A satellite phone is effectively a mobilephone which uses satellites for communication, rather than cell like standard mobile phones. There are three satellite phone networks that are currently in operation:
•Iridium
•Globalstar
•Thuraya Iridium
The Iridium network uses 66 low earth orbit satellites in polar orbits 485 miles above sea level. The use of low earth orbit satellites helps minimize round-trip-time, which greatly improves the perceived quality of the phone call. The Iridum network is able to provide complete global coverage. There is no where on Earth where you can't receive a satellite phone call over the Iridium network.
Thuraya
The Thuraya satellite phone network provides coverage over Europe, the Middle East, Central and Northern Africa, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
Thuraya offers dual-mode GSM and satellite mobile telephone services, transmitting and receiving calls through each satellite's 12.25-meter-aperture reflector.
The Thuraya geostationary satellites utilize on-board digital signal processing to create more than 200 spot beams that can be redirected on-orbit, allowing the satellite phone network to adapt to customer demand in real time.
Satellite phone calls are routed directly from one handheld unit to another, or to a terrestrial network.
The Thuraya network has the capacity for 13,750 simultaneous voice circuits.
Globalstar
The Globalstar network utilizes 40 low earth orbit satellites orbiting at an altitude of 876 miles.
The Globalstar satellite phone network provides coverage over most of the Earths land mass. This includes most of North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Northern Asia, and Australia.
Friday, 16 October 2009
Monday, 12 October 2009
Advice on hiring Satellite Phones
Rental and hire of satellite phone solutions has greatly increased over the last eight years. The requirement has been from people and businesses traveling to areas outside of cell and landline coverage who want the peace of mind that in a crisis they can get help with a simple phone call. They also want the ability to stay in touch with friends, business partners, associates and family
How do you find a satellite phone to rent?
In most cases you will not be able to run down to the local cellular store and pick one up and if you call them they will most likely tell you "There is no such thing as a handheld satellite phone". Most people find satellite phones on the Internet which can be shipped to their home or business to arrive on a certain desired delivery date. Satellite phones can often be rented by the week or by the month. The fees can vary depending on the time of year. Be careful some satellite phone providers will have hidden fees like daily minimum usage fees which can substantially increase the cost of your rental. If the user plans to only use the phone in a crisis they can choose the flat rate per minute a pay-as-you go option. If the rental customer plans to use the phone more they can choose a number of prepaid bundled minute plans offered by GlobalCom which are discounted. Numerous optional accessories are available including data kits allowing you access to the Internet using a PC. Other options include cigarette lighter adapters, solar panels, water-proof cases, leather cases, extra batteries and more. GlobalCom currently recommends the Iridium rental unit which provides un-paralleled planetary coverage with their constellation of 66 satellites.
For more information on Satellite phones and Crisis management solutions visit the Track 24 web site.
How do you find a satellite phone to rent?
In most cases you will not be able to run down to the local cellular store and pick one up and if you call them they will most likely tell you "There is no such thing as a handheld satellite phone". Most people find satellite phones on the Internet which can be shipped to their home or business to arrive on a certain desired delivery date. Satellite phones can often be rented by the week or by the month. The fees can vary depending on the time of year. Be careful some satellite phone providers will have hidden fees like daily minimum usage fees which can substantially increase the cost of your rental. If the user plans to only use the phone in a crisis they can choose the flat rate per minute a pay-as-you go option. If the rental customer plans to use the phone more they can choose a number of prepaid bundled minute plans offered by GlobalCom which are discounted. Numerous optional accessories are available including data kits allowing you access to the Internet using a PC. Other options include cigarette lighter adapters, solar panels, water-proof cases, leather cases, extra batteries and more. GlobalCom currently recommends the Iridium rental unit which provides un-paralleled planetary coverage with their constellation of 66 satellites.
For more information on Satellite phones and Crisis management solutions visit the Track 24 web site.
Nomad - Redifining Risk Management
Imagine a MOTOTRBO digital radio system with integrated GPS and panic button. Imagine Nomad. The extensive applications of the Nomad tracking system redefine risk management. Nomad turns your standard digital radio communications into a state of the art global tracking and crisis management solution. Combining the versatility and low cost of radio with a tracking and emergency alert capability, Nomad is ideal for close protection teams, infrastructure, perimeter and maritime security.
