"Regular weather reports are crucial on our 14 days long trips"

Ranger was completed in late December 2003 and departed Denmark in early January 2004. After a successful transatlantic crossing Ranger cruised the Caribbean before commencing her racing program in April. Early April saw Ranger competing in the St Barth’s Bucket race for yachts over 100ft., which this year had an excellent turnout of 22 yachts. Despite light winds on both days Ranger performed very well in the event, allowing the crew and guests to get some valuable practice before the more official and demanding Antigua Classic Regatta. Ranger is now preparing for the 2013 season, which kicks off with the St Barth’s Bucket. This regatta will see five J boats on the start line racing for the hundred Guina Cup as well as the Bucket J Class award.

Weather reports are vital
The crew uses RemoteSAT to download weather reports when they are off shore. They sail from the Caribbean to either Newport R.I or Palma Mallorca twice a year and on those trips the satellite equipment is used.
“We have a fuel range of about 7 days and the longest legs of our transatlantic passages are 14 days long, so we need to sail for at least 7 days, which makes the weather info we download vital” said Mark O’Brien, Engineer at the SY Ranger.

Reliable phone
RemoteSAT RST100 combines the robust design with the intelligent technology to support RJ11/POTS, voice and data services over the Iridium satellite network. The RemoteSAT terminal is equipped with a range of interfaces to support the use of standard corded/cordless phones or integrated PABX communications. RemoteSAT RST100 also gives the option to access voice services using a compact intelligent user handset.

It's not often that NSW Royal Flying Doctors Service, IT Manager, Gary Oldman (lying down) gets this kind of attention from his medical colleagues - Helen Fleming (front), and Dr Pim de Lister (rear). However, feeling poorly due to a severe cold, he was the perfect patient in this exercise to demonstrate the new Telstra Mobile Satellite, Beam RST100 unit. The satellite unit is fixed into the plane's cabin, with a normal phone handset attached, to provide reliable communications, on the ground or in the air, to help doctors maintain vital contact when transferring a patient from a remote location to a surgery or hospital for urgent medical attention.

Gary Oldman: "This is by far the best communications system we have tested - much better than anything else we have used in the planes before. Having that quality of coverage is going to make it much safer and easier for our doctors and patients."

When the first Adelaide to Darwin train swept north it not only made Australian rail History, it also carried across the Outback another 'first' to benefit Australia's business and remote communities. On board, the new Telstra Mobile Beam Satellite Terminal RST100 enabled the nation to closely follow the fulfilment of a 125 year dream by providing continuous voice and basic data communications across some of Australia's remotest terrain.

Journalists were able to file national stories via email and, later, check the web pages to see the published copy, while still in transit. Also on board, former Deputy Prime Minister, train enthusiast, and South Australia's envoy for the new railways, Mr Tim Fischer, made live crosses from the satellite phones to news and radio services across Australia.

The Beam Satellite Terminal RST100 is designed for fixed installation and enables a normal phone handset to be used via the satellite network, as well as providing a port for access to the Internet and private data networks. This compact unit is an ideal transportable or fixed communications options for mining, construction, marine and transport companies operating in remote Australia, wherever connectivity rather than handheld portability is required.

When your job takes you 600 nautical miles off the coast of WA for up to two weeks at a time, you need a phone that provides reliable coverage and also gives you an edge. Tuna boat operator Anthony Pirottina found the answer with a Telstra Mobile Satellite phone that provides global coverage, internet access and reliable communication with home base and emergency services. Anthony believes the key benefit of Telstra Mobile Satellite is the ability to download vital weather and water temperature information from the internet to help track tuna.

"The better we are at locating the tuna the faster we can haul our catch and get to the market,"Anthony said. "Most operators have a satellite phone but it's the other wireless features and download speeds that can provide an edge over your competitors and make a big difference to your bottom line."

Where connectivity rather than handheld portability is required, the Beam Satellite Terminal RST100 and its cousin, the Beam Satellite Modem, provide ideal transportable or fixed options for marine customers. Anthony uses the Beam Satellite Terminal RST100, which has a socket to connect multiple conventional handsets, including cordless, and answering machines, and another to connect the Motorola Intelligent corded handset.

It also has a serial port to connect a laptop or PC for basic access to the internet and private data networks. A selection of external antennas and cable kits, suited to different installation environments, are available and the units come with both AC and DC power connectors.

Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions (ALE) operates the largest seasonal field camp in Antarctica. Situated at Patriot Hills, Antarctica (80 Deg 81 S 081 W), ALE provides support for intercontinental flights for tourists visiting the South Geographic Pole such as:

- travels from Chile to the Patriot Hills Blue Ice Runway;
- private expeditions to climb Antarctica's highest Mountain, Mt Vinson;
- adventurers making the long journey man-hauling to the South Pole from various points on the coast;
- short journeys using essentially man power to haul a sledge under the tough conditions on the Polar Plateau.

In addition ALE also provides logistics support for organizations such as British Antarctic Survey, National Science Foundation and KOPRI (Korean Polar Research Institute) as required for research and development within the vicinity of Patriot Hills. Unlike many organizations, ALE do not have the resources to solve issues arising from poor equipment selection, rather it must rely on the first time selection of reliable and durable equipment that are cost effective.

Reliable communications is not an option rather it is an imperative component in the base camp. Beam's products are an integral part to their services, the RST100 base station units, RST600 data units and RST620 units have all proven to be robust and functional under the tough conditions. In particular, the RST620 unit installed in one of the Prinoth BR-350 SnoCat hauled traverse trains travelled a remarkable 3200 kms over 40 days starting in late December 2007. Throughout its journey, the RST620 never missed a beat in the important role of providing daily situation reports back to base as the traverse train made the long haul from Patriot Hills up the South Pole, then onward toward the South Pole of Relative Inaccessibility and return.

Peter McDowell, one of the partners who formed Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions said, "We simply depend on our Beam equipment to be reliable, robust and economical and to this point we're very happy (snow) campers."