TracPhone V30 is an easy-to-install antenna suitable for the smallest commercial vessels
Solutions for VSAT connectivity in the maritime industry have been expanded with the introduction of KVH Industries’ latest system.
The US-headquartered technology group has unveiled TracPhone V30, its smallest VSAT antenna for digital satellite communications to date. This comes as the pace of digitalisation continues to accelerate throughout the maritime industry and owners of workboats, fishing vessels, tugs and passenger vessels look for easier-to-install and more affordable solutions.
This commercial-grade 37-cm global VSAT antenna links with KVH’s Ku-band network including a high-throughput satellite (HTS) constellation.
“Even the smallest commercial vessel can keep its business on track and crew connected with HTS connectivity,” says KVH executive vice president of mobile connectivity Mark Woodhead.
“It is designed to deliver operational needs and to enable crew access to web browsing and chat, email and calls wherever the vessel operates,” he explains.
TracPhone V30 features simple installation via a single coaxial cable for gigabit Ethernet and power and weighs in at a lightweight 10.6 kg.
KVH says TracPhone V30 has outstanding reception and high-performance satellite tracking, while improving signal efficiency.
With two axis-stabilised pedestals designed for the roughest seas, it can deliver data speeds as fast as 6 Mbps on the downlink and 2 Mbps on the uplink, via KVH’s layered mini-VSAT Broadband HTS network.
TracPhone V30’s connectivity via this network includes KVH’s multi-level, cyber-security program as standard. This provides advanced network-level firewall automated threat management, secure boot, encrypted drives and security functions.
This is particularly timely given the introduction of new IMO guidelines on cyber-risk management on ships, says Mr Woodhead.
A wide selection of metered or unlimited-use global airtime plans provide the affordability commercial operators seek to enable their vessels to exchange real-time data swiftly between ship and shore. They can access live weather and chart updates and provide crew with a way to keep in touch with home.
Metered plans start at US$99 per month for 200 MB, and unlimited-use plans start at US$149 per month, says Mr Woodhead. For flexibility, KVH offers month-to-month contracts with options to switch or suspend plans.
The TracPhone V30 features the KVH Manager suite of tools, providing vessel operators with valuable insight and control over data usage to manage operational and crew use. Features such as built-in data shaping and user-managed application category control support the vessel’s unique needs and limit unintended data consumption.
Usage can be monitored in real time and alerts can be set to keep the vessel operator aware of monthly data consumption.
TracPhone V30 can also be sold for a suggested retail price of US$11,995. It is added to KVH’s existing line of VSAT systems which include TracPhone V3-HTS, V7-HTS, and V11-HTS giving vessel operators a full range of options for fast, global connectivity.
TracPhone V3 HTS is a 37-cm diameter antenna and TracPhone V7 HTS VSAT has a 60-cm diameter reflector. TracPhone V11 HTS terminal comes with an antenna with 1.1-m diameter for higher broadband capacity.
Ships can receive downlink bandwidth of 10 Mbps and uplink speeds of 3 Mbps using TracPhone V7-HTS. This goes up to 20 Mbps downlink using a TracPhone V11-HTS, which can automatically and seamlessly switch between C-band and Ku-band radio frequencies.
They use HTSs operated by Intelsat with additional coverage from Sky Perfect JSAT.
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