Logistics: Satellite Communications on the Move

With the mobile nature of logistics, or commercially transporting goods to customers, it only makes sense that satellite technology could improve the process. Satellite technology works in the most remote locations, allows for real-time communication with remote workers, allows for the transfer of large amounts of data and even allows workers to set up remote offices with full communications capabilities on the go.

There are many technologies that improve the safety of logistics workers, enable remote fleet management and improve the tracking of assets and freight, saving companies money. But logistics operations need to track more information than ever before. They may be tracking hundreds of tractors, routes and fleets and may need to communicate with vehicles about arrivals and departures, load assignments, load scale, type of load, fueling and other important information. Satellite technology allows this communication to take place in real-time.

Satellite GPS Tracking Improves Logistics

Satellite GPS tracking can improve safety and security, optimize fleet operations and reduce risk with real-time tracking and monitoring. This GPS tracking system will work even in the most rugged and remote locations because it does not rely on terrestrial cell towers and operates on the Iridium satellite network and Inmarsat network.

Asset Management

The fleet management system integrates asset management software with satellite communications to give you reliable fleet management, monitoring and tracking. You can receive continuous GSP location, speed and direction information, as well as vehicle information like engine activity, idle and stop data.

Messaging

There are also messaging capabilities that will improve operations, such as text messaging, email and pre-defined messages that can be displayed on an optional in-cab terminal. All messages are geotagged for location tracking and safety.

Safety

Better tracking and communication mean better safety for your operators in the field. You can know if your driver is driving without a seatbelt, if a trailer has become disconnected or if there’s an engine problem, all from a central office. You can communicate with your driver to let them know there’s an issue, even if they’re off the terrestrial cell grid. You will have real-time GPS data to know where drivers are at all times. For shipping by rail, you can control rail cargo and temperature sensors and receive notification of excessive impacts from over-speed coupling. This ensures your cargo is going to get to its final destination undamaged.

Telephone, Push-to-Talk and Internet Capabilities Improve Communication

Logistics both on land and at sea will benefit from improved communications, as sometimes the business takes workers outside of the 2-way radio network and away from terrestrial cell networks. For these times, satellite telephone systems – portable handhelds, fixed docking kits, maritime phones or in-vehicle fixed phones – will come in handy for communication.

If you require push-to-talk for your daily operations, you can extend your 2-way radio network across the globe with SATRAD Matrix products. These products will integrate satellite push-to-talk with your existing UHF/VHF radios, repeaters and dispatch console systems. Satellite communications technology can also give your fleet access to broadband Internet or low-speed data systems while they’re on the move.

Get your fleets moving in the right direction and keep them moving. Contact New York Mobile Satellite for more information on usage and a product line that fits your particular needs and budget.

New York Mobile Satellite LLC, veteran-owned, headquartered in New York City, provides B2B wireless and satellite based telecommunication services, both mobile and fixed, to commercial enterprises around the globe, including banking, financial services, oil and gas, first responders, law enforcement, electric and water utilities, construction, sea ports, leisure boating, mining, cruise lines, media, shipping and container vessels, transportation, camping and hiking groups, rescue organizations, maritime communications, public safety markets and government sector, as well as for disaster recovery and humanitarian agencies. The Management Team has over 75 years of satellite and telecommunication experience. The company’s flexibility to custom design solutions and integrate various satellite communications technologies for customer, and industry specific needs, sets us apart from the competition.

The Perfect Pairing: Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Technology and Satellite Service

Machine to Machine or M2M technology has been around for a while, but adding satellite technology to this amazing advancement is taking M2M to the next level. Read on to find out what M2M is, how satellite technology improves it and how various industries can benefit from it.

What is M2M?

Machine-to Machine, or M2M, technology refers to any set of network devices that can perform actions and exchange information without a human manually sending or receiving the information. This technology is often used to remotely monitor conditions. This type of communication is used in remote control, robotics, logistics services, traffic control, supply chain management, fleet management, warehouse management, telemedicine and much more.

Most M2M communication require RFID or radio frequency identification. According to the Internet of Things Agenda, this technology uses an electromagnetic or electrostatic coupling in the radio frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to uniquely identify an object, animal or person. The RFID is made of three components: an antenna, transceiver and transponder. In addition to the RFID, M2M depends on sensors, a communication link (through Wi-Fi, cellular or satellite network) and autonomic computing software.

