Latest News from Livewire Connections

Livewire Connections support successful start to Volvo Ocean Race

As the last of the Volvo 70s disappear over the horizon from the start in Alicante, Spain all eyes are now focused on the tracking, footage, images and stories being beamed back with the help of Livewire Connections. Over the last few months Livewire Connections has been coordinating Inmarsat, Stratos, and Thrane & Thrane to ensure that the not a moment of wave slamming action is missed in the latest edition of the Volvo Ocean Race.

There have been new challenges with the implementation of the new Inmarsat I4 satellites providing the boats with FleetBroadband connectivity. This enables transfer rates of up to 492Kbps with guaranteed streaming rates of 256Kbps. With these speeds hours of HD video footage will be sent to the world’s media and through the Volvo Ocean Race website www.volvooceanrace.tv

In addition to the FleetBroadband 500 terminals each vessel has a Thrane Sailor Fleet 33+ terminal to provide backup internet and email using the existing Inmarsat I3 satellites. In addition the vessel also have 2 Inmarsat C Thrane Sailor TT-3022D terminals for Stratos C-Email communications with Race HQ , GMDSS safety services and 15 minute tracking. Livewire Connections have setup DNID data report delivery via IP to enable 15 minute position data to be sent with onboard NMEA data to provide an excellent onboard insight for the race fans and VOR officials.

David Walker, Sales Director at Livewire Connections commented “This is a prestigious event to be associated with and we are enjoying the challenges this ‘formula one’ yacht racing event is providing. Using the latest state of the art communications technology is really allowing arm-chair viewers to reach yachts racing in the worlds harshest oceans”

Photo Credits: Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race

For more information about the Volvo Ocean Race visit www.volvooceanrace.org

Expected effects of Inmarsat satellite repositioning for BGAN, FleetBroadband and SwiftBroadband

Inmarsat plans to optimize its satellite constellation with the launch of the third Inmarsat-4 satellite (I4F3). The exact date is currently being defined but the launch is expected to take place during the 3rd week of August 2008.

This will provide global coverage for BGAN, FleetBroadband (FBB) and SwiftBroadband (SBB) enhancing service and accessibility quality through improved inclination angles over the land masses.

In late February 2009, the BGAN service is scheduled to become available throughout Asia-Pacific including China, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. Inmarsat will also be able to concentrate more spot beams over the EMEA regions, which is expected to improve the quality of the BGAN service.

To realize the benefits of the satellite repositioning, 2 short term outages affecting BGAN, FBB and SBB are necessary:

1. The 1st will affect users in the mid-east Atlantic region, far western Africa, Ireland, and certain parts of the UK. If the launch of the I4F3 occurs as scheduled end August, this outage is expected to extend from mid-January 2009 through mid-February 2009.
2. The second will affect users in eastern Asia, Western Australia, and the far western regions of the Pacific Ocean. This outage is expected to begin mid-February 2009 and last for just under 3 weeks.

In addition, users of Existing & Evolved spot beam services (i.e. GAN, Swift, Fleet 33, Fleet 55 and Mini-M) in the Atlantic Ocean Region-West region will see a change in the spot beam coverage areas in mid January 2009.

Land portable BGAN users will need to repoint their antennas to access the I4 satellites at their new positions. Existing & Evolved, SBB, FBB and vehicular BGAN antennas should adjust automatically to the appropriate satellites in their new locations.

For more information please contact us at support@livewire-connections.com or +44 (0) 1372734917

Volvo Ocean Race gets Livewire Connected!

Livewire Connections has won the contract from Volvo Event Management UK Limited to manage the satellite communications for all the teams competing in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008/9. Livewire Connections will coordinate the race communications sponsorship being provided by Inmarsat, Stratos and Thrane & Thrane. This is to ensure that 9 months of extreme ocean racing is successfully delivered to the fans, media and sponsors through HD TV and web footage, live video conferences, vessel tracking and onboard data stats.

The race, starting in October 2008, will see the cutting edge Volvo 70s raced to the limits around the world. For the first time each yacht will have a dedicated media specialist onboard to transmit edited footage back via Inmarsat FleetBroadband.

Photo Credits: Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race

For more information about the Volvo Ocean Race visit www.volvooceanrace.org

KVH appointed US distributor for the Livewire Service Selector

Livewire Connections have appointed KVH Industries as the exclusive US distributor for the Service Selector. KVH’s extensive US sales and support network will ensure that US end users will be given first line support by KVH locally in the US.

The Service Selector brings the growing number of communications platforms onboard merchant and leisure vessels under control. Designed around a simple, intuitive interface, the user can easily choose the most appropriate data connection from the comfort of their PC.

Inmarsat Launch FleetBroadband

Today Inmarsat announced the commercial service introduction of FleetBroadband, its new voice and high-speed data service for maritime users.

