Thrane&Thrane EXPLORER 700 Getting Started Manual

BGAN solutions guide

Getting started
with the
EXPLORER

®

700

Version 01

20.04.07

www.inmarsat.com/bgan

Whilst the information has been prepared by In marsat in good faith, and all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure its accuracy, Inmarsat makes no warranty or
representation as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for purpose or use of the information. Inmarsat shall not be liable for any loss or dam age of any kind, including
indirect or consequential loss, arising from use of the information and all warranties and conditions, whether express or implied by statute, common law or otherwise, are
hereby excluded to the extent permitted by English law. INMARSAT is a trademark of the International Mobile Satellite Organisation, Inmarsat LOGO is a trademark of
Inmarsat (IP) Company Limited. Both trademarks are licensed to Inmarsat Global Limited. © Inmarsat Global Limited 2006. All rights reserved.

2/35 Getting Started with the EXPLORER 700

Contents

1.0. Introduction 3

1.1. About this guide 3

1.2. Other sources of information 3

1.3. Upgrading software 3

2.0.

Introducing the terminal 4

2.1. Physical characteristics 4

2.2. Interfaces 4

2.3. Services 4

3.0.

Setting up the terminal 5

3.1. Installing BGAN LaunchPad 6

3.2. Installing the SIM card and battery 6

3.3. Connecting the cables 8

3.4. Obtaining a GPS fix 9

3.5. Connecting the terminal to your computer 11

3.6. Registering with the network 14

4.0.

Making voice, data and text connections 17

4.1. Making an analogue handset or fax connection 18

4.2. Making an IP Data Connection 19

4.3. Making a wireless LAN connection 27

4.4. Making a Bluetooth connection 30

4.5. Making an ISDN data connection 33

4.6. Sending or receiving a text message 34

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1.0. Introduction

1.1. About this guide

This document introduces the EXPLORER 700 terminal, and explains how to set up the terminal for
use on the BGAN network, register with the network, and set up data, voice and text connections.

It is intended for first time end-users, Distribution Partners, Service Providers and anyone who
wants to use a BGAN terminal to connect to the BGAN network and use network services. A
previous knowledge of satellite communications is useful, but not essential.

The sections include:

• Introducing the terminal – a brief overview of the physical features and interfaces of the

terminal, and of the available services.

• Setting up the terminal – includes installing the battery and SIM card, connecting to a

computer and registering with the network

• Making voice, data and text connections – an explanation of how to make a voice call, how

to make IP data connections or an ISDN data connection, how to set up and open
Bluetooth and WLAN connections, and how to send and receive a text message.

1.2. Other sources of information

• This is one of a series of PDF documents in the BGAN Solutions Guide. The Solutions

Guide is designed to help you make the most of your BGAN terminal. Other documents in
the series are available for download from www.inmarsat.com/bgan. Click on BGAN
support, then click on How to guides.

This Web site also gives further information on the BGAN service, including Industry
solutions.

• For help in using BGAN LaunchPad, refer to “BGAN LaunchPad Help”, available from

within BGAN LaunchPad by clicking Help > LaunchPad Help.

• For further information on the EXPLORER 700 terminal, refer to the “EXPLORER 700

User Manual”, supplied in PDF format on the Thrane & Thrane CD.

1.3. Upgrading software

• To download the latest USB drivers and BGAN LaunchPad software, go to

www.inmarsat.com/bgan-updates.

• To obtain the latest terminal firmware, contact your distributor.

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2.0. Introducing the terminal

This section introduces the physical characteristics, interfaces and services available on the Thrane &
Thrane EXPLORER

TM

700 (called the EXPLORER 700 in the rest of this document).

2.1. Physical characteristics

Item Specification

Manufacturer

Thrane & Thrane

Physical dimensions

Approx. 297 mm x 399 mm x 52 mm
(11.7 in. x 15.7in. x 2in.)

Weight (including battery)

3.2 kg (7 lbs)

External power

100-240 Volts AC (47-63Hz)

Battery life

Transmit: 1.5hrs at 492kbps
Stand-by time: 36hrs

Ingress protection IP 52 – transceiver

IP66 – antenna

2.2. Interfaces

Interface Equipment needed

2 x RJ45, Auto cross-over
MDI/MDI-X
(IEEE 802.3 10/100BASE-T)

IP data device, LAN-enabled

USB v1.1 IP data device, USB-enabled

2 x Phone/fax RJ11 RJ11 handset, G3 fax machine

2 x ISDN RJ45 RJ45 handset, ISDN data device

WLAN Access Point
(IEEE 802.11 a/b/g)

IP data device, wireless-enabled

Bluetooth v1.2 Bluetooth handset, headset or Bluetooth data device

2.3. Services

Services Specification

Standard IP data

Up to 492kbps (send and receive)

Streaming IP data 32kbps, 64kbps, 128kbps, 256kbps (Multiple

streaming sessions simultaneously)

Phone/fax Standard (4kbps) or Premium (3.1kHz)

ISDN data UDI/RDI (64kbps)

Text To other BGAN terminals or cellular mobile phones.