The Nomad system comprises multiple radio handsets, each handset providing the user with personal tracking, panic button and voice communication. Complete integration of the Nomad system into the web-based Track24 crisis management software, the C4i platform, allows operations staff to monitor all radio users on one common picture from anywhere in the world. TrackingEach handset has handheld GPS tracking capability and transmits its exact location back to a master handset.
The frequency of position reporting can be remotely programmed from the Track24 risk management software, the C4i platform, from 30 second intervals upwards. Because Nomad is a radio-based system, there is no ‘air-time’ cost associated with its tracking capabilities. Panic alarmThe Nomad handset features an integral panic button. Once activated the device becomes a handheld distress beacon, sending audible and visual alerts to the Master handset and the C4i platform. Notification of the alarm is also automatically forwarded via e-mail and SMS to nominated recipients.
The Nomad system comprises multiple radio handsets, each handset providing the user with personal tracking, panic button and voice communication. Complete integration of the Nomad system into the web-based Track24 crisis management software, the C4i platform, allows operations staff to monitor all radio users on one common picture from anywhere in the world. TrackingEach handset has handheld GPS tracking capability and transmits its exact location back to a master handset.
The frequency of position reporting can be remotely programmed from the Track24 risk management software, the C4i platform, from 30 second intervals upwards. Because Nomad is a radio-based system, there is no ‘air-time’ cost associated with its tracking capabilities. Panic alarmThe Nomad handset features an integral panic button. Once activated the device becomes a handheld distress beacon, sending audible and visual alerts to the Master handset and the C4i platform. Notification of the alarm is also automatically forwarded via e-mail and SMS to nominated recipients.
Thursday, 17 September 2009
Tracking at the heart of Military success
GPS tracking solutions are being introduced into all walks of life these days, but its important not to forget the roots of this wonderful technology.
GPS was originally designed by the US Military (Military Tracking) to help aid its troops on the land, in the air and at sea, by being able to track the exact position of their location at any given time.
The benefits of this technology allow central command posts to alert and advise military personal of potential crisis situations and help to avoid extreme risk and potential loss of lfe.
Global Tracking solutions can be used in search and rescue. In the air, Pilots can easily be located if their aircraft runs into difficulty. It can help aid search and resuce teams save precious time when looking for missing pilots by leading them directly to their location.
Potential threats can also be tracked with GPS technology. This allows the Department of Defense to examine various ground and air targets in order to see if they are friend of foe. With the use of computer software, digital maps can be created using the information that a plane equipped with GPS technology might find on a reconnaissance mission. The tracking would help them to find precise locations for potential targets and things that might pose a threat against them.
On top of the day to day uses of GPS Technology, the US military will also have many other uses for tracking devices, many of which are probably kept secret so that their enemies cannot use the same technology against them.
GPS was originally designed by the US Military (Military Tracking) to help aid its troops on the land, in the air and at sea, by being able to track the exact position of their location at any given time.
The benefits of this technology allow central command posts to alert and advise military personal of potential crisis situations and help to avoid extreme risk and potential loss of lfe.
Global Tracking solutions can be used in search and rescue. In the air, Pilots can easily be located if their aircraft runs into difficulty. It can help aid search and resuce teams save precious time when looking for missing pilots by leading them directly to their location.
Potential threats can also be tracked with GPS technology. This allows the Department of Defense to examine various ground and air targets in order to see if they are friend of foe. With the use of computer software, digital maps can be created using the information that a plane equipped with GPS technology might find on a reconnaissance mission. The tracking would help them to find precise locations for potential targets and things that might pose a threat against them.
On top of the day to day uses of GPS Technology, the US military will also have many other uses for tracking devices, many of which are probably kept secret so that their enemies cannot use the same technology against them.
Thursday, 23 July 2009
5 ways in which you can help aid workers in a remote environment
Aid volunteers often work in a high risk environment, be it from civilians fighting for aid or political conflict and fighting. Working in a foreign environment can often be quite a strange experience and it’s important to make the team feel at ease and as comfortable as possible so that they can concentrate on the task at hand.
There are many ways in which this can be achieved, some of which are really simple and easy to implement.
Here are 5 ways in which you could help aid workers when working in a remote, high risk environment:
1. Prepare them by educating them about their surroundings. Working in a strange place is often daunting as it is, but to work in a remote location, with people speaking a foreign language takes it to another level. Where possible provide your aid workers with maps and navigation equipment so that in the event of them getting lost they stand a chance to find their way back to base.
