AST OPTIMA package
The all-inclusive 12 or 36-month fixed fee Iridium Certus® package for land and maritime
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Inmarsat FAQ's
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS & USAGE
- INMARSAT BGAN FAQ's
- INMARSAT SATELLITE PHONE FAQ's
- INMARSAT FLEETBROADBAND FAQ's
- INMARSAT ISATPHONE LINK FAQ's
INMARSAT BGAN FAQ's
What code does someone dial to ring my BGAN?
Dial as for BGAN to BGAN above. For example: 00-870-XXX-XXX-XXXX#
Can I prevent my BGAN transferring data automatically?
BGAN use is metered and you should disable any programmes that automatically update themselves. For example Windows Update.
Is the network secure?
Yes. Inmarsat have built in coding which protects network traffic from casual monitoring.
What coverage is available?
The Inmarsat BGAN network provides global coverage, except at the extreme poles, via three geostationary satellites.
Can anyone in the world call my BGAN voice number?
Yes, but some countries route Inmarsat BGAN calls differently and the calling number may not be displayed.
Can anyone know my exact GPS location?
The Inmarsat network needs to know your GPS location BUT THIS IS NOT PASSED ON TO ANY THIRD PARTIES.
Can I make a voice call at the same time as I am sending/receiving data?
Yes.
Do I dial the same codes for every outgoing call?
BGAN to Public Switched Telephone Network (Landlines and GSM) dial: 00 (Country Code) (Area Code less 0) XXX-XXXX#. For example, full dialling for AST Customer Service is 0044-1493-441485#
BGAN to Iridium: Dial the Iridium number with a 00 pre-fix. For example, 00-8816-XXX-XXXXX#
BGAN TO BGAN dial: 00-870-XXX-XXX-XXXX#
BGAN to AST Customer Service: dial: 33#
Where can I get software updates and drivers for my BGAN?
These are available from www.astextranet.com
INMARSAT SATELLITE PHONE FAQ's
How do I make a call with my Inmarsat satellite phone?
Extend the antenna into its full position and point it straight up at the sky. Press the power button on the phone and wait for registration to complete.
How do I call a landline or mobile number using an Inmarsat satellite phone?
Press the 0 key until the + appears or dial “00”. Dial the country code, area code and phone number.
•Example: + (country code) (area code/city code) (phone number)
•Example: + 1 416 253 6008
How do I call another Inmarsat satellite phone?
From your Inmarsat IsatPhone, dial “00” or press and hold the 0 key until the + appears followed by the 870 Inmarsat phone number.
Do Inmarsat satellite phones support text messaging?
Yes, it is easy to send a text message and incoming text messages are free. Visit our send a free SMS web page.
How do I receive calls on my Inmarsat satellite phone?
The Inmarsat IsatPhone phone antenna needs to be fully extended with an unobstructed view of the sky in order to receive a call.
How do I send an e-mail to an Inmarsat satellite phone?
Send your e-mail to 870xxxxxxxxx@message.inmarsat.com (where 870xxxxxxxxx is the IsatPhone mobile number)
How do I check my balance?
You can check the balance of your IsatPhone prepaid SIM card by simply dialling 591, free of charge. To display your balance on-screen dial *106#
If I have a pre-paid Inmarsat satellite contract, how can I top-up my balance?
Easy! Just visit AST’s top-up portal and top-up as and when you need to.
How can I test my Inmarsat satellite phone?
Inmarsat post-paid and pre-paid customers can place a free call to +870-776-999-999 to test their phone. An automated message will play stating that the call was successful. If an error message is played or if the call does not connect at all, please contact AST Global Customer Support.
INMARSAT FLEETBROADBAND FAQ's
What features does the FleetBroadband (FB) have?
Simultaneous voice and data, crew calling option, SMS service, and a friendly programmable user interface.
Can anyone in the world call the FleetBroadband?
Yes, some providers do block calls to satellite phones and different providers route call differently, so the user ID may not be displayed. All Inmarsat equipment has a prefix of +870
Do I dial the same code for every outgoing call from the FB?
No, the full international number should be dialled for every call made. The prefix will change depending on what country you are trying to dial.
How good is the voice quality?
FleetBroadband uses a 4 kbps voice codec which is above the 2.4 standard used in the majority of satellite communications and ensures a high quality voice call.
How reliable is the network?
FleetBroadband uses the Inmarsat-4 satellites to provide global coverage. There is a minimal chance of a dropped call or network outage.
Will my GPS location be available to others?
The Inmarsat network needs to know your GPS location BUT THIS IS NOT PASSED ON TO ANY THIRD PARTIES.
Which languages are supported on the FleetBroadband?
The languages supported are English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Dutch.
What cable lengths are available?
Cable lengths can vary but the maximums are: RG 223 -25m, RG 213/4 - 50m, LMR600 -95m. The cable MUST NOT exceed 20 dB, including connectors.
INMARSAT FLEET ONE FAQ's
What is the Fleet One service?