How Does Satellite Technology Improve M2M?

Companies or individuals that need to use M2M in remote locations don’t have to be dependent on cellular or Wi-Fi networks for communication. Satellite enables M2M to happen anywhere on the planet, even in the most remote locations. The service is cost-effective because they don’t have to invest in broadband infrastructures and provides very reliable service. According to OFFCOMM News, the global market for satellite M2M services is projected to be $1.6 billion by 2017.

Industries That Benefit From Satellite M2M

The government and private sector alike are benefitting from Satellite M2M as the industry continues to grow. The energy sector already widely uses satellite M2M for tasks like monitoring oil pipelines or electric wire networks including Smart Grids. Utility meters can also contain this technology, saving utility companies money collecting data about individual usage. This technology is used to monitor assets where large numbers of equipment are spread out over vast areas.

There are other uses for the technology. In banking, the technology provides ATM services in areas with limited connectivity. In the environmental industries, the technology provides monitoring for water treatment sites, windmill farms and other sites.

There are also public safety and meteorological applications for this technology. M2M allows us to pick up meteorological and seismic activity across the globe. The data collected can help monitor forest fires, issue tsunami or flood warnings and more, saving lives. There are also applications for military or government intelligence agencies that need to track assets or people across the globe.

M2M has plenty of maritime applications. Satellite M2M allows communication and improved safety of crews out at sea. More governments are employing Vessel Monitoring Systems to help enforce fishing regulations. Satellite M2M also enables increased safety by monitoring the systems on the ship like oil pressure and coolant temperature, so that the crew and those ashore can be aware of any potential mechanical issues. Buoys equipped with M2M terminals can help scientists monitor ocean conditions, collecting important environmental data that can be used in wave, ocean port and coastal monitoring. More office functions can be performed at sea using M2M technology, allowing for optimum efficiency on ships.

If you are interested in M2M and would like more information on the technology used in your industry, contact New York Mobile Satellite. We’d be happy to answer any questions.

New York Mobile Satellite LLC, veteran-owned, headquartered in New York City, provides B2B wireless and satellite based telecommunication services, both mobile and fixed, to commercial enterprises around the globe, including banking, financial services, oil and gas, first responders, law enforcement, electric and water utilities, construction, sea ports, leisure boating, mining, cruise lines, media, shipping and container vessels, transportation, camping and hiking groups, rescue organizations, maritime communications, public safety markets and government sector, as well as for disaster recovery and humanitarian agencies. The Management Team has over 75 years of satellite and telecommunication experience. The company’s flexibility to custom design solutions and integrate various satellite communications technologies for customer, and industry specific needs, sets us apart from the competition.

SATCollect – Satellite Communications Just Got Simpler

It’s amazing technology that’s easy to use – SATCollect, the solution that helps simplify the satellite calling process. Learn more about SATCollect and its applications, and then decide for yourself if it’s something that can help your business save money, while avoiding communications issues.

What is SATCollect?

Satellite numbers tend to be long and hard to remember, but with SATCollect, you can assign one or multiple local phone numbers from over 50 countries that will direct to your satellite phone. This can save people trying to call your satellite phone from remembering a long satellite number or a country code when trying to reach you, making the phone service seem more like terrestrial phone service, which is familiar to more people. The more comfortable users are, the easier communication becomes.

You’d be surprised how easy SATCollect is to set up. All you do is choose your country/area code, enter your sat phone number, use your new number and save. The technology is sophisticated, the interface simple.

How can your business benefit from SATCollect?

In addition to simplifying the calling process, SATCollect can help better control your satellite communication budget. You can get a permanent rate. It will be more like calling local to local rather than local to long distance. This will also help people calling your satellite phone save money, as they won’t incur extra fees for dialing internationally. These savings can add up to a better bottom line for your company and for your customers.

SATCollect also offers real-time billing and activity reports. You can access all your satellite related services on one bill, which means you can have better visibility of your satellite communications costs to control your bottom line.

What are some applications of SATCollect?

What are some practical applications of this technology out in the field? There are a variety of industries that can benefit from the simplification of the calling process and the cost savings SATCollect can offer.