2. Supply them with enough food and water if they have to leave the base. But don’t just give them enough for their journey. What if they get lost or stranded? Supply them with enough rations to ensure that in the event of crisis they stand a chance of getting back to a safe place.
3. Supply them with GPS Tracking technology. With the simple use of a Motorola GPS enabled radio you can deploy a mobile tracking solution that keeps you in touch with your aid workers 24/7. Not only can you communicate with them via radio communications (should the local infrastructure allow) but you can also use the integrated GPS transmitters to track positions of the workers at all times.
4. Supply your team with suitable clothing. In some countries the weather can change in an instance. Make sure that they have suitable clothing for heavy rain or extreme heat so that they can use it when required.
5. Train them for first aid. Remote workers should always work as a team, and if one of the team is to become sick or injured its important that another member of the team is able to quickly and efficiently perform medical treatment to prevent the situation becoming worst. These are just 5 areas which touch the surface of remote working, but
just by taking notice and acting on them could help to save the lifes of workers in high risk situations.
Track 24 provide global tracking and crisis management solutions. The Nomad Personal tracking device is specifically designed to help remote teams, such as aid workers or military personnel
There are many ways in which this can be achieved, some of which are really simple and easy to implement.
Here are 5 ways in which you could help aid workers when working in a remote, high risk environment:
1. Prepare them by educating them about their surroundings. Working in a strange place is often daunting as it is, but to work in a remote location, with people speaking a foreign language takes it to another level. Where possible provide your aid workers with maps and navigation equipment so that in the event of them getting lost they stand a chance to find their way back to base.
2. Supply them with enough food and water if they have to leave the base. But don’t just give them enough for their journey. What if they get lost or stranded? Supply them with enough rations to ensure that in the event of crisis they stand a chance of getting back to a safe place.
3. Supply them with GPS Tracking technology. With the simple use of a Motorola GPS enabled radio you can deploy a mobile tracking solution that keeps you in touch with your aid workers 24/7. Not only can you communicate with them via radio communications (should the local infrastructure allow) but you can also use the integrated GPS transmitters to track positions of the workers at all times.
4. Supply your team with suitable clothing. In some countries the weather can change in an instance. Make sure that they have suitable clothing for heavy rain or extreme heat so that they can use it when required.
5. Train them for first aid. Remote workers should always work as a team, and if one of the team is to become sick or injured its important that another member of the team is able to quickly and efficiently perform medical treatment to prevent the situation becoming worst. These are just 5 areas which touch the surface of remote working, but
just by taking notice and acting on them could help to save the lifes of workers in high risk situations.
Track 24 provide global tracking and crisis management solutions. The Nomad Personal tracking device is specifically designed to help remote teams, such as aid workers or military personnel
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
NOMAD - A breakthrough in Communications technology
Think about this...... A MOTOTRBO radio system with inbuilt GPS and panic button. The extensive applications of Nomad redefine risk management.
Nomad simply utilises your existing radio comms and transforms it into a state of the art tracking and crisis management solution. The versatility and low cost of radio with a tracking and emergency alert capability creates an ideal for close protection teams, martime security, miltary, infrastructure and perimeter teams.
The Nomad system comprises of a number of radio hand held devices, with each handset providing the user with personal tracking, panic button and voice communication. Complete integration of the Nomad system into the web-based Track24 C4i platform allows operations staff to monitor all radio users on one common picture from anywhere in the world.
The MOTOTRBO radio is an easy choice of radio for the NOMAD system as each handset has an in-built GPS receiver and transmits its exact location back to a master handset. The frequency of position reporting can be remotely programmed from the C4i platform, from 30 second intervals upwards. No air time costs are associated with the solution due to the fact that it is a radio based system.
For more information on NOMAD, and other risk and crisis management solutions visit the Track 24 web site at www.track24.co.uk
Nomad simply utilises your existing radio comms and transforms it into a state of the art tracking and crisis management solution. The versatility and low cost of radio with a tracking and emergency alert capability creates an ideal for close protection teams, martime security, miltary, infrastructure and perimeter teams.
