil–Fixed and Variable Condensers–About Telephone Receivers– Connecting Up the Parts–Receiving Set No. 2–Adjusting the No. 1 Set–The Tuning Coil–Adjusting the No. 2 Set.

IV. SIMPLE TELEGRAPH SENDING SETS
A Cheap Transmitting Set (No. 1)–The Spark Coil–The Battery–The Telegraph Key–The Spark Gap–The Tuning Coil–The High-tension Condenser–A Better Transmitting Set (No. 2)–The Alternating Current Transformer–The Wireless Key–The Spark Gap–The High-tension Condenser–The Oscillation Transformer–Connecting Up the Apparatus–For Direct Current–How to Adjust Your Transmitter. Turning With a Hot Wire Ammeter–To Send Out a 200-meter Wave Length–The Use of the Aerial Switch–Aerial Switch for a Complete Sending and Receiving Set–Connecting in the Lightning Switch.

V. ELECTRICITY SIMPLY EXPLAINED
Electricity at Rest and in Motion–The Electric Current and its Circuit–Current and the Ampere–Resistance and the Ohm–What Ohm’s Law Is–What the Watt and Kilowatt Are–Electromagnetic Induction–Mutual Induction–High-frequency Currents–Constants of an Oscillation Circuit–What Capacitance Is–What Inductance Is–What Resistance Is–The Effect of Capacitance.

VI. HOW THE TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING SETS WORK
How Transmitting Set No. 1 Works–The Battery and Spark Coil Circuit–Changing the Primary Spark Coil Current Into Secondary Currents–What Ratio of Transformation Means–The Secondary Spark Coil Circuit–The Closed Oscillation Circuit–How Transmitting Set No. 2 Works-With Alternating Current–With Direct Current–The Rotary Spark Gap–The Quenched Spark Gap–The Oscillation Transformer–How Receiving Set No. 1 Works–How Receiving Set No. 2 Works.

VII. MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL TUNING
Damped and Sustained Mechanical Vibrations–Damped and Sustained Oscillations–About Mechanical Tuning–About Electric Tuning.

VIII. A SIMPLE VACUUM TUBE DETECTOR RECEIVING SET
Assembled Vacuum Tube Receiving Set–A Simple Vacuum Tube Receiving Set–The Vacuum Tube Detector–Three Electrode Vacuum Tube Detector–The Dry Cell and Storage Batteries–The Filament Rheostat–Assembling the Parts–Connecting Up the Parts–Adjusting the Vacuum Tube Detector Receiving Set.

IX. VACUUM TUBE AMPLIFIER RECEIVING SETS
A Grid Leak Amplifier Receiving Set. With Crystal Detector–The Fixed Resistance Unit, or Grid Leak–Assembling the Parts for a Crystal Detector Set–Connecting up the Parts for a Crystal Detector–A Grid Leak Amplifying Receiving Set With Vacuum Tube Detector–A Radio Frequency Transformer Amplifying Receiving Set–An Audio Frequency Transformer Amplifying Receiving Set–A Six Step Amplifier Receiving Set with a Loop Aerial–How to Prevent Howling.

X. REGENERATIVE AMPLIFICATION RECEIVING SETS
The Simplest Type of Regenerative Receiving Set–With Loose Coupled Tuning Coil–Connecting Up the Parts–An Efficient Regenerative Receiving Set. With Three Coil Loose Coupler–The A Battery Potentiometer–The Parts and How to Connect Them Up–A Regenerative Audio Frequency Amplifier–The Parts and How to Connect Them Up.

XI. SHORT WAVE REGENERATIVE RECEIVING SETS
A Short Wave Regenerative Receiver, with One Variometer and Three Variable Condensers–The Variocoupler–The Variometer–Connecting Up the Parts–Short Wave Regenerative Receiver with Two Variometers and Two Variable Condensers–The Parts and How to Connect Them Up.

