The KVH® Industries’ TracPhone® FB250/FB500 system, manufactured by
Thrane & Thrane, delivers high-speed data and voice communications via
satellite through Inmarsat’s Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN). This
user’s guide provides all of the information you need to operate, set up, and
troubleshoot the system. For detailed installation information, please refer to
the Installation Guide.
Product Information
Before installing the TracPhone,
write down the following numbers:
TracPhone, KVH, and the unique light-colored dome with contrasting
baseplate are registered trademarks of KVH Industries.
Thrane & Thrane is a registered trademark of Thrane & Thrane A/S in the
European Union and the United States.
Windows and Outlook are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in
the United States and other countries.
Inmarsat is a registered trademark of International Maritime Satellite
Organisation (IMSO) and is licensed by IMSO to Inmarsat Limited and
Inmarsat Ventures plc.
Inmarsat’s product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Inmarsat.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure the correctness and completeness of the
material in this document. No company shall be liable for errors contained
herein. The information in this document is subject to change without notice.
No warranty of any kind is made with regard to this material, including, but
not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a
particular purpose.
Safety summary1
The following general safety precautions must be observed during all
phases of operation, service and repair of this equipment. Failure to comply
with these precautions or with specific warnings elsewhere in this manual
violates safety standards of design, manufacture and intended use of the
equipment. KVH Industries assumes no liability for the customer's failure to
comply with these requirements.
Observe marked areas
Under extreme heat conditions do not touch
areas of the terminal or antenna that are
marked with this symbol, as it may result in
injury.
Microwave radiation hazards
During transmission the antenna in this system radiates Microwave
Power.This radiation may be hazardous to humans close to the antenna.
During transmission, make sure that nobody gets closer than the
recommended minimum safety distance.
On the TracPhone FB500, the minimum safety
distance to the antenna panel on the focal line
is 1.3 m, based on a radiation level of 10 W/m2.
The radiation level is 100 W/m2 at a distance of
0.4 m from the antenna panel. Refer to the
drawing on the next page.
On the TracPhone FB250, the minimum safety
distance to the antenna panel on the focal line
is 0.6 m, based on a radiation level of 10 W/m2.
The radiation level is 100 W/m2 at a distance of
0.2 m from the antenna panel. Refer to the
drawing on the next page.
iii
MICROWAVE RADIATION
No personnel within safety distance
Safety distance:
FB500:
1.3 m, 10 W/m
(0.4 m, 100 W/m
FB250:
0.6 m, 10 W/m
(0.2 m, 100 W/m
25° for FB500
60° for FB250
2
2
2
2
Distance to other equipment
Do not move the antenna closer to radars than the minimum safe distance
specified in the installation manual - it may cause damage to the antenna.
The equipment must be installed with the following minimum safe distances
to magnetic steering compass:
TracPhone terminal: min. 0.3 m.
TracPhone FB500 antenna: min. 1.0 m
TracPhone FB250 antenna: min. 1.1 m
Service
User access to the interior of the terminal is prohibited. Only a technician
authorized by KVH Industries may perform service - failure to comply with
this rule will void the warranty.Access to the interior of the antenna is
allowed, but only for replacement of certain modules - as described in the
Installation manual. General service may only be performed by a technician
authorized by KVH Industries.
)
)
Do not service or adjust alone
Do not attempt internal service or adjustments unless another person,
capable of rendering first aid resuscitation, is present.
iv
Grounding, cables and connections
To minimize shock hazard, the equipment chassis and cabinet must be
connected to an electrical ground. Both terminal and antenna must be
grounded to the vehicle. For further grounding information refer to the
Installation manual.
Do not extend the cables beyond the lengths specified for the equipment.
The cable between the terminal and antenna can be extended if it complies
with the specified data concerning cable losses etc.
All cables for the TracPhone system are shielded and should not be affected
by magnetic fields. However, try to avoid running cables parallel to AC
wiring as it might cause malfunction of the equipment.
Power supply
The voltage range is 10.5 - 32 V DC; 14 A - 5.5 A. It is recommended that the
voltage is provided by the 24 V DC bus on the ship. Be aware of high start-up
peak current: 20 A@24 V, 5 ms.
