Cobham SATCOM's SAILOR 100 GX at Satellite 2015

Inmarsat Global Xpress (GX) launch partner Cobham SATCOM will show that not all antennas for the forthcoming Inmarsat Ka-band VSAT HTS services are the same, as it brings its Type Approved SAILOR 100 GX terminal to Satellite 2015 in Washington DC this week (booth #7025). SAILOR 100 GX is designed to the same quality and reliability ethos that resulted in 40,000 SAILOR FleetBroadband terminals and thousands of SAILOR and Sea Tel VSAT being sold in the maritime sector. Additionally, it features unique technology for satellite acquisition not available in competing GX terminals.

SAILOR 100 GX ships with the new SAILOR Ka-band antenna controller and the SAILOR GX Modem Unit (GMU), which works seamlessly with SAILOR 500 and 250 FleetBroadband systems and the Network Service Device. This forms the cornerstone of the Inmarsat FleetBroadband Xtra service going live across Europe and the Indian Ocean soon and ultimately, the full Fleet Xpress service offering high-throughput capabilities to ships worldwide. The SAILOR 100 GX also features advanced demodulation and tracking receiver technology that enables it to find and verify the GX satellite in less than a second. This unique feature, proven in the benchmark SAILOR FleetBroadband systems, ensures quick satellite acquisition at start-up and re-acquisition of the satellite in case of temporary blockage, after bad weather or poor signal strength.

“SAILOR 100 GX is designed for seamless integration with the de facto industry standard SAILOR 500 and 250 FleetBroadband systems, so early FleetBroadband Xtra and Fleet Xpress adopters can already choose a strong combined hardware platform for their future connectivity needs, and if operating under coverage of the first I-5 satellite from Europe and Asia, make full use of it soon on the interim FleetBroadband Xtra service. With so many SAILOR FleetBroadband terminals already out there, many ships already have a major component of GX on board, and adding SAILOR 100 GX to an existing SAILOR FleetBroadband installation is an attractive, cost-effective proposition,” says Jens Ewerling.

As with all SAILOR terminals, SAILOR 100 GX is designed for quick and cost-effective deployment. It uses Dynamic Motor Brakes so during shipping, installation and no-power situations, there is no requirement for taking the radome off, which saves time and reduces costs. It uses a single cable between antenna and below deck equipment for RF, power and data, while advanced features such as Automatic Azimuth Calibration (home flag) and Automatic Cable Calibration significantly reduce installation time further. A One Touch Commissioning feature completes the package, making SAILOR 100 GX incredibly easy to deploy.

SAILOR 100 GX is designed and tested to the highest maritime shock and vibration requirements, IEC EN 60721 to ensure reliable service and the longest possible life at sea. It offers a number of features for remote access and remote diagnostics including monthly statistics logging and use of the Small Network Management Protocol (SNMP). These remote maintenance features are supported by Cobham SATCOM’s worldwide network of Technical Service Partners.