Size Matters at the Miami International Boat Show

Visitors looking for the next big thing in maritime communications at this year’s Miami International Boat Show might just find it in something small on the Cobham SATCOM booth (1635 - Electronics Room). The company’s innovative SAILOR 800 VSAT system features a compact 83cm antenna with the same radio performance as antennas in the 1m class. The result is an antenna capable of providing a highly stable connection across more of the satellite footprint, whilst being easy to install and using less real estate on board.

Cobham’s new antenna is ideal for yacht installation because it ensures reliable near-global high throughput connectivity for email, web browsing, IP applications, VPN, conference calling etc., in a radome sized to look at home on any luxury vessel. It’s lighter and smaller than antennas that offer the same performance, making it easier to install whilst ensuring it can deliver reliable, high-speed connectivity across all major Ku-band VSAT services.

“With SAILOR 800 VSAT, yacht owners can choose a more compact antenna that is easier to deploy, but still enables the same or better broadband service normally associated with larger antennas,” comments Casper Jensen, Head of Maritime, Cobham SATCOM. ”Our new Ku-band antenna will be used by a variety of yachts and commercial, fishing and offshore vessels. Its compact form enables owners to consider the visual impact of antennas on their yachts, whilst still getting the all-important high performance usually found in antennas with much larger radomes.”

SAILOR 800 VSAT competes in the 1m VSAT antenna market, offering significant benefits by being lighter and more compact than the competition, but offering equal or even higher RF performance (G/T =18.2 dB/K). The unique, class-leading performance of SAILOR 800 VSAT opens up a world of high quality, reliable communications for a wider range of vessels. It is especially relevant for yachts where smaller antennas can be perceived as more stylish and subtle.

SAILOR 800 VSAT is based on the same technology platform as Cobham’s established SAILOR 900 VSAT antenna system, which itself sets class-leading performance standards within the 1 – 1.2m antenna sector. Cobham’s newest VSAT antenna offers the same significant benefits as SAILOR 900 VSAT, in terms of uniquely simple procurement and installation in addition to top of the line RF performance.

After ordering a complete system with a single part number, each SAILOR 800 VSAT leaves the factory fully tested and configured, with all RF equipment installed, which reduces the time needed on board for installation. This results in lower start-up costs, whilst the unmatched RF performance and SAILOR build quality ensures reliability and increased up time.