If a 24 V DC power bus is not available, an external 115/230 VAC to 24 V DC
power supply can be used.
Do not operate in an explosive atmosphere
Do not operate the equipment in the presence of flammable gases or fumes.
Operation of any electrical equipment in such an environment constitutes a
definite safety hazard.
Keep away from live circuits
Operating personnel must not remove equipment covers. Component
replacement and internal adjustment must be made by qualified
maintenance personnel. Do not replace components with the power cable
connected. Under certain conditions, dangerous voltages may exist even
with the power cable removed. To avoid injuries, always disconnect power
and discharge circuits before touching them.
Failure to comply with the rules above will void the warranty!
v
About the manual2
Intended readers
This manual is a user manual for the TracPhone FB500 system and
the TracPhone FB250 system. The readers of the manual include
anyone who is using or intends to use one of these two systems.
No specific skills are required to operate the TracPhone system.
However, it is important that you observe all safety requirements
listed in the beginning of this manual, and operate the system
according to the guidelines in this manual.
Manual overview
Note that this manual does not cover installation nor does it cover
how to use the IP handset that comes with the system. For
information on installation refer to the installation manual and for
information on the IP handset refer to the user manual for the IP
handset. Part numbers for both manuals are listed in the next
section.
This manual has the following chapters:
•Introduction contains an overview of the BGAN services and a
brief description of the system.
•Getting started explains how to insert SIM card and start up
the unit. It also contains a short guide to making the first call.
•Operating the system explains how to use the system.
•Using the web interface explains how to use the built-in web
interface of the terminal, and describes the available menus
and settings, including advanced setup of interfaces.
•Troubleshooting contains a short troubleshooting guide and
explains how to update software. It also describes the
functions of the light indicators and the Reset button, and
explains the event messages that may show in the web
interface. Further, it gives information on where to get help if
needed.
vi
This manual may not always reflect the latest software
functionality of your terminal. To obtain the latest version of the
manual, please visit www.kvh.com and download the latest
version from the FB250 or FB500 product page.
Related documents
The below list shows the documents related to this manual and to
the TracPhone FB500 and TracPhone FB250 system.
Title and description
TracPhone FB250 & FB500
Installation Guide
Explains how to install the TracPhone terminal,
the TracPhone FB500 antenna and the
TracPhone FB250 antenna.
TracPhone FB250 & FB500
Quick Reference Guide
A short guide to the most important functions
of the TracPhone systems.
TracPhone IP Handset User’s Guide
Explains the features and functions of the IP
handset. The IP handset works as a standard IP
handset, but also serves as a user interface for
the TracPhone systems.
Document
number
34-125646
54-0554
34-126059
vii
Typography
In this manual, typography is used as indicated below:
Bold is used for the following purposes:
•To emphasize words.
Example: “Do not touch the antenna”.
•To indicate what the user should select in the user interface.
Example: “Select SETTINGS > LAN”.
Italic is used to emphasize the paragraph title in cross-references.
Example: “For further information, see Connecting Cables on
page...”.
Congratulations on the purchase of your TracPhone system!
TracPhone FB500 and TracPhone FB250 are maritime broadband systems,
providing simultaneous high-speed data and voice communication via
satellite through the Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN).
Introduction
1
Chapter 1: Introduction
Applications include:
•Internet browsing
•E-mail
•Phone and fax services
•Large file transfers
•Video conferencing and Streaming
•VPN (Virtual Private Network) access to corporate servers
In this chapter
This chapter introduces the TracPhone FB500 system and the
TracPhone FB250 system, and gives an overview of the physical units and
their features and functions.
It also gives an overview of the BGAN system and services.
2In this chapter
Features and interfaces
The TracPhone system offers the following features and interfaces:
Chapter 1: Introduction
Simultaneous voice and data communication over BGAN
Voice: Standard Voice (4.0 kbps) or 3.1 kHz Audio
4 LAN (Local Area Network) ports with Power over Ethernet (PoE) for
computers, e-hubs, IP handsets etc.