The government and military are on very strict budgets. SATCollect offers predictable billing with cost-saving rates to help keep communications budgets under control. This technology can also offer certain numbers to certain staff members, so the budgeting office can monitor where costs are incurred.

In the oil and gas industry, people generally need to communicate within the field for research, pipeline monitoring or repair and general communication for the drilling staff and oil platforms. SATCollect allows staff members located in these remote, offsite locations to reach other staff members with a simple, local phone number.

The boating industry or those who spend a lot of time out at sea can benefit from SATCollect by having a local number for friends, family or colleagues who are ashore. When fishing vessels take advantage of this technology, their parent company can assign numbers to all boats so that they can contact their vessels through a local number, saving money on communications costs and making communication easier.

Emergency and disaster relief staff can receive calls quickly so they can save more lives, as people phoning for assistance won’t have to deal with long, confusing numbers or the barriers of making an international call.

The media can also benefit from SATCollect, as reporters travelling the world are a simple local phone call away from the station at all times. Often reporters have very little lead time on where they are travelling when they are chasing a story. With SATCollect, they can be in constant contact with their offices at home to ensure good communication and safety.

How can you get more information?

If you’d like more details on SATCollect and the low call rates that go along with it, contact New York Mobile Satellite. We’re here to answer all your questions and get you on the path towards better communication and a better bottom line.

New York Mobile Satellite LLC, veteran-owned, headquartered in New York City, provides B2B wireless and satellite based telecommunication services, both mobile and fixed, to commercial enterprises around the globe, including banking, financial services, oil and gas, first responders, law enforcement, electric and water utilities, construction, sea ports, leisure boating, mining, cruise lines, media, shipping and container vessels, transportation, camping and hiking groups, rescue organizations, maritime communications, public safety markets and government sector, as well as for disaster recovery and humanitarian agencies. The Management Team has over 75 years of satellite and telecommunication experience. The company’s flexibility to custom design solutions and integrate various satellite communications technologies for customer, and industry specific needs, sets us apart from the competition.

True Stories of Satellite Technology in Action

We like to talk about how satellite technology can help you in many different fields. Today we’d like to share some actual stories from the field, which we have gathered from Iridium, makers of some of the best satellite technology out there. Check out the practical applications real users are finding for this technology.

Satellite Technology Along for the Ride on World-Record Balloon Journey

On January 25, 2015, Troy Bradley and Leonid Tiukhtyaev journeyed from Japan to the Mexican coast over the span of 6 days, and Iridium satellite technology was along for that record-breaking ride. They broke the records for longest duration of a balloon in the air and longest distance traveled by a balloon. The pair travelled 6,646 miles and were flying for 161 hours and 17 minutes.

Mission control for the flight equipped the pilots with an Iridium Go!, an Iridium Extreme and an Iridium partner tracking device from spidertracks. One of the team’s largest challenges was unpredictable weather. They weren’t sure where the balloon was going to land because of changing meteorological conditions. Bradley said, “It is imperative to have good communications when you are on a mission depending on meteorology.” Iridium provided just that by providing instant communication solutions. Spidertracks allowed mission control to track the team and keep them out of harm’s way.

Satellite Technology Keeps Alpine Climber Connected in Pakistani Mountain Range

Graham Zimmerman is a professional alpine climber who had the goal of climbing the Karakoram mountain range in Pakistan. He is passionate about climbing technical routes on some of the highest mountains in the world. He takes the road less traveled, or sometimes totally uncharted, because he enjoys the challenge. His enthusiasm for mountain climbing takes him to some of the most remote places on Earth. Zimmerman needs reliable connection to the outside world for safety’s sake.

During this trip to Pakistan, Zimmerman and his long-time climbing partner, Scott Bennett, were there to climb the remote 21,000 foot mountain Changi and an unclimbed face of a 23,000 foot mountain, K6. A major part of staying safe during these climbs was keeping track of the weather. The team had to move during windows of clear weather, so having reliable communication through satellite technology kept them safe and helped them make their journey up both mountains. They also needed lightweight communication tools to easily transport them up difficult mountain faces. Their lightweight satellite communication tools enabled them to communicate with their U.S.-based weather forecaster so that they could stay on top of all developing weather fronts.

