Issue 6, January 15, 2002
Contents
1. SeaNet Headlines, Subscribing, Unsubscribing
2. SeaNet Presents a New Look on the Web
5. SeaNet Applications: Video-Conferencing Over SeaNet
7. SeaNet Is Pleased to Introduce Laura
8. SeaNet Contact Phone Numbers
10. SeaNet Headlines -- Submitting Information
1. SEANET HEADLINES
Welcome to the sixth 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.
2. SEANET PRESENTS A NEW LOOK ON THE WEB
SeaNet just revised its web site at http://www.seanet.int. Among the new features, there is now a page called "Your Cruise," which should help people get started using SeaNet. Contacts, ship status, and operations information are all now more easily found. Please visit the site!
The SeaNet group at Lamont has been trying to resolve the long-standing problem that some Nera Bm systems "freeze up." We have taken several parallel approaches to the problem, including: a) trying to elicit a fix from the manufacturer; b) contacting other large users; c) comparing different usage profiles for the SCNs; and d) experimenting with the unit at Lamont.
We have been able to identify at least one failure mode that is also experienced by other users with different hardware interfaced to the Nera Bm. After a substantial amount of testing at Lamont, we have been able to make our unit freeze up twice in about monitored 100 attempts but not in any repeatable way.
Nera has finally produced a firmware update which we expect to evaluate on the Lamont test system in the next week or two. Assuming that this testing goes well and that we can "back out" of the firmware upgrade reliably, we expect to apply the update to one of the field units during a dockside maintenance period (to provide an opportunity to be sure it's working right without interfering with normal operations.)
There has been a lot of promising discussion about the advent of the new "F" service from INMARSAT over the last year and a half. The formal announcement of the F service was made late last year. Thrane & Thrane and Nera are producing ship-earth stations that should be available in the commercial market in the second quarter of 2002.
Inmarsat is currently setting up a small number of evaluations as collaborations between working vessels and the major Inmarsat service providers.
There are some interesting new capabilities in the F service including an antenna that is somewhat smaller and lighter than an Inmarsat B, high-speed (64kbps) data (same as in the B), premption (which helps with GMDSS) and packet data (the link is on all the time but you pay for the bytes your transfer).
5. SEANET APPLICATIONS: VIDEO-CONFERENCING OVER SEANET
The SeaNet support group recently demonstrated the use of NetMeeting over a NERA Saturn-B system using SeaNet. It went surprisingly well. A Windows-2000 notebook computer with an inexpensive Intel video camera was setup on the ship. Once the notebook was configured correctly it was able to establish a full-duplex connection to a
shore-based Windows-98 system while web-browsing, whiteboarding, and applications control functions were also available. Operators interested in such capabilities should contact seanet-support@seanet.int. A step-by-step procedure describing how to establish a NetMeeting Video-conference over SeaNet will be available soon.
COMSAT Inmarsat B (High-Speed Data) rates for SeaNet Systems aboard UNOLS vessels:
Zone 1: $8.70 peak; $4.90 off-peak
Zone 2: $9.40 peak; $5.60 off-peak
Zone 3: $9.80 peak; $6.00 off-peak
Zone 4: $10.20 peak; $6.40 off-peak
The peak hours are: AOR-E/W & IOR: 05:31-19:30 GMT; POR 20:01-10:00 GMT, and Off-Peak hours are: AOR-E/W & IOR: 19:31-05:30 GMT; POR 10:01-20:00 GMT.
The zones are:
Zone 1: United States and Canada
Zone 2: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Faeroe Islands, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Vatican City.
Zone 3: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Falkland Islands, French Antilles, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Martinique, Netherlands Antilles, Nevis, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paragua, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, St. Helena, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Suriname, Taiwan, Tortola, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Zone 4: All the countries not listed in Zones 1, 2, or 3 above.
7. SEANET IS PLEASED TO INTRODUCE LAURA
The SeaNet group is please to introduce Laura Goepfert as its new systems operator. Laura takes care of the day-to-day operations of Seanet, putting new Seanet systems together, and upgrading current software installations. She works with Scotty McCue to help set up new datapipe usage. Prior to working with SeaNet, she was a marine technician on the R/V Oceanus, and has also worked as tech on the R/V Atlantis and R/V Knorr.
8. 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. Plans are being made to install SeaNet on the R/V Endeavor over the next few months.
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. More detailed information can also be found at http://www.seanet.int/your_cruise.html.
10. 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.