Issue 5, September 6, 2001
Contents
1. SeaNet Headlines, Subscribing, Unsubscribing
3. Science Uses of SeaNet -- Dive and Discover
4. SeaNet Tips -- Customized Accounting Rate Tables Now Online
5. Four New Saturn-Bs for UNOLS Fleet
6. Possible SeaNet Training at RVTEC
7. SeaNet Contact Phone Numbers
9. SeaNet Headlines -- Submitting Information
1. SEANET HEADLINES
Welcome to the fifth issue of SEANET HEADLINES. This newsletter will provide the latest information about SeaNet operations, provide tips on how to use SeaNet most efficiently, and answer any SeaNet questions you might have about SeaNet. To subscribe (or unsubscribe), please send a message to seanet-editor@seanet.int.
It looks like Iridium is finally offering data services. Check out http://www.iridium.com/ for more information. SeaNet has been monitoring Iridium progress and will be testing data in the near future for possible inclusion in SeaNet services. Word is that the shipboard fixed unit (Eurocom) will have data "real soon" but that the 9505 telephones have working data accessories. If you have experience with Iridium Data Service we'd like to hear from you!
3. SCIENCE USES OF SEANET - DIVE AND DISCOVER
The fourth Dive and Discover cruise is underway and is powered by SeaNet. Video clips, high resolution photographs, and shoreside web site maintenance are the primary traffic. See http://www.divediscover.whoi.edu for more information. The next Dive and Discover cruise is using the recently installed portable SeaNet system onboard the Revelle.
If you need help setting up this service, please contact the science liaison at the ship's home operator's office or send an email to seanet-ops@seanet.int to find out who the contact is.
4. SEANET TIPS - CUSTOMIZED ACCOUNTING RATE TABLES NOW ONLINE
SeaNet has enhanced the http://www.seanet.int/ site to support customized rate tables for SeaNet accounting. As many of you know, at one time SeaNet handled all billing for Inmarsat services centrally through Omnet. More recently each of the operators have taken over their own billing and use the SeaNet site to compare SeaNet usage to their Inmarsat (COMSAT or STATION-12) bills. Now, operators can use a customized rate table to match to their actual rates from COMSAT and STATION-12 so that bills reconcile better. SeaNet operators should contact Scott Mccue (smccue@whoi.edu) or call SeaNet Operations if they would like to activate this new feature.
5. FOUR NEW SATURN-Bs FOR UNOLS FLEET
Matt Hawkins (Univ. Delaware) has been leading a project for NSF to put together a group purchase of a number of new NERA Saturn-B systems for UNOLs vessels. It currently looks like the R/Vs Cape Hatteras, Cape Henlopen, Point Sur, and Thompson are all slated to get new NERAs sometime over the next year. All will be compatible with SeaNet, though no decision has yet been made by the operators as to whether SeaNet software will be available.
6. POSSIBLE SEANET TRAINING AT RVTEC
A SeaNet training session may be offered at the next RVTEC Meeting at University of Rhode Island October 23-25th if there is enough interest. This would be a repeat of the training given at the last RVTEC meeting at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory last year. Please send email to smccue@whoi.edu or seanet-ops@seanet.int if you are interested.
7. SEANET CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS
Below are the current phone numbers and email addresses for contacting SeaNet staff:
Who
Email
Phone
SeaNet Operations
seanet-ops@seanet.int
508/289-3700 (Laura Goepfert)
SeaNet Installations
seanet-install@seanet.int
845/365-8744 (Richard Perry)
SeaNet Operations fax number: 508/457-2600
Normal operations hours are 9-5 EST Monday through Friday. SeaNet does its best to keep track of operations during off hours, but a response is not guaranteed.
Currently, six UNOLS ships have SeaNet units on them. They are: R/V Atlantis, R/V Melville, R/V Ewing, R/V Knorr, R/V Pelican and R/V Seward Johnson. Currently there is also a portable SeaNet unit temporarily installed on the R/V Revelle.
If you have an upcoming cruise on one of these ships and are interested in possibly using SeaNet for high-speed data transfers, please contact the science liaison at the ship's home operator's office or send an email to seanet-ops@seanet.int to find out who the contact is.
9. SEANET HEADLINES -- Submitting Information
The regular deadline for contributions or questions to SEANET HEADLINES is the first Tuesday of each month. Submit information or questions by sending a short e-mail message to: seanet-editor@seanet.int. The editor of HEADLINES is Ellen Kappel.