Satellite Phone Industry Definitions Glossary

CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access Pioneered by Qualcomm the CDMA signal provides excellent data and voice capacity through the Globalstar satellite phone network of 48 satellites. The CDMA signal is the foundation for 3G communication services world wide. CDMA converts speech signal into digital format and then transmits it from the Globalstar Satellite phone up to the satellite systems and down to the ground station. Every call over the satellite network has its own unique code which distinguishes it from the other calls sharing the airwaves at the same time. The CDMA signal is without interference, cross talk or static. CDMA was introduced in 1995 and soon become the fastest growing wireless technology. Globalstar chose this technology for use in it satellite communication network when Globalstar launched service in 2000.

Iridium: Iridium’s sixty-six satellite network provides truly global service. Calls go from your phone up to the satellite, which passes the call satellite to satellite until it downlinks at the Hub station in Tempe, Arizona. From Tempe, all calls are routed via terrestrial lines to their final destination. Calls from one terminal to another go up to the satellite network and directly down to the called handset, bypassing the terrestrial phone network.

Globalstar: Globalstar has a constellation of 48 Low-Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites that pick up signals from over 80% of the Earth’s surface, (except the extreme Polar Regions and some mid-ocean regions). When several satellites pick up a call, this “path diversity” reduces the possibility of blocked or dropped calls. If buildings or terrain block the phone’s line-of-sight to a satellite, a “soft hand-off” will take the place switching the call to an another satellite with no interruption. This satellite continues transmission of the original signal to one of several terrestrial “gateways.”

Gateway: A satellite gateway is transmits and received all traffic which is send through terrestrial land-line and cellular networks. The Gateway carries out all the processing and switching of the calls rather than the satellite itself.

Satellite Phone: Can be handheld, fixed or portable and utilizes satellites that can be stationary or orbiting. As long as the user has line-of-site to one of the satellites in the coverage area of the satellite service provider the user would have service. Services can include voice, data, SMS, and fax.

Prepaid Service: This service allows the user to purchase a bundle of minutes that are usually valid for one year. The user avoids credit check, monthly fees and annual contacts. In most cases the prepaid sim card can be recharged at anytime which renews the service for one year.

Postpaid Service: This service allows the user to have package minutes either monthly or annually similar to cellular service. This service is normally without a limit on the minutes used by the customer.

Serial Port: The data kit on both the Globalstar and Iridium hand held phones include a serial port which will give the user access to the Internet. If the user does not have a serial port on their PC and USB to serial adapter is available.

Data Kit: A data kit is available for both the Globalstar and Iridium satellite phones. The data kit consist of a data cable and CD which would allow the user to have dial up or direct Internet access through a serial port of a PC

Docking Station: Globalstar offers a docking station which is basically a Car Kit modified to be portable. It would include a hard or soft case, external antenna, antenna cable, microphone for hands free operation and a cigarette lighter adapter. The docking station allows the user to easily move the phone from vehicle to vehicle. The magnetic low profile antenna included with the unit would need to be located with an 80% view of the sky to give good service.

SMS: Inbound short text messaging is free to the user of a Globalstar or Iridium phone. Anyone with access to the Internet can send a short text message up to 160 characters to an Iridium phone or 19 characters to a Globalstar phone. The user would be prompted by the phone when receiving a message.

Roam: Globalstar users will roam outside the Globalstar home calling area of the U.S. and eastern Caribbean. This rate varies depending on where the user travels. Iridium on the other hand does not roam. The flat minute rate is from anywhere on the planet to virtually everywhere.

Fixed Site Satellite Phone: This unit is designed for use on a building. When the customer needs a unit that will work inside a building the Fixed Site Satellite Phone includes an antenna which would need to be installed outside with 80% view of the sky allowing of line-of-site to one of the satellites. The Globalstar fixed site unit allows you to have multiple extension line utilizing off the shelf analog desktop or cordless phones.

Simplex Satellite Modem: battery-operated, wireless data devices that integrate the Globalstar Simplex Transmitter Unit. These units are ready-to-go out of the box and easy to install. Both have batteries with a 2 year life that can be easily replaced in the field. Power consumption estimates based 6 messages per day. Simplex messages are transmitted via the Globalstar low-earth orbit satellite network, using an uplink-only connection (one-way data transmission). Multiple messages are sent over several minutes at each transmission interval to ensure reception. Once the Globalstar system confirms a message it ensures repeats are deleted for efficiency. Customer only pays for first confirmed message.

Duplex Satellite Modem: The GSP-1620 SDM provides 96 Kbps data service using the 48 LEO Globalstar satellite constellations. The Direct Internet Access gives you connectivity to the Internet and email systems. With this option you are not required to have an Internet Service Provider (ISP) Globalstar acts as your ISP. The GSP-1620 SDM is a Hayes compatible modem.

Solar Panel: The portable solar panels provided by GlobalCom allow the user to charge most any electronic device through a male cigarette lighter adapter. Portable solar panels GlobalCom provides range from 14.5 to 25.1 watts

Line-of-site: the majority of satellite communication devices require clear unobstructed “line-of-site” to the satellite they are attempting to communicate with. The more this line-of-site is obstructed by trees and structures the more likely the user will experience dropped calls and periods of no service.

LEO: Low earth orbiting satellites Globalstar has a constellation of 48 satellites that are 700 miles in orbit. Iridium utilizes a 66 satellite constellation that gives the user of an Iridium phone virtually coverage everywhere on the planet.

Path diversity: Globalstar uses redundancy with every call a customer places. A call is routed through as many as four satellites which then combine the signal into a single static free call. If one of the paths to one of the satellites is blocked the other satellites keep the call from terminating. This is called (Path Diversity) which minimizes dropped calls and enhances the quality of the calls made on a Globalstar phone.

Soft hand off: If buildings or terrain block the phone’s line-of-sight to a satellite, a “soft hand-off” will take the place switching the call to an another satellite with no interruption. This satellite continues transmission of the original signal to one of several terrestrial “gateways.”

Bent Pipe technology: Globalstar’s (Bent-Pipe Technology) allow the call to be first beamed up to the satellite and then retransmitted to a relatively close gateway. The call is then sent through to its call destination through land-line or cellular networks. The Globalstar Gateway carries out all the processing and switching of the calls rather than the satellite itself. This improves the reliability of the call delivery.

If you need more help understanding the terms used for the satellite phone industry feel free to Contact Us

John Madden

There’s a lot of land between California and New York, and cell phones just don’t work everywhere. I’ve tried Globalstar in the middle of nowhere, and it sounds great – like a regular phone. This phone works when I need it.

John Madden,
NFL football analyst

Michael L.

Just flip up the antenna and talk…from anywhere! As an experienced user of satellite telephone services, I can say one thing about GlobalStar. It is not a satellite phone, it’s cellular on steroids! The new “GStar” works just like my cellular phone. No setup required! Just flip up the antenna and talk…from anywhere! Also, the service provides clear connections without the onerous delay associated with most satellite services and no echoes. Just like cellular. The price is reasonable, too!

Michael L.

Katy

To Whom it May Concern:

Enclosed please find the returned international satellite phone. He informed me that it worked perfectly in Argentina. Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely
Katy
Roger Engemann Company

Bob

Dear GlobalCom,

I want to take this time to thank you for your assistance in obtaining this phone and service. It has been a seamless transaction and your professionalism as well as your personal attention to our needs especially in making this so easy for my wife is worthy of recognition.

My son received the phone in Baghdad yesterday and was able to talk to his wife for more than just a few minutes for the first time in over 7 months when he deployed to the gulf. In fact they talked for nearly an hour. He called me this morning and he was so upbeat, this alone made every penny we have and will spend a value that will not be surpassed for a long, long time.

The quality of our conversation also far surpassed my expectations, there was no delay what so ever and he might as well have been next door the quality was so good. I want you to know that your efforts have had such a huge and positive impact on people you don’t even know and we are grateful that you were put in our path to help us during this most difficult time of separation.

My son is very much my hero but I would have you stand next to him any day of the week, you to have become a hero in the lives of so many people that you will never meet but you should feel good about yourself and proud of yourself for being an honest, hard working and enjoyable American. Thank you, I hope some day I have the opportunity to give you some portion of what you have given me, my son, my family and his family.

If you ever plan to come to the greater Sacramento area please do not hesitate to call me, I would be more than happy to arrange a comp stay for you here. Thank you Hobert, thank you!!

Bob
Doubletree Hotel

Karen

Dear GlobalCom,

Enclosed is the satellite phone we recently rented. The phone worked great and I appreciate all the help you provided in getting it to me on short notice.

Please feel free to call me if you have any questions.

Thanks again,
Karen
Champion Elevators

T. Herndon

This is T. Herndon and I wanted to let you know how your phone worked for me and my hunting trip.The phone was used marginally during the first part of our trip to Alaska but when the bush pilot company didn’t pick us up it was used a lot more. Imagine being us, out there 300 miles from civilization and not knowing if we were going to be picked up! Well, without the sat phone that is exactly where we would have been. The pilot finally got us on Monday afternoon (we were supposed to be picked up on the Saturday before at 11 am and we were picked up on Mon. at 2 pm!)With your phone we kept in contact with all four of our more than upset wives, and children.
Summer, tell all of your people thanks for a job well done!

T. Herndon
Arizona Outfitter

Mick

Dear GlobalCom,

Enclosed is the Iridium satellite phone, data kit and solar panel we leased from you. I’ll be faxing the paperwork for purchase of the RBGAN unit today.

I really appreciate your help throughout our Iraq adventure and will certainly call you again if we need any other equipment.

Best Wishes,
Mick
The Providence Journal Company

Sgt. Steve Jones

Dear GlobalCom,

I just wanted to drop a line about your products and service. I was recently deployed overseas to a remote area. I needed a reliable way to keep in touch with my family so I purchased a Globalstar phone from your company. I was impressed with the great service you provided in getting the item to me in a timely manner. This was extremely important due to the rapid deployment I was facing. After I arrived in theatre a family medical emergency arose stateside. Through the use of your product I was able to coordinate a rapid extraction from the remote area and expedite my travel arrangements back to the States.

>Thank you for providing such outstanding products and service, without it I wouldn’t have been there when my family needed me most.

Sincerely,
Sgt. Steve Jones
United States Air Force

James

Dear GlobalCom,

The telephone was very useful in the middle of Neirgian Bay, Canada! It sure worked well and we’re very pleased. It’s nice to know technology can be at your finger tips in remote areas!

Thank you for the use!

James

Larry N.

Last week, I was in an isolated location, quite far from any people or means to communicate with the outside world should an accident occur. I am a fly fishing enthusiast who takes a number of trips during the year to very remote locations where no cellular service is available. I decided to purchase your Globalstar Satellite Phone to take with me on these trips in case of an emergency. Last week, I was in an isolated location, quite far from any people or means to communicate with the outside world should and accident occur. I tested the Globalstar Satellite Phone and wanted you to know how well it works. It has remarkable clarity, and the weight of the phone is quite satisfactory for my fly vest. Your company should find a way to spread the message out to other fly fishermen so that they can get the same protection.

Sincerely,
Larry N.

Mike B.

I recently went fly-fishing in Ascension Bay Mexico and brought along my Globalstar phone. I recently went fly-fishing in Ascension Bay Mexico and brought along my Globalstar phone. Cameras should have been there to see the smiles on everyone who used it, able to talk to their families and friends with crystal clear sound from a remote area of the world. Several of the folks who used the phone said they were going to go out and buy them. Just wanted to cheer you folks on – it’s a great system and hope that it takes off soon!

Mike B.

E. Moore

The captain has decades of experience in Alaskan waters and can navigate even the most remote areas. And that’s exactly where we headed–> remote, remote, remote. We set off for Alaska, the Juneau area, & boarded an 85′ charter boat. We brought our Globalstar phone and from anywhere, at anytime, the phone was used for a variety of purposes (mostly for daily business decisions, family contact, etc). The clarity of the phone was outstanding. We have ZERO complaints. Absolutely a wonderful service. Regardless of movement or speed, there was no hesitation in the service, nor did we (at any time) say “Hello! Hello! Can you hear me?” as is commonplace with cell phones. But the most immediately rewarding benefit of the phone was provided by life’s circumstances. It happened that we anchored in a “no one will ever find it” cove for the night. The captain lowered the anchor via remote switches & we set our sights on harvesting shrimp. Yes, we pulled up shrimp the next day… but what wouldn’t come up was the anchor. Somehow, it had wrenched itself in the depths below & no amount of strain, backing up, or re-positioning, could loosen the grip. The tremendous force placed upon the pulley strained the heavy chain… so strained that it busted and snapped the pulley at the bow… also damaged the bow. The only solution was to saw the chain, place a bouy on it, & hope for recovery on the next trip out. Enter: Globalstar phone. The tooling of a new pulley, housing, and bow re-enforcement would take approximately four days, which was two days beyond our re-docking and the entry of a new group which had chartered the boat. That is a situation no Captain or boarding guest takes pleasure in greeting. Several calls were made (to & fro) to tool replacements… sizing questions… measurements…a trek in finding the right man, with the right talent (with the time on his hands) to fix the problem. The task, however, was accomplished. The unit was overnighted by air from California to Alaska… it awaited the Captain as we pulled into harbor. Granted, it took some sweat to switch out the units & do the repairs, but the oncoming new guests were never the wiser. There was no lost time, no lost income, no alternate accommodation costs. In general conversation, it was decided that the phone would clearly have paid for itself resolving just that one instance. Additionally, the business use of the phone (owner-to-business site) reaped substantial rewards. And for the ladies? Constant contact with house & children sitters was an absolute comfort. I will never fret over a dropped call. Just a story about life, and about how Globalstar made it better. The benefits of remote communication cannot be undervalued. It certainly has proved its value to me.

E. Moore

Donna Quinn

Dear Globalcom,

Your equipment was just wonderful. Dr. Bujnoski had no problems, and your are now in receipt of the returned phone. Today I called your office just to verify that, and asked to be sure and send the itemized bill to us as another doctor used the phone on this trip to Tanzania, and we will need his portion of the calls separated out so that he can reimburse Dr. B. Your office was very polite and we were told that the bill will not be received to your office until the middle of next month. This is fine by us, just as long as we do get a copy of the itemization after you have received it. Thank you again for the assistance and the great service and equipment, and we will recommend your company to other clients we have going to Africa with us.

Most sincerely,
Donna Quinn

Tohber

Dear Sir

A word about the missing battery. Presently it is at the bottom of the Little Current Lake north of Nabina Ontario, Canada. Above it, in the log-pile is my pinned canoe. While making the call with your satellite phone to arrange for helicopter pick-up, the water-proof phone box started to roll off the log-pile, dumping some of its contents which included the spare battery. Without the satellite phone I would still be in the bush in Ontario.

Yours
Tohber
Birmingham

Eric L.

There was no paging or cellular service, so I used the Globalstar phone to call the marina and lake patrol to ask if there were any reported incidents. My Globalstar phone came in handy last weekend while on a houseboat on Lake Mojave, NV. First, my friend’s wife was debating whether or not to go on the trip because she would be leaving their 15 month old daughter with her parents for three days and they would have no way to contact each other should their be a problem. I reminded them that I would have my Globalstar phone with me and they could use it to check in with her parents whenever they wanted to. She agreed to go and used the phone several times (she now wants one). The second incident came when a friend, who took a jet ski to the marina for “provisions,” was an hour overdue. Many of the 16 people on the houseboat became worried and debated whether or not we should pack up and go on a search and rescue. There was no paging or cellular service, so I used the Globalstar phone to call the marina and lake patrol to ask if there were any reported incidents. There were none, but they notified the patrol to be on the lookout for our wayward friend. Fifteen minutes later, he showed up and all was well. Just a couple of “real world” situations where Globalstar service proved its worth.

Eric L.

susan

Dear GlobalCom,

Enclosed is the satellite phone I rented for John. Thank you for your assistance with this rental, we were very happy with the service you have provided.

Sincerely,
Susan
The Pepsi Bottling Group

Sarah

Dear GlobalCom,

I was sure you would like the original paperwork on the purchase we made. I also wanted to thank you for all the time you took giving me the information on the services you offer. It really made a big difference to me that you were able to give me such personal and attentive service. I appreciate it.

Sincerely,
Sarah
Beaty Construction

Globalcom Satellite Phones

Satellite Phone Industry Definitions Glossary – Globalcom

John Madden

Michael L.

Katy

Bob

Karen

T. Herndon

Mick

Sgt. Steve Jones

James

Larry N.

Mike B.

E. Moore

Donna Quinn

Tohber

Eric L.

susan

Sarah