Fleet One uses a new maritime user terminal (UT) that operates over Inmarsat’s existing BGAN Network. The service offers both voice and IP data connectivity via the existing FleetBroadband distribution model.
What are the key features?
Throughput of up to 100 kbps, operates down to a 5 degree antenna elevation, wired and wireless connection supported and voice and data simultaneously.
What is the voice service?
This is a circuit-switched telephony service, which uses compression technology to deliver landline-quality voice over a bandwidth-efficient 4 kbps connection.
Is it possible to use voice and data simultaneously?
Yes it is possible to make a standard voice call whilst simultaneously using IP data services, however multiple simultaneous voice calls are not supported.
What is the data service?
Standard background class IP data service offers a throughput of up to 100 kbps via a shared, contended IP channel.
How many characters can I send in a SMS?
160 character SMS. Concatenated SMS is supported.
What equipment is supported?
Inmarsat Fleet One and the SAILOR Fleet One.
Are there any service limitations?
Yes, it does not support streaming services (therefore no multi-voice). No 64 kbps CS Service ISDN and 3.1 kHz audio services, it is designed for single user environments.
What features does the Fleet One have?
Voice, voicemail, text and email messaging, emergency calling 505, IP Data up to 100 kbps, WiFi, Ethernet, RJ11 and RJ45 connection.
Can anyone in the world call the Fleet One?
Yes, though some countries may route calls differently and therefore not display caller ID.
What code should I dial to make outgoing calls?
DIAL 00 XXX-XXX-XXXX#
Do I dial the same code for every outgoing call from the phone?
Dial the full international code on the Fleet One to the public switched telephone network (PSTN). E.g. Dial 00-(country code)-(area code without first zero)-(telephone number).
What is the coverage area?
As shown on Inmarsat map, note higher call charges apply if used ‘out-of-zone’.
INMARSAT ISATPHONE LINK FAQ's
What features does the IsatPhone Link have?
Voice, voicemail, text and email messaging, Data, Crew Calling, RJ11 and USB connection.
Can anyone in the world call the IsatPhone Link?
Yes, though some countries may route calls differently and therefore not display caller ID.
What code should I dial to make outgoing calls?
DIAL 00 870 XXX-XXX-XXXX#
Do I dial the same code for every outgoing call from the phone?
Dial the full international code on the IsatPhone Link to the public switched telephone network (PSTN). E.g. Dial 00-(country code)-(area code without first zero)-(telephone number).
How good is the voice quality?
IsatPhone Link incorporates a 2.4kbps voice codec which ensures clear voice quality and this makes speech easy to understand.
Which languages are supported on the IsatPhone Link?
The 8 Languages supported are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
What cable lengths are available?
10m/20m stock and 30m/40m/50m on special order.
INMARSAT ISATHUB FAQ's
What features does the IsatHub have?
Voice calling with VoIP, SMS (via app and web UI), data up to 240/384kbps (send/receive), wireless connectivity for smart devices within 30metres.
Can I use my smart phone with the IsatHub?
The IsatHub works with Apple and Android smart devices. iOS 6 or higher is required for Apple devices (minimum requirement: iPhone 4/iPad 3) and Android devices require 4.1 or higher.
How does IsatHub work?
Your smart device connects via Wi-Fi to the IsatHub terminal, which in turn connects to the Inmarsat network, providing a global 3G service.
How does my smart device access voice, data and text services?
The service is accessed via control and voice apps, downloaded onto a smartphone or tablet.
Where can I get the control and voice apps from?
The control and voice apps are available for download from the Google Play store and Apple App store - search for IsatHub.
How do I connect my device to the iSatHub?
You can connect to your iSatHub via Wi-Fi by selecting it from the list of available Wi-Fi devices on your smartphone or tablet. The default Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and password can be obtained from the product label on the back of the terminal.
Can I manage the smart devices connected to my iSatHub?
You can manage each connected device with service access controls and usage counters.
How good is the voice quality when using the voice app?
The voice app is optimised for use over the dedicated voice line for high quality incoming and outgoing voice calls. The voice app will also work with your smart device contacts and provides the ability to send and receive text messages.
How secure is the iSatHub Wi-Fi?
You can set your own Wi-Fi password and configure MAC address filtering. The terminal has a 30 metre Wi-Fi range and multiple devices can share the same connection.
Can I configure the iSatHub with a laptop or PC?
You can use any web browser to control your iSavi satellite terminal. Open any web browser and type http://192.168.1.35 into the address bar, with the following login details:
USERNAME: admin
PASSWORD: 1234
ABOUT THE INMARSAT NETWORK
How many Inmarsat satellites are there?
Inmarsat owns and operates 13 satellites in geostationary orbit 35,786km (22,236 miles) above the Earth. Each satellite can generate up to 19 wide beams and more than 200 narrow spot beams.
Please visit our Inmarsat page to find out more about the network, coverage areas and products available.