XII. INTERMEDIATE AND LONG WAVE REGENERATIVE RECEIVING SETS
Intermediate Wave Receiving Sets–Intermediate Wave Set With Loading Coils–The Parts and How to Connect Them Up–An Intermediate Wave Set with Variocoupler Inductance Coils–The Parts and How to Connect Them Up–A Long Wave Receiving Set–The Parts and How to Connect Them Up.

XIII. HETERODYNE OR BEAT LONG WAVE TELEGRAPH RECEIVING SET
What the Heterodyne or Beat Method Is–The Autodyne or Self-heterodyne Long Wave Receiving Set–The Parts and Connections of an Autodyne or Self-heterodyne, Receiving Set–The Separate Heterodyne Long Wave Receiving Set–The Parts and Connections of a Separate Heterodyne Long Wave Receiving Set.

XIV. HEADPHONES AND LOUD SPEAKERS
Wireless Headphones–How a Bell Telephone Receiver is Made–How a Wireless Headphone is Made–About Resistance, Turns of Wire and Sensitivity of Headphones–The Impedance of Headphones–How the Headphones Work–About Loud Speakers–The Simplest Type of Loud Speaker–Another Simple Kind of Loud Speaker–A Third Kind of Simple Loud Speaker–A Super Loud Speaker.

XV. OPERATION OF VACUUM TUBE RECEPTORS
What is Meant by Ionization–How Electrons are Separated from Atoms–Action of the Two Electrode Vacuum Tube–How the Two Electrode Tube Acts as a Detector–How the Three Electrode Tube Acts as a Detector–How the Vacuum Tube Acts as an Amplifier–The Operation of a Simple Vacuum Tube Receiving Set–Operation of a Regenerative Vacuum Tube Receiving Set–Operation of Autodyne and Heterodyne Receiving Sets–The Autodyne, or Self-Heterodyne Receiving Set–The Separate Heterodyne Receiving Set.

XVI. CONTINUOUS WAVE TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTING SETS WITH DIRECT CURRENT
Sources of Current for Telegraph Transmitting Sets–An Experimental Continuous Wave Telegraph Transmitter–The Apparatus You Need–The Tuning Coil–The Condensers–The Aerial Ammeter–The Buzzer and Dry Cell–The Telegraph Key–The Vacuum Tube Oscillator–The Storage Battery–The Battery Rheostat–The Oscillation Choke Coil–Transmitter Connectors–The Panel Cutout–Connecting Up the Transmitting Apparatus–A 100-mile C. W. Telegraph Transmitter–The Apparatus You Need–The Tuning Coil–The Aerial Condenser–The Aerial Ammeter–The Grid and Blocking Condensers–The Key Circuit Apparatus–The 5 Watt Oscillator Vacuum Tube–The Storage Battery and Rheostat–The Filament Voltmeter–The Oscillation Choke Coil–The Motor-generator Set–The Panel Cut-out–The Protective Condenser–Connecting Up the Transmitting Apparatus–A 200-mile C. W. Telegraph Transmitter–A 500-mile C. W. Telegraph Transmitter–The Apparatus and Connections– The 50-watt Vacuum Tube Oscillator–The Aerial Ammeter–The Grid Leak Resistance–The Oscillation Choke Coil–The Filament Rheostat–The Filament Storage Battery–The Protective Condenser–The Motor-generator–A 1000-mile C. W. Telegraph Transmitter.

XVII. CONTINUOUS WAVE TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTING SETS WITH ALTERNATING CURRENT
A 100-mile C. W. Telegraph Transmitting Set–The Apparatus Required–The Choke Coils–The Milli-ammeter–The A. C. Power Transformer–Connecting Up the Apparatus–A 200- to 500-mile C. W. Telegraph Transmitting Set-A 500- to 1000-mile C. W. Telegraph Transmitting Set–The Apparatus Required–The Alternating Current Power Transformer-Connecting Up the Apparatus.

XVIII. WIRELESS TELEPHONE TRANSMITTING SETS WITH DIRECT AND ALTERNATING CURRENTS
A Short Distance Wireless Telephone Transmitting Set–With 110-volt Direct Lighting Current–The Apparatus You Need–The Microphone Transmitter–Connecting Up the Apparatus–A 25- to 50-mile Wireless Telephone Transmitter–With Direct Current Motor Generator–The Apparatus You Need–The Telephone Induction Coil–The Microphone Transformer–The Magnetic Modulator–How the Apparatus is Connected Up–A 50- to 100-mile Wireless Telephone Transmitter–With Direct Current Motor Generator–The Oscillation Choke Coil–The Plate and Grid Circuit Reactance Coils–Connecting up the Apparatus–A 100- to 200-mile Wireless Telephone Transmitter–With Direct Current Motor Generator–A 50- to 100-mile Wireless Telephone Transmitting Set–With 100-volt Alternating Current–The Apparatus You Need–The Vacuum Tube Rectifier–The Filter Condensers–The Filter Reactance Coil– Connecting Up the Apparatus–A 100- to 200-mile Wireless Telephone Transmitting Set–With 110-volt Alternating Current–Apparatus Required.

XIX. THE OPERATION OF VACUUM TUBE TRANSMITTERS
The Operation of the Vacuum Tube Oscillator–The Operation of C. W. Telegraph Transmitters with Direct Current–Short Distance C. W. Transmitter–The Operation of the Key Circuit–The Operation of C. W. Telegraph Transmitting with Direct Current–The Operation of C. W. Telegraph Transmitters with Alternating Current–With a Single Oscillator Tube–Heating the Filament with Alternating Current–The Operation of C. W. Telegraph Transmitters with Alternating Current– With Two Oscillator Tubes–The Operation of Wireless Telephone Transmitters with Direct Current–Short Distance Transmitter–The Microphone Transmitter–The Operation of Wireless Telephone Transmitters with Direct Current–Long Distance Transmitters–The Operation of Microphone Modulators–The Induction Coil–The Microphone Transformer–The Magnetic Modulator–Operation of the Vacuum Tube as a Modulator–The Operation of Wireless Telephone Transmitters with Alternating Current–The Operation of Rectifier Vacuum Tubes–The Operation of Reactors and Condensers.

XX. HOW TO MAKE A RECEIVING SET FOR $5.00 OR LESS.
The Crystal Detector–The Tuning Coil–The Headphone–How to Mount the Parts–The Condenser–How to Connect Up the Receptor.

(You can read more, if you want, of this etext … by getting it from Project Gutenberg.)

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Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

Radio Amateur (General): KA4UDX (20 years)
Restricted Radiotelephone: RR00022962
General Mobile Radio Service: WQHB349

+1 954 683 3426

communications @ marinetelecom.net

http://www.marinetelecom.net

http://www.wifiyacht.net

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Yacht Resilience - Same Internet Systems Since 2007, Still Good! Renews Support Agreement for 2009

21. August 2009 by admin.

M/Y Resilience #3

A customer of Alan Spicer Marine Telecom through several captains, the Motor Yacht Resilience is still using Cellular Router and WiFi systems developed and/or installed by Alan Spicer. Resilience’s latest captain has asked for support help a couple of times in 2009 and has just signed on again for renewal of their Consulting and Support Agreement with Alan Spicer.

Using multi-Cellular-card capable router (they were changing providers from Sprint to Verizon) and proprietary External WiFi System - along with onboard 802.11 a/b/g/n [2.4Ghz and 5Ghz] wireless access for laptop computers, the system keeps the crew, and charter guests “connected” on the Internet.

Alan Spicer Marine Telecom is proud to continue serving the needs of the Motor Yacht Resilience now going on 3 years. This is a prime example that ASMT is in this for the long haul. We don’t just wine you and dine you and dump you. The support can continue after the paint dries and the warranties have expired. Many systems, such as those onboard Resilience, can go on working and serving their communications needs for many years.

 

M/Y Resilience #1

 

M/Y Resilience #2

 

M/Y Resilience #4

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Alan Spicer Telecom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

+1 954 683 3426

http://www.marinetelecom.net

http://www.wifiyacht.net

 

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