Furuno INMARSAT-C MOBILE EARTH STATION FELCOM 12 - Manual (Page 17)

5
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:
¡SafetyNET TM -governments and maritime authorities can use this
service to distribute maritime safety information to ships within
selected areas.
¡FleetNET TM -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.