Zimmerman relies on Iridium satellite equipment to keep him connected to his family back at home, as it’s difficult to be away from your loved ones for months on end. Communicating through satellite technology helped bridge the distance between the climbers and their families. He says, “We believe that they [Iridium] make the best satellite communications equipment, and we are very happy to have it every time. For us, it simply makes the most sense to have the best equipment that will also work anywhere we choose to go in the world.”

New York Mobile Satellite is proud to carry “the best satellite communications equipment” found anywhere in the world. Cell phones, cameras, tracking devices…we have it all. For more information, contact us today. Let us help you stay connected, no matter where you are.

New York Mobile Satellite LLC, veteran-owned, headquartered in New York City, provides B2B wireless and satellite based telecommunication services, both mobile and fixed, to commercial enterprises around the globe, including banking, financial services, oil and gas, first responders, law enforcement, electric and water utilities, construction, sea ports, leisure boating, mining, cruise lines, media, shipping and container vessels, transportation, camping and hiking groups, rescue organizations, maritime communications, public safety markets and government sector, as well as for disaster recovery and humanitarian agencies. The Management Team has over 75 years of satellite and telecommunication experience. The company’s flexibility to custom design solutions and integrate various satellite communications technologies for customer, and industry specific needs, sets us apart from the competition.

Satellite Communications: Keeping Industries Connected

Satellite communications can benefit a wide variety of industries, as it can provide reliable communication capacity across the globe, even in remote locations. We have discussed before a few industries that can benefit from satellite communications, and today we want to discuss a few more. Due to the mobile nature of these businesses and workers being located in very isolated places, satellite communications can be especially helpful for these industries.

Transportation

When you’re in the transportation industry, consistent communications can help you maintain a competitive edge. Make sure your operators are safe and know where your vehicles, vessels and cargo are at all times to streamline operations and keep track of your assets.

Satellite can provide real-time GPS tracking to make ensure you know where your deliveries are and estimate when they will arrive at their destination. You can connect with your people or fleet anywhere on the globe, whether you need voice connectivity or data. Fleet operators have access to messaging, traffic and weather reports and work orders so that business runs smoothly from any location. You can also use push-to-talk options so that workers in the field can stay in touch with dispatchers.

Oil and Gas

In the oil and gas industries, workers are often in very remote locations, doing hazardous work. Satellite can encourage better morale by providing broadband Internet and calling capabilities even for off-shore platforms or distant sites. This keeps employees in touch with their families, as well as their home offices. Geologists and geophysicists often need to work in remote locations to appraise prospects. Satellite can help in this effort by offering portable phone and Internet systems to aid in their work. And of course, worker safety is key, so satellite solutions can provide push-to-talk, GPS tracking and emergency notifications.

Mining

Mining is also another potentially hazardous work environment in which workers are often in remote locations and need to communicate. Satellite helps keep miners at these worksites consistently connected to their home office to improve safety. GPS tracking and panic buttons are available on portable devices so that you can track your people’s location and know if they are in trouble. Exploration professionals can transmit their data to the home office in real time to help ensure smooth operations on the worksite. The mining site and exploration professionals can transmit data through BGAN and VSAT technology, which provide them with broadband Internet connectivity virtually anywhere on the planet. Connectivity also improves morale in this industry, as workers are able to talk to their families through telephone services or through video chat provided by satellite signal.

Virtually any industry in which you need Internet and phone connectivity in remote places, the ability to communicate at the push of a button, GPS location services and the ability to transmit data can benefit from satellite technology. Even businesses that don’t typically send workers far out into the field can still benefit from more reliable coverage. When you compare the safety features, convenience and reliability of satellite communications with traditional cellular service, there really is no comparison. Contact New York Mobile Satellite to help you choose the right products and services for your business.

New York Mobile Satellite LLC, veteran-owned, headquartered in New York City, provides B2B wireless and satellite based telecommunication services, both mobile and fixed, to commercial enterprises around the globe, including banking, financial services, oil and gas, first responders, law enforcement, electric and water utilities, construction, sea ports, leisure boating, mining, cruise lines, media, shipping and container vessels, transportation, camping and hiking groups, rescue organizations, maritime communications, public safety markets and government sector, as well as for disaster recovery and humanitarian agencies. The Management Team has over 75 years of satellite and telecommunication experience. The company’s flexibility to custom design solutions and integrate various satellite communications technologies for customer, and industry specific needs, sets us apart from the competition.