HumanEdgeTech Everest special: where is the satellite?
Since the BGAN repositionings, Himalaya climbers and trekkers need to be more careful when aiming their units. The EMEA satellite should work best in Everest south side BC. (Click to enlarge).
Inmarsat introduced its 3rd I-4 satellite earlier this year. In order to provide a more effective foot print, the company also repositioned its first two satellites. The resulting close to global coverage (excluding Arctic and Antarctica) has led to a lower aiming angle for Himalaya users.
Starting from the 2009 Everest season, Thuraya users are likely to pick up the new satellite over Indonesia rather than the Africa satellite. All images by HumanEdgeTech (click to enlarge).
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11:28 am CDT Apr 09, 2009
(HumanEdgeTech.com/story edited 10.05pm Apr 12, 2009) In the past year, Thuraya and Inmarsat each launched a new satellite thereby greatly increasing footprint (area covered).
Simultaneously, both companies also repositioned previous satellites. In some instances, this radically changes the direction of where the best signal can be picked up.
Compared to mobile phone signals; frequencies used for satellite phones have the advantage of being able to travel long distances, but the disadvantage of requiring free line of sight.
The practical implication is that the user can not use a satellite phone indoors or anywhere an object such as a tree or a mountain blocks the line of sight to the satellite.
While it might lose some strength; the signal will however penetrate (tent) fabric or windows.
Thuraya
Last summer Thuraya introduced a second satellite, Thuraya 3, and moved its first satellite, Thuraya 2 (Thuraya 1 made it to orbit but had problems with the the solar panels).
Thuraya 2 is now positioned at 28.5 degrees East over Eastern Congo and Thuraya 3 at 98.5 degrees East just outside the South West coast of Sumatra.
Both satellites weigh around 5000kg each and are in a geostationary orbit directly over the equator at an altitude of 36,000 km. (Story edited 10.05 pm Apr 12, 2009 with 36,000 km and not 36 km as earlier stated).
The 2 satellite footprints are overlapping on Everest, but climbers most likely will pick up Thuraya 3 in an East South East direction.
The Thuraya is non-directional and will pick up the signal no matter how you hold the phone. However; keeping your body between the phone and the satellite will cut the signal.
Newsflash: Early this week Thuraya announced that the past weeks' problems have now been solved. Reports from the mountain seem to confirm this and most expeditions are dispatching daily at this point.
Inmarsat
Inmarsat introduced its 3rd I-4 satellite earlier this year. In order to provide a more effective footprint, the company also repositioned its first two satellites. The resulting close to global coverage (excluding Arctic and Antarctica) has led to a lower aiming angle for Himalaya users.
Here is how to aim Inmarsat in Everest BC. Either the Asia-Pacific or the EMEA satellite can be used, while the EMEA should work best (see picture) on the South side.
ASIA-PACIFIC
Antenna Angle: 20deg
Direction: WSW (106deg)
EMEA
Antenna Angle: 17deg
Direction: ESE (255deg)
For an initial direction and angle to point the BGAN, Launchpad ( download here ) is an aiming software with a nice clickable map. The satellite modem itself will then guide you by pinpointing the ultimate direction.
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