2 Standard Phone/Fax ports for standard phones, fax machines or analog
modems
1 Euro ISDN port for ISDN phones or, for TracPhone FB500 only: G4 fax or
ISDN modem
1 L-Band output for connecting a broadcast receiver for maritime data
1 multi-purpose I/O connector with 5 configurable inputs/outputs
1 SIM slot for your BGAN SIM card
Integral DHCP/NAT router
Introduction
Built-in web interface allowing you to manage your phone book,
messages and calls, and customize the terminal to your specific needs
Input power: 10.5 - 32 V DC (14 A - 5.5 A)
CE certified
Features and interfaces3
Chapter 1: Introduction
Main units
TracPhone FB500/ TracPhone FB250
The main difference between the TracPhone FB500 system and the
TracPhone FB250 system lies in the antenna.
•TracPhone FB500 uses an FB500 antenna, which is a maritime BGAN Class
8 antenna.
This antenna is larger and provides more bandwidth than the antenna
used for the TracPhone FB250 system.
•TracPhone FB250 uses an FB250 antenna, which is a medium size,
maritime BGAN Class 9 antenna.
The TracPhone FB500 system and the TracPhone FB250 system basically use
the same type of terminal, except that the TracPhone FB500 offers a few more
features than the TracPhone FB250. See Features and interfaces on page 3.
Units overview
The TracPhone FB500 system includes the following main units:
•TracPhone FB500 antenna
•TracPhone terminal
•TracPhone FleetBroadband IP handset with cradle
The TracPhone FB250 system includes the following main units:
•TracPhone FB250 antenna
•TracPhone terminal
•TracPhone FleetBroadband IP handset with cradle
4Main units
TracPhone antennas
TracPhone FB500 antenna
Chapter 1: Introduction
The TracPhone FB500 system uses the FB500 antenna, which is a maritime
BGAN antenna. The antenna contains all functions for satellite tracking,
including a GPS system. A single coaxial cable carries all RF communication,
supply voltage and modem communication between the antenna and the
terminal.
For information on how to install the antenna, refer to the installation manual.
Introduction
This antenna is larger and provides more bandwidth than the antenna used
for the TracPhone FB250 system.
Main units5
Chapter 1: Introduction
TracPhone FB250 antenna
The TracPhone FB250 system uses the FB250 antenna, which is a medium
size, maritime BGAN phased array antenna.
For information on how to install the antenna, refer to the installation manual.
6Main units
TracPhone terminal
Overview
Chapter 1: Introduction
Whether you have purchased a TracPhone FB500 system or a
TracPhone FB250 system, the terminal is basically the same. For this reason
this section covers both systems.
The TracPhone terminal is the controlling unit in the TracPhone system. It
contains all user interfaces and LED indicators and stores configuration data.
For information on how to install the terminal, refer to the installation manual.
Tools for setup and daily use
The IP handset can be used for displaying status and for entering the PIN code
for the terminal. The IP handset connects to the LAN interface of the terminal.
For information on how to use the handset menus, see the user manual for the
IP handset.
Introduction
The built-in web interface is used for easy configuration and daily use. The
web interface is accessed from a computer connected to the terminal, using an
Internet browser. No installation of software is needed.
For further information on the web interface, see Chapter 4, Using the web interface.
Main units7
Chapter 1: Introduction
SIM card
The terminal has a SIM slot (Subscriber Identity Module) located in the
connector panel behind a small cover plate.
The terminal requires a dedicated FleetBroadband SIM card, which is acquired
from your Airtime Provider.
The system requires a SIM card to go online and to access the settings of the
terminal. However, using the web interface you can view the Dashboard and
upload software without inserting a SIM card. Upload of software without a
SIM card requires an Administrator user name and password.
8Main units
IP handset and cradle
IP handset
The IP handset communicates using Internet
protocols. The handset is not strictly
dedicated to the TracPhone system, but can
also be used in a public network as a
standard IP telephone.
When the IP handset is used with the
terminal, it communicates using Internet
protocol between the handset and the
terminal. However, on the BGAN network
side of the terminal, calls are transmitted as
circuit switched calls.
The IP handset is powered directly from the
LAN interface using Power over Ethernet
(PoE).
Chapter 1: Introduction
Introduction
When connected to the terminal the IP
handset provides a dedicated BGAN menu
with a subset of the terminal configuration
options.
For more information on the functions of the
IP handset, refer to the user manual for the
IP handset.
