Inmarsat BGAN - Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is BGAN?
2. What are the data rates?
3. What other network services does this include?
4. How does BGAN compare with competitor offerings?
5. Why can’t I register on the network?
6. Why can’t I get a GPS lock?
7. Is streaming data connection faster?
8. Does my BGAN work in the USA?
1. What is BGAN?
Inmarsat's Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service is a high-speed wireless data service with voice, ISDN, data, video and video BCST accessible via a small portable satellite device.
2. What are the data rates?
Up to 492Kbs depending on unit. In addition, streaming class will offer guaranteed data AND will support voice services.
3. What other network services does this include?
IP packet-switched data services
» Background class - with variable data rates depending on demand
» Streaming class - with guaranteed data rates (only available on two devices)
Circuit-switched services
» Basic telephony (4kbit/s toll quality)
» Data (64kbit/s ISDN)
» Multimedia (64kbit/s, H.324/m)
» Supplementary services (e.g. call forwarding)
Short Messaging Services (SMS)
Voicemail
Pre-pay
4. How does BGAN compare with competitor offerings?
» Higher data rates than other mobile satellite services and terrestrial mobile data services.
» Greater portability and flexibility than VSAT systems, with little or no set-up time/costs.
» Significantly greater coverage than terrestrial mobile services and fixed infrastructure, such as in hotels.
» Greater reliability and ease of use than other mobile satellite data services.
5. Why can’t I register on the network?
There are a few reasons why you may not be able to register on the network. Your BGAN unit must find GPS position. You will know that you have a new GPS location when GPS New is found in the connected to window of the LauchPad software. All of the units have should be laid down flat so they can receive the GPS signal. If you are in the USA and trying to use the system you will want to make sure that you have upgraded your software to ver. 3.1.1. If the software is not upgraded it will have a hard time registering to the network.
6. Why can’t I get a GPS lock?
All the BGAN units need to be lying flat so they can acquire a new GPS location. This procedure can take up to 10 minutes to acquire a GPS Location. Once you have a new GPS location you can move to pointing stage of the unit. You will know that you have a new GPS location when GPS New is found in the connected to window of the LauchPad software.
7. Is streaming data connection faster?
Streaming data connection is not faster connection but it is guarantee bandwidth. Streaming is a technique for transferring data (usually over the Internet) in a continuous flow to allow large multimedia files to be viewed before the entire file has been downloaded to a client's computer.
8. Does my BGAN work in the USA?
Yes, the BGAN units work in the USA. They were able to go live with the service in the US in the first week in June 2006. If you update the Lauch Pad software to ver. 3.1.1 it should help with getting registered and connecting the satellite.
