Don’t Let That Riggin’ Spoil Your Chattin’

International satellite communications service provider NSSL has developed a new solution designed to maximize broadband connectivity at sea. Many vessels, such as super yachts and oil rigs, often have large superstructures that include masts that disrupt line of sight with the satellite. This causes a loss in connectivity when the vessel changes its heading or turns around. To rectify this problem, NSSL has designed a fully automatic dual antenna selector which offers the coverage of two antennas on a single airtime package. The dual antenna selector box, designed by NSSL, maximizes the airtime of the CruiseIP broadband service by supporting the use of two antennas, and switches automatically between the two, as required. This solution negates the temporary loss of connectivity caused by vessel orientation and blind arcs created by the vessel’s superstructure. The dual antenna selector automatically switches the DVBS2-RCS satellite modem to the best antenna giving the user constant connectivity without interruptions. CruiseIP is a non-Inmarsat, non-VSAT broadband maritime solution. Established in 2005, CruiseIP provides a high speed, high quality broadband communications solution to maritime users. Originally covering only a small part of the world’s oceans, the service now covers the waters of the USA, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and most of Asia Pacific—London, United Kingdom