Main units9
Chapter 1: Introduction
IP cradle
The IP cradle serves as a holder for the IP handset.
The cradle connects to the coil cord from the handset and, using an Ethernet
cable, to the terminal.
10Main units
Chapter 1: Introduction
The Inmarsat BGAN system
What is BGAN?
The Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) is a mobile satellite service that
offers high-speed data up to 492 kbps and voice telephony. BGAN enables
users to access e-mail, corporate networks and the Internet, transfer files and
make telephone calls.
The Inmarsat FleetBroadband service
FleetBroadband is a maritime communications service offered in the BGAN
system. Based on 3G standards, FleetBroadband provides cost-effective
broadband data and voice simultaneously.
Introduction
The Inmarsat BGAN system11
Chapter 1: Introduction
Coverage
The Inmarsat BGAN services are based on geostationary satellites situated
above the equator. Each satellite covers a certain area (footprint). The
coverage map below shows the footprints of the BGAN system.
(Launch planned
for 2008)
Note
The map depicts Inmarsat's expectations of coverage, but does not
represent a guarantee of service. The availability of service at the
edge of coverage areas fluctuates depending on various conditions.
The launch of the F3 satellite (POR) is planned for 2008.
Note
Certain FleetBroadband services are not available in areas with low
elevation. For further information, see Limitations on page 16.
12The Inmarsat BGAN system
Chapter 1: Introduction
Overview of the BGAN FleetBroadband system
A complete BGAN FleetBroadband system may include the TracPhone terminal
with connected peripherals, a TracPhone FB500 antenna or a
TracPhone FB250 antenna, the BGAN satellite, and the Satellite Access Station
(SAS). The satellites are the connection between your terminal and the SAS,
which is the gateway to the worldwide networks (Internet, telephone network,
cellular network, etc.).
Packet Switched Network
Introduction
TracPhone FB250
antenna
IP Handset
Satellite
TracPhone
FleetBroadband
terminal
TracPhone FB500
antenna
IP Router
Satellite Access Station
(SAS)
Switch
PC
Standard voice
and ISDN
Circuit Switched Network
The Inmarsat BGAN system13
Chapter 1: Introduction
The BGAN services
Supported services
The services currently supported by BGAN comprise:
•A Packet Switched connection to the Internet
•A Circuit Switched (Dialed) connection for voice, fax or data
•Short Messaging Service (SMS)
Packet data service
The BGAN network supports different classes of data connection to the
Internet.
•Using a Standard data connection several users can share the data
connection simultaneously. This type of connection is ideal for e-mail, file
transfer, and Internet and intranet access. The user pays for the amount of
data sent and received.
•Using a Streaming data connection you get an exclusive high-priority
connection ensuring seamless transfer of data. This type of connection is
ideal for time critical applications like live video over IP. The user pays for
the duration of the connection (per minute charge).
Note
14The Inmarsat BGAN system
The BGAN system supports maximum 11 concurrent PS connections
at a time per TracPhone system.
Chapter 1: Introduction
Circuit switched (dialed) service
The following types of circuit switched connection are available:
•Standard Voice. A low-tariff connection for voice only. The voice signal is
compressed to 4.0 kbps, which reduces the bandwidth use and
consequently the tariff.
•3.1 kHz Audio. A high quality connection which can be used for Premium
Voice, G3 fax or analog modems. The signal is uncompressed 3.1 kHz
audio, which allows for optimum voice quality.
•ISDN. A high quality connection which can be used for voice (3.1 kHz
Audio), G4 fax or 64 kbps UDI/RDI data.
Introduction
Note
The BGAN system only supports one CS call at a time per TracPhone
system.
SMS service
The BGAN system provides a Short Messaging Service (SMS) for sending and
receiving SMS messages.
Supplementary services
The BGAN system also provides the following supplementary services:
•Call hold
•Call waiting
•Call forwarding
•Voice mail
•Call barring
The Inmarsat BGAN system15
Chapter 1: Introduction
Limitations
SIM lock
The supplier may SIM lock the terminal to a specific provider. For further
information, contact your supplier.
Limitations in available services
The services available depend on your airtime subscription. Your SIM card
may not allow for all the services described in this manual.
Further, for FleetBroadband Class 9 (TracPhone FB250), the following
limitations apply: