These are Quest's most frequently asked questions about mobile satellite telecommuniations.  If the answer to your question is not found here contact Quest for additional help.

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Q.    What is the smallest size vessel that can be fitted with satellite            communications (satcoms) ?
A.    Today, practically any size, as antennas the size of grapefruit and weighing 5 pounds or         less are available.  A circumnavigating rowboat has been fitted.

Q.    Can satellite communications be used in lieu of maritime VHF and MF/HF         (SSB) radio?
A.    No.  satcoms are supplemental.  National and International regulations require VHF for         inter coastal waterway/bridge to bridge communications and and/or MF/HF radio for         ship to ship and coastal communications of greater distances.

Q.    For what purposes are satcoms on vessels used?
A.    For safety at sea purposes and business office communications.  There are no other         comparable maritime communication systems that provide the ease of telephone         operation or safety at sea alerting under all weather and sea conditions.  For this reason         Inmarsat A, B, and C satcoms meet the stringent IMO requirements for GMDSS for         vessels over 300 tons.

Q.    Can a land portable satcom be used on a vessel?
A.    Land portable satcoms are not recommend for mobile use as their antennas do not track         and compensate for the vessels variable axis movement.  However under calm         conditions when the vessel is not underway, or at anchor, a portable certainly can be         used effectively.

Q.    What is the smallest land portable currently available?
A.    The smallest all metal portable is 5.25 pounds with battery and hand-set, and is 10.5 x         7.75 x 2 inches in its overall dimensions.

Q.    What is the battery life of the typical small land portable?
A.    Internal battery life typically is 2.5 hours of talk time, two days standby.  However         special external batteries are available that will extend this time considerably.

Q.    Can I access the Internet with mobile and portable satellite systems?
A.    It is possible to access the Internet for full Internet services using Inmarsat "B" at        9.6Kbit/s and 64Kbit/s HSD.  However the systems for vessels under 150 feet and        portables, operate at digital speeds that generally only allow text and e-mail access.

Q.    Am I required to have a license to operate a satellite telephone?
A.    This is a complicated question as various countries have different licensing requirements         for residents and non-residents.  For Instance in the United States Inmarsat land mobile         use is not authorized but Msat regional use is (this is expected to change when Inmarsat         is privatized in 1999).  Contact Quest with specific country for operation and we will         advise you of licensing requirement and contacts.

Q.    Should I wait for the handheld LEO systems to become available?
A.    Certainly if your requirement is is not immediate it would be reasonable to wait and see         if the handheld would serve your global purpose needs.  However don't assume that the         cost will be less expensive by a large margin than the portables now available.  If your         concern is safety at sea, no hand-held is being designed that will provide the safety at         sea features of Inmarsat C.

Q.    Are there satcom systems available for general aviation use?
A.    There are satcoms for commercial airline and business aircraft use and are type               approved for various aircraft in these classes.  They are available for ATC and ground         to air/air to ground crew communications and passenger to ground communications.          These systems are generally beyond justifiable economic use by general aviation         recreational and small business users.  However the portable systems are in use by bush         pilots for ground communications from remote areas, for flight operations, flight         planning, passenger communications, forest fire and search and rescue coordination.