The maritime industry is increasingly reliant on efficient and user-friendly VSAT technology to ensure reliable communications at sea comparable to those onshore.
As expectations for connectivity speed and reliability grow, the need for simple installation, commissioning, and servicing, backed by a robust support network, becomes critical.
Revolution in Antenna Installation
Traditionally, setting up and supporting antenna systems was an expensive, intricate, and labor-intensive affair. It involved specialized knowledge that varied significantly across different products, even among antennas from the same manufacturer.
Addressing these challenges, Intellian has revamped the entire lifecycle management of its NX range of VSAT antennas, focusing on seamless shipping, easy upgrades, routine health checks, and straightforward parts replacement.
Innovative Features of the NX Series
Mike Wilson, an Intellian NX product specialist, comments, “One of the key aspects of the NX Series is its ability to convert quickly and easily between Ku and Ka bands, and to track satellites across different orbits.” This adaptability allows the antennas to work with satellites in geostationary (GEO), medium Earth (MEO), and low Earth (LEO) orbits.
Wilson adds, "This allows a customer to change their service provision easily without having to carry out major hardware changes, and proofs their NX antenna against foreseeable infrastructure upgrades.” This extends the longevity of the onboard communication hardware.
AptusNX Interface and Simplified Configuration
Intellian’s AptusNX interface underpins the configurable nature of the NX antennas
Intellian’s AptusNX interface underpins the configurable nature of the NX antennas. This browser-based tool can be accessed locally via a network or remotely, aiding from the initial commissioning stages through guided installation wizards, ensuring adherence to Intellian’s optimal setup protocols.
Wilson explains, “AptusNX users can be granted varying access rights, and each user’s dashboard can be customized to ensure their essential tools are easily to hand.” The interface also offers a troubleshooting page for conducting tests on individual components to identify and remedy faults promptly.
Streamlined Installation and Component Integration
To enhance installation efficiency, NX antennas are shipped pre-slung, complete with lifting harnesses contained within the crate, eliminating the need for dismantling any parts upon arrival. Equipped with a dynamic braking system, transport is stable sans shipping brackets.
The new design eradicates the need to remove the antenna dome, shifting the cable connection to the exterior, reducing potential waterproofing issues and decreasing setup times. As opposed to three separate cables, a single coaxial cable now handles power, transmit, and receive signals, simplifying lengthy cable installations.
Enhanced Dual Antenna Systems and Parts Management
Below deck, equipped with embedded AptusNX tools and mediator functions, the antenna control unit (ACU) links directly to another NX ACU for dual antenna configuration using a single modem. Intellian’s strategic approach to parts supply, involving shared components and improved local stock, has led to a 40% reduction in parts necessary for stock and repairs. According to Wilson, "NX antennas share as many parts, such as motors, as possible," simplifying storage and repair processes.
This comprehensive, plug-and-play vision broadens the accessibility of antenna technology to a diverse user base while reducing both service and hardware costs. Intellian's shift from solely manufacturing antennas to providing connectivity solutions marks a significant evolution, with the NX series serving as a promising foundation.
Maritime VSAT technology should be reliable, simple to set up and straightforward to operate. Easily accessible, always-on communications have become part of everyday life at sea. However, the closer the onboard communications experience becomes to that found onshore, the less tolerant customers are of slow speeds and unreliable connections.
Therefore, easy installation, commissioning, and servicing, plus the reassurance of an extensive, dependable support network, are pivotal considerations.
NX range of VSAT antennas
Antenna system installation and support have traditionally been costly, complex and time-consuming
Antenna system installation and support have traditionally been costly, complex and time-consuming. They required specialist knowledge which varied significantly from product to product, even between those from the same range and manufacturer.
To mitigate these issues, Intellian re-examined the entire antenna lifecycle from start to finish for its NX range of VSAT antennas. This began with shipping the antennas and ended with straightforward upgrades, health checks, and parts replacement.
Key aspects of the NX Series
Intellian NX product specialist Mike Wilson explains, “One of the key aspects of the NX Series is its ability to convert quickly and easily between Ku and Ka bands, and to track satellites across different orbits.”
This includes satellites in geostationary (GEO), medium Earth (MEO) and low Earth (LEO) orbits. “This allows a customer to change their service provision easily without having to carry out major hardware changes, and proofs their NX antenna against foreseeable infrastructure upgrades,” says Mr Wilson. This extends the life of this critical onboard hardware.
Intellian’s AptusNX interface
This configurability, whether installing or upgrading, is underpinned by Intellian’s AptusNX interface
This configurability, whether installing or upgrading, is underpinned by Intellian’s AptusNX interface. This browser-based utility can be accessed locally via a local area network or wifi, and remotely using either the antenna itself or an alternative onboard web connection.
“AptusNX is used from the early stages of commissioning, where a step-by-step installation wizard guides the engineer through the setup process,” says Mr Wilson. This ensures the antenna is set up according to Intellian’s recommendations and that no tasks are left undone.
Individual antenna components
“AptusNX users can be granted varying access rights, and each user’s dashboard can be customized to ensure their essential tools are easily to hand,” Mr Wilson continues. “A troubleshooting page allows tests to be carried out on individual antenna components, isolating faults and facilitating swift repairs."
“On commissioning, a full health check is automatically carried out, ensuring service engineers have a clear datum from which to assess current performance,” he explains.
Speed and complexity of hardware installation
All NX antennas arrive pre-slung, with lifting harnesses already in place within the crate
Intellian also considered the speed and complexity of hardware installation. All NX antennas arrive pre-slung, with lifting harnesses already in place within the crate.
On arrival, the antenna can be lifted straight into position. There are no shipping brackets thanks to a dynamic braking system on the antenna motors, which will dampen any sudden movements during transit.
Three individual cables
“There is no need to remove the dome at all,” says Mr Wilson. “The cable connection has been brought outside the antenna. This removes potential waterproofing failures from cable glands and incorrect refitting of the dome, as well as dramatically reducing the time taken to connect the unit.”
There is a single coaxial cable carrying power, transmit and receive signals, as opposed to the three individual cables used in the past. “This simplifies installation, especially over long cable runs,” says Mr Wilson.
Dual antenna configuration with a single modem
Below decks, the antenna control unit (ACU) has AptusNX tools built in and an embedded mediator
Below decks, the antenna control unit (ACU) has AptusNX tools built in and an embedded mediator, allowing it to be linked directly to another NX ACU to enable a dual antenna configuration with a single modem.
Intellian streamlined parts supply through two strategies: increased parts sharing and improved local stock. “NX antennas share as many parts, such as motors, as possible,” says Mr Wilson. “The net result is a 40% parts reduction, making it much easier for warehouses to store a full set of parts and for service engineers to carry a comprehensive spares kit.”
Range of users and drives
This holistic, plug-and-play approach to antennas opens the antenna market to a wider range of users and drives both service and hardware prices down.
Intellian is repositioning itself from being an antenna manufacturer to a connectivity solutions provider, and the integrated concept of NX is a first, positive step.