From other BGAN terminals, and some mobile
phones, depending on service provider.

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3.0. Setting up the terminal

This section explains how to set up the EXPLORER 700 terminal and connect to the BGAN
network. The steps described are:

1. Installing BGAN LaunchPad on your computer.

2. Installing the SIM card and battery.

3. Obtaining power and charge the battery.

4. Obtaining a GPS fix.

5. Connecting the terminal to your computer. Inmarsat recommends that when first setting

up you use either:

• the LAN interface, or

• the USB interface.

If you use USB, you must first install the supplied drivers.

6. Pointing the terminal and register with the BGAN network.

Pre-requisites

Before you start, make sure that you have:

• The BGAN terminal.

• The rechargeable battery, supplied with the terminal.

• A USIM card, supplied by your Service Provider.

• The Ethernet cable supplied with the terminal, or the USB cable mounted with a Mini-B

connector supplied with the terminal, depending on how you want to connect the terminal
to your computer.

• The BGAN LaunchPad installation CD, supplied with the terminal. Make sure that the PC

or Mac has the minimum system requirements for BGAN LaunchPad (refer to page 5 for
details).

• The USB drivers supplied on your installation CD, if you intend to connect to your

computer using USB.

• An RJ11 handset or G3 fax machine if you intend to use the Phone/fax interface.

• An RJ45 handset or ISDN data device if you intend to use the ISDN interface.

• A Bluetooth-enabled computer, with a supported profile, if you intend to connect using

Bluetooth.

• A wireless router or wireless-enabled computer, if you intend to use a wireless connection.

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3.1. Installing BGAN LaunchPad

To install BGAN LaunchPad on your computer:

1. Insert the BGAN LaunchPad Installation CD into your computer's CD-ROM drive.

2. Follow the on-screen instructions.

3.2. Installing the SIM card and battery

To get the terminal ready for connection:

1. The EXPLORER 700 has a transport latch, securing the antenna and receiver during

transport. Open the latch as shown below:

Minimum system requirements for BGAN LaunchPad

The following are the minimum hardware and software requirements for using BGAN
LaunchPad to manage the EXPLORER 700 on your computer.

Hardware requirements

You must have the following on your computer:

• Support for at least one of these interfaces – USB, LAN, WLAN, ISDN or Bluetooth.

• Intel Pentium III CPU, or equivalent.

• 100Mb of free hard disk space.

• 128Mb of RAM.

• CD-ROM drive.

Operating systems

You must have one of the following operating systems on your computer:

• Microsoft Windows 2000 with SP4.

• Microsoft Windows XP with SP2.

• Linux Red Hat 9 - KDE 3.1.10 (Kernel Version 20.4.20-8).

• Mac 10.x

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2. Flip up the antenna module and access the keypad and connectors as shown below:

NOTE: If required, you can detach the transceiver from the antenna, and use
both components separately. Refer to the EXPLORER 700 User Manual for
details.

3. Use a pen or similar object to press the eject button at the SIM slot marked USIM#1, and

release the SIM card holder. The SIM card holder is a small plastic frame designed to hold
the SIM card.

4. Place the SIM card into the SIM card holder, with the printed side visible.

5. Insert the holder containing the SIM card into the SIM slot marked USIM#1. Position the

holder with the printed side facing down.

6. Press gently until it snaps into place.

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7. Make sure the battery is positioned correctly as shown below:

8. Press gently until it snaps.

3.3. Connecting the cables

After inserting SIM card and battery, connect all relevant cables.

Connecting the antenna to the transceiver

The EXPLORER 700 has two connectors for connecting the antenna to the transceiver. Note the
following:

• If you are going to use the antenna and transceiver attached as one unit, use the short

antenna cable provided with your EXPLORER 700.

• If you are going to use the antenna separated from the transceiver, use an antenna cable

supplied by Thrane & Thrane (or a cable with similar specifications). For information on
available lengths refer to the EXPLORER 700 User Manual.

To connect the antenna, do the following:

1. Connect the antenna cable to the connector on the antenna module, as shown below:

2. Connect the other end of the cable to the antenna connector on the transceiver:

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IMPORTANT: If you are using the transceiver with the antenna attached, connect the
cables before making final adjustments to the antenna position. Otherwise, you may
accidentally move the antenna when you connect the cables.

