Furuno FELCOM 12 manual INMARSAT-C System

INMARSAT-C SYSTEM

This chapter provides an overview of the Inmarsat-C satellite com- munication system.

Introduction

The Inmarsat-C system provides worldwide telex and data transmis- sion and reception of written information to owners of an Inmarsat-C transceiver or a terrestrial telex network via satellite.

Communication mode is store-and-forward telex, which means all information sent are first stored at a LES and then delivered to desig- nated party.

An EGC (Enhanced Group Call) receiver is built in the FELCOM 12 to receive the following types of messages, broadcast from a LES:

¡SafetyNETTM-governments and maritime authorities can use this service to distribute maritime safety information to ships within selected areas.

¡FleetNETTM-commercial subscription organizations or shipping companies can use this service to transmit trade information (for example, company news or market prices) simultaneously to a se- lected group of ships, to provide up-to-the-minute information.

FELCOM 12 allows you to make distress calls which are given im- mediate priority over all other calls, and are automatically routed to a land-based Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC).

Besides its primary application of ship-shore, shore-ship or ship-ship communications, the Inmarsat-C service has also proved beneficial to trucking firms who have found it indispensable for communicat- ing with their vehicles. In this manual, however, we will concentrate on ship applications, the main application.

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