Maritime Satellite Internet Communication: Antennae Size Does Matter

Maritime Satellite Internet service appears to be becoming more and more popular these days. There is a growing demand for more bandwidth at sea in the maritime industry. Today, maritime industry professionals and customers both want Internet communications that are comparable to the communication data speed while on shore. One of the most important parts of the maritime satellite internet connection is a stabilized antenna. This antenna accurately tracks a satellite, regardless of the motion of the ship it is mounted on.

Antenna Size Does Matter

When it comes to antenna size in the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT)communication world, the rule of thumb is: the bigger the size of antennae, the better the communication. The diameter of the parabolic dish is considered as antennae size and not the radome which protects the antenna from weather conditions. Bigger size antennae will allow you to have better signal reception and connection could cost you less than with a smaller antenna.

Antenna has transmitter called BUC (Block Up Converter) that takes the signal from modem and transmit it to the satellite. This signal transmission speed is proportional to thesize of the antenna. For instance, 8W BUCs are considered standard size for medium speed internet connectivity while 16W BUCs are recommended if you want higher transmission speeds. Marine satellite antennas work on the principle of radio wavelengths, so antennas come in 4 common sizes including:

• Shortened Antennas – with size up to 50cms
• Dipole Antennas – with length approx. 1metre
• Collinear Gain Antennas – with length approx. 2.5metres
• Collinear High-Gain Antennas – with size approx. 5metres+

Antenna Size and Gain

Antenna Gain refers to the increase in signal strength with the manipulation of the transmitted signal pattern. Antenna Gain is linked to antenna size - the longer the antenna, the higher the gain. When the antenna gain is higher, the signal gets flatter to the horizon, thus giving you a good range. So, it is vital that antenna gain is carefully selected by checking the length of the antenna while purchasing them.

Larger Antenna, Greater Coverage

Antenna size is really important as far as coverage area is concerned. With larger antenna you get better coverage. When you buy and install larger antennas on your marine vehicle, you can use the services of a number of maritime internet service providers as only few providers cater for small antennas.

Conclusion

Remember size does matter when it comes to antenna in maritime satellite internet connection. In this case, “Bigger is better.” So, next time when you are thinking of installing new antenna on your marine vessel, do check out the size of your antenna if you wish to get better connection, good reception, more coverage and higher gain.