Connecting to the power supply

To power on the terminal using the power adapter, with the terminal switched off:

1. Connect the AC/DC power supply to the DC power input of the EXPLORER 700.

2. Use the power cable to connect the AC/DC adapter to any AC power outlet between 100

and 240 VAC.

NOTE: The battery charges automatically whenever the terminal is connected to the

power source.

NOTE: To ensure accurate information on battery capacity, Thrane & Thrane

recommends that you fully charge, then fully discharge the battery (until the terminal
closes down automatically), and finally charge the battery again before using the
terminal for the first time.
The terminal can be used during the discharging process, but the remaining battery
capacity may not be displayed accurately in the BGAN LaunchPad status bar.

3.4. Obtaining a GPS fix

NOTE: You must install a SIM card before you can obtain a GPS fix.

The BGAN network requires a valid GPS fix to successfully register your BGAN terminal.

1. Take the EXPLORER 700 outside, open the stand so that the terminal antenna is facing

upwards, and place the unit on a flat surface with an open view of the sky.

2. Switch the unit on using the power button on the left of the display. The EXPLORER 700

automatically searches for a GPS fix when first powered on.

3. You may be prompted to enter a PIN code. Press C to cancel the PIN code prompt, (you

do not need to enter a PIN code to obtain a GPS fix).

4. Leave the terminal to acquire a GPS fix. This may take a few minutes. To check the

terminal’s GPS status, enter the PROPERTIES > GPS STATUS menu on the terminal’s
display panel.

• If the terminal has a GPS fix, and the position can be displayed, the position is shown in

the display, in the format shown below:

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• If the terminal has a GPS fix, but the position cannot be displayed the word

ACQUIRED is displayed. The position may not be displayed because it is not
permitted in this location, or because the terminal is not yet registered on the BGAN
network. However, you can still use your terminal even if you cannot view the GPS fix
location.

• If the terminal does not have a GPS fix, the display shows almanac data, which is a

series of vertical bars giving the status of 16 GPS satellites.

About GPS

The Global Positioning System (GPS) uses 24 orbital satellites to fix the position of the terminal
anywhere on the globe.

• In normal operation, a GPS receiver, such as that built in to the Terminal, needs to be able

to receive signals from at least three satellites so that it can then calculate latitude, a
longitude and an altitude – this position fix is referred to as a 3-dimensional or 3-D fix. If
only two GPS satellites can be seen by the GPS receiver, then the last available altitude
measurement is assumed and the GPS receiver calculates a position fix based on latitude
and longitude only. This simpler position fix is referred to as a 2-dimensional or 2-D fix
and is quicker and easier to obtain than a 3-D fix, but may be less accurate.

NOTE: You can register with the BGAN network with a 2-D or a 3-D fix.

• The GPS receiver may take between a few seconds and 20 minutes to obtain a GPS fix,

depending on how frequently the GPS receiver is being used. The frequency of use
determines the how quickly the GPS Terminal is able to start.

o Hot start - if the GPS receiver is being used frequently, (that is, at least every two to

six hours), it is regularly updated with data from the GPS satellites, and so only takes
a short time to obtain a GPS fix after being switched on.

o Warm start - if a GPS receiver has not been used for more than six hours, then it

will take longer to obtain a GPS fix, perhaps up to 45 seconds.

o Cold start - if the GPS receiver has not been used for some time or is 300 km or

more from where it was last used, it can take between 10 and 20 minutes to obtain a
valid position fix.

• Following successful registration and providing the Terminal is left switched on and

remains stationary, the GPS is no longer needed. Periodically, the BGAN terminal contacts
the BGAN network to inform the network that it is still switched on. In addition, the
BGAN network periodically checks each terminal for activity, and if there has been no
traffic through the terminal, and the terminal has not automatically contacted the BGAN
network as described above, then the terminal will be de-registered from the network.

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3.5. Connecting the terminal to your computer

When you first connect the terminal to your computer, Inmarsat recommends that you use either
the LAN or USB interface.

TIP: USB can operate over a distance of up to 5m with standard cables. Ethernet can

operate over a distance of up to 100m with standard Ethernet cables.

Connecting over LAN

NOTE: For the LAN interface to work without any further setup, your computer must

be configured to obtain an IP address and DNS server address automatically. To check
that these settings are configured on your computer, refer to the documentation for
your operating system.

To connect the BGAN terminal to your computer using Ethernet:

1. Connect the LAN cable to the LAN port of your computer. A suitable cable is provided

with the EXPLORER 700.

2. Connect the other end of the cable to one of the LAN ports on the EXPLORER 700, as

shown below. A message confirming the connection is displayed.

TIP: Some corporate computers are configured with a static IP address. If your

computer has a static IP address, you must go into the IP Properties option, and
change your computers settings to obtain an IP address automatically.
This is only necessary the first time you connect. You can then change the IP settings to
use a static IP address, if required.