The newest member of Inmarsat’s highly-successful Fleet family of services, FleetBroadband is the first fully IP-based service, capable of supporting simultaneous voice and broadband IP data connectivity at up to 432kbpsFleetBroadband

From today, approved FleetBroadband equipment is available from manufacturers JRC and Thrane & Thrane, with service provided by Bezeq, KDDI, Korea Telecom, MCN, Morsviazsputnik, OTESAT-Maritel, SingTel, Stratos and Vizada. Inmarsat expects partners to commence terminal shipments in the next few weeks.

FleetBroadband uses the advanced capability of Inmarsat’s latest-generation satellites, the Inmarsat-4s. The service will initially be available on the two Inmarsat-4 satellites currently in orbit over the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean regions. Following the successful launch of the third Inmarsat-4, currently planned for April 2008, FleetBroadband will be available globally later that year.

"Today we complete our broadband portfolio by delivering FleetBroadband to our most significant market," said Michael Butler, President and Chief Operating Officer, Inmarsat. "The development of FleetBroadband is part of our strategy to keep innovating, to develop new services that are faster, smaller, cheaper and more accessible for a range of maritime users globally. We have had tremendous success with the Fleet service, with sustained growth since its launch, which has provided a very strong platform from which to launch FleetBroadband."

There are two types of FleetBroadband service available:

• FB500 offers standard IP connectivity of up to 432kbps, with guaranteed or ’streaming’ IP data rates of 32, 64, 128 and 256kbps. It also supports 64kbps ISDN connectivity for legacy applications. The above-deck dome diameter is around 57cm, and weighs about 18kg.
• FB250 delivers a standard IP connection of up to 284kbps, with streaming IP available at 32, 64 and 128kbps. Its dome diameter is about 25cm and weighs around 2.5kg.

Both services support 4kbps voice, Group 3 fax and standard 3G SMS functionality.

"We know that many parts of the maritime industry want increased bandwidth - whether to support crew communications, meet new regulations for shipping, or to explore new ways of working and enhance operational efficiency," said Piers Cunningham, Head of Maritime Business, Inmarsat. "But we also know that they want compact terminals, with simple shipboard installation and use, available seamlessly on a global basis, and accessed through equipment that is type approved to a trusted standard.

"FleetBroadband is the first service to meet all of these demanding requirements, and in a highly cost-effective manner. We are targeting existing Inmarsat users who want increased bandwidth, and new users who will see FleetBroadband’s compelling combination of form and function as a reason to move to broadband".

Livewire Connections becomes Thrane Reseller

Livewire Connections has been appointed a Registered Reseller for the distribution of Thrane & Thrane enabling us to supply, install and service all Land Mobile and Maritime products.

With this new relationship Livewire Connections can give the end user more support and service as well as ensuring that Livewire Connections are providing competitive pricing and value for their services.

The VELUX 5 OCEANS Race depends on Livewire Connections tracking

The VELUX 5 OCEANS Race is called the ’The Ultimate Solo Challenge’ and that’s just what it is. Sailing a yacht on your own is challenging at the best of times but when that’s a full blown racing yacht and it’s against the clock, anything can go wrong. Access to the racers current position is therefore of vital importance especially in a potential rescue situation.

Thanks to the real time and near real time tracking services provided by Livewire Connections this can be achieved. Data reports are sent at regular intervals from the vessels onboard Inmarsat C terminals to race HQ and the fleet view online tracking portal. This gives the race HQ an overview of the fleet’s relative positions and also overlays weather information so that impending situations can be anticipated and planned for.

For more information visit www.velux5oceans.com

Photo Credit: VELUX 5 OCEANS / ON EDITION

Tony Bullimore attempts to break Ellen MacArthur around the world record with help from Livewire Connections.

Livewire Connections Ltd is proud to sponsor Tony Bullimore’s quest to break the Around The World speed record, which started in Tasmania today (1st May 2007). Sailing his 102ft catamaran “Doha”, Tony aims to beat the existing record set by Dame Ellen MacArthur in 2005 by sailing the 27,000 nautical miles in under 70 days.

With the forecasts indicating winds building to 25 knots and gusting nearer 35 the 68 years old yachtsman crossed the start line to begin what can hopefully be described as his epic journey into the record books. Tony Bullimore prepares to leave Livewire Connections is providing and managing the Inmarsat C tracking for the event, which Tony’s shore team will use to keep track of his progress.

By logging into the fleet view online secure tracking portal the team can access details on Doha’s current position including her speed and course, the current sea state and prevailing weather conditions. This will be used to update Tony’s position every 12 hours on the www.teambullimore.com website where you can track his progress.

In order to break the record Tony will have to average over 17 Knots and endure some of the harshest weather conditions on the planet for which we wish him the best of luck.

Livewire launches M-Link Voyager H.264

Livewire Digital Ltd has just launched its new range of M-Link store & forward video software, MLink H.264. The systems provide broadcast quality video solution for rapid and comprehensive news gathering via satellite, mobile, IP, and ISDN networks.

Using the latest H.264 AVC video codecs, M-Link Voyager H.264 offers fully interlaced PAL and NTSC Standard Definition formats, with optional High Definition support. M-Link Voyager H.264 also supports Live H.264 AVC video delivery, providing high quality, low-latency live video, direct to the M-Link Exchange server.