Winter 2011
Where Telecoms & Energy Connect
Quarterly OffComm News ~ Winter 2011
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OffComm News ~ Winter 2011
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Winter 2011
In Print. Online. Offshore. Editor’s Introduction A huge welcome to the very first issue of OffComm News. I sincerely hope that it will be the first of many. What a journey it’s been to get here! At the beginning of the summer ~ after much deliberation ~ it was decided to take the plunge and launch the magazine. Why, especially in the middle of a global recession? You might well ask. The answer is simple: Because there is an uprising in our midst. Even as we all struggle to inch away from one of the biggest economical black holes we’ve experienced in decades, businesses still need to do business and people still need to communicate ~ perhaps now more than ever before due to a survival instinct. In this first edition, we not only take a look at some of the most fantastic innovation of our time, we take a moment to listen to the communications needs of those that risk their lives to power ours. As communication abilities get smarter, as convergence never ceases to amaze me, there seems to be a real opportunity to report on how this technology is reaching some of the remotest places on our planet; connecting operational critical missions (as well as the people based in these harsh environments) with the rest of the world in a way that most of us take for granted. There is another, very valuable reason. Connectivity limitations have a direct impact on an operator’s bottom line. Constant churn of personnel is expensive. So how can CSPs help the energy companies keep valued workers for longer and attract younger ones as the experienced generations move on? On pages 10 and 11 you’ll find some thoughtful insight on this subject. I hope you enjoy this issue.
Georgina Elrington Editor@OffCommNews.com
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Main Contents Page 4—5 The Quarterly News round up from the last quarter for your easy and continual reference. Page 6 Interactivity For sub sea fibre everywhere Page 8 Maintaining and Entertaining Mark Lewis, managing director at Freedom Digital Networks (FDN), provides some insight to the mission critical connectivity possibilities opening up for offshore productions ~ such as ROV and conditioned based maintenance ~ and their operative crews. Page 9 Diary Dates Where Telecoms and Energy Connect Page 10 Offshore—But Off Limits? The offshore workforce voice their need for connectivity when away from home. Page 11 Analyst Opinion Telesperience’s Therese Cottam comments on the opportunities for remote communications in sub user groups ~ and how CSPs are missing a trick or two.
Page 13 How to Subscribe Page 14 Doing it for the Crew: Vizada brings in the Crew PC Page 16 Case Studies A tale of DIY broadband in rural Australia and how ROV operators are benefiting from remote comms thanks to FDN.
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The Quarterly OffComm News Round Up
Scisys Plc : SciSys Improves Oil and Gas Operations Using Space Software With the help of European Space Agency (ESA), UK technology firm SciSys has recently completed a successful programme with Schlumberger to see if routine parts of the drilling business can be automated using software adapted from satellite control. “ C o mp ar e d to deep- space missions, telecommunication satellites are relatively straightforward to control,” says SciSys sales manager Chris Lee, “but there are a lot of tasks that must be regularly uploaded from the satellite control centre. While SciSys’ automation procedures have been used on dozens of satellites, it turns out that many tasks on an oil rig lend themselves to the sort of automation that works on satellites. By installing automation software, drill operators would be able to focus on key actions that require human decision-making and leave the repetitive tasks to the computer. So far, the software has been tested in a number of trials to prove the concept, including a live trial on an oil rig. Naturally, the industry is cautious about using such technologies until they have been proven both safe and reliable. SciSys is preparing an updated version of its system to go through a second round of tests later this year.
Keppel FELS Wins Order for Safin’s First KFELS B Class Jackup Rig Worth US$199m Scheduled to be delivered to Safin in 3Q 2012, the rig will be a refurbishment and upgrade of a KFELS B Class jack-up rig that Keppel FELS purchased earlier this year. The rig will be installed with offline stand building features. It will be able to accommodate up to 150 personnel. Mr Wong Kok Seng, managing director of Keppel FELS said, "With the refurbishment and upgrade of this jackup, we are able to provide a highspecification rig on a fast-tracked schedule. Such jack ups are in high demand, especially for those scheduled for delivery in 2012.
OffComm News ~ Winter 2011
The Headland Private Equity Fund 6 L.P. has acquired a 26.45% equity shareholding in Miclyn Express Offshore Ltd. for US$141 million. MEO is one of the largest providers of offshore vessels to the oil and gas industry in Southeast Asia, Australia and the Middle East with a fleet of over 120 vessels comprising Offshore Support Vessels, Crew/Utility Vessels (Crew boats), tugs, barges and coastal survey vessels.
A Rugged Toughbook for Rugged Environments from Panasonic The CF-D1 has been designed with and for technicians performing diagnostics on engines, automobiles, trucks and machines in the workshop and field environments. With a 320GB hard drive, the CF-D1 is equipped to handle today’s intensive diagnostic applications. It can also stand-up to the knocks, falls, liquids, dust and extreme temperatures of workshops and outdoor environments. Technicians can run real-time diagnostic programmes, read telematic data and view schematics and designs on the 13.3” widescreen HD LED display. The resistive touch screen allows for easy data input using fingers, gloves or a pen. The screen has been built for clarity both inside the workshop and for use outside in bright sunlight. There is an optional outdoor display that uses a circular polarizer and anti-reflective coating. Security features ensure that the device meets the highest data protection security requirements, as well as a range of other options. Weighing approx. 2.25kg the Toughbook can be carried by the handle; held in one hand for data input using the hand strap; as a stand-alone alongside technicians on extendable legs; or in a docking cradle. Available from November 2011 starting at £1827+VAT.
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The Quarterly OffComm News Round Up
Major Operators in Decommissioning Talks Operators including Shell, BP, Talisman, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips and Chevron are meeting to discuss the latest decommissioning challenges in the North Sea. They know that preparation now is vital in this £24-30billion industry. With mature fields becoming less economically viable, the North Sea decommissioning industry will witness 120 installations being decommissioned in the southern North Sea alone over the next decade - some 10 to 15 fields per annum. This makes the next two years the most important for operators to prepare for greater competition