The Nomad system comprises of a number of radio hand held devices, with each handset providing the user with personal tracking, panic button and voice communication. Complete integration of the Nomad system into the web-based Track24 C4i platform allows operations staff to monitor all radio users on one common picture from anywhere in the world.
The MOTOTRBO radio is an easy choice of radio for the NOMAD system as each handset has an in-built GPS receiver and transmits its exact location back to a master handset. The frequency of position reporting can be remotely programmed from the C4i platform, from 30 second intervals upwards. No air time costs are associated with the solution due to the fact that it is a radio based system.
For more information on NOMAD, and other risk and crisis management solutions visit the Track 24 web site at www.track24.co.uk
Monday, 13 July 2009
Packmaster - Personal GPS Tracking Unit
The PackMaster is a personal tracking and safety system combining GPS technology and satellite communications. The Packmaster unit is independent of localised mobile phone infrastructure and therefore is operational world wide - from freezing arctic conditions to remote deserts and jungles.
The Packmaster is an ideal solution for tracking military personnel, expedition members and workers in remote areas. A PDA with integrated panic alarm functions as a handheld GPS, and provides a two-way messaging capability.
PackMaster is fully integrated to the Track24 C4i platform, allowing operations staff to view not only their personnel, but also vehicles and other assets, on one common picture.
Tracking
Inmarsat's geostationary satellites allow personnel to be tracked anywhere in the world. From the C4i platform, the unit can be remotely programmed to send automatic reports from two minute intervals upwards, meaning that a security manager can quickly adjust the reporting frequency in response to changing threat levels.
The lightweight Packmaster device can be comfortably handheld; allowing staff freedom of movement to carry out their task. The integral NiMH battery pack will power the unit for up to 40 hours between charges.
Alarms and messaging
* Panic alarm: alerts are audible and visual on the C4i platform.
* Rapid Locator Button: allows the user to manually transmit position reports.
* SMS forwarding: alerts can be automatically forwarded by SMS and email.
* Geofences: unplanned departure from locations or routes can be automatically detected.
Messaging and navigation
The messaging option provides a life line of communication for any remote worker, allowing simple and reliable satellite communication with an organisation's control centre.
It acts as a two-way text messaging device between the internet application and the PackMaster, monitors the performance of the tracking unit and provides a GPS position in latitude/longitude and MGRS format, speed and altitude. The data from the on-board GPS is also fed into the navigation application, displaying the current location on the PDA's mapping. The navigation application allows users to follow pre-planned routes whilst the data logger allows the actual journeys to be downloaded onto a PC. Hazards and features can also be plotted on the PDA's mapping, storing its GPS location for later use. Hover over the image on the left to view the PackMaster with PDA attached.
The Packmaster is an ideal solution for tracking military personnel, expedition members and workers in remote areas. A PDA with integrated panic alarm functions as a handheld GPS, and provides a two-way messaging capability.
PackMaster is fully integrated to the Track24 C4i platform, allowing operations staff to view not only their personnel, but also vehicles and other assets, on one common picture.
Tracking
Inmarsat's geostationary satellites allow personnel to be tracked anywhere in the world. From the C4i platform, the unit can be remotely programmed to send automatic reports from two minute intervals upwards, meaning that a security manager can quickly adjust the reporting frequency in response to changing threat levels.
The lightweight Packmaster device can be comfortably handheld; allowing staff freedom of movement to carry out their task. The integral NiMH battery pack will power the unit for up to 40 hours between charges.
Alarms and messaging
* Panic alarm: alerts are audible and visual on the C4i platform.
* Rapid Locator Button: allows the user to manually transmit position reports.
* SMS forwarding: alerts can be automatically forwarded by SMS and email.
* Geofences: unplanned departure from locations or routes can be automatically detected.
Messaging and navigation
The messaging option provides a life line of communication for any remote worker, allowing simple and reliable satellite communication with an organisation's control centre.
It acts as a two-way text messaging device between the internet application and the PackMaster, monitors the performance of the tracking unit and provides a GPS position in latitude/longitude and MGRS format, speed and altitude. The data from the on-board GPS is also fed into the navigation application, displaying the current location on the PDA's mapping. The navigation application allows users to follow pre-planned routes whilst the data logger allows the actual journeys to be downloaded onto a PC. Hazards and features can also be plotted on the PDA's mapping, storing its GPS location for later use. Hover over the image on the left to view the PackMaster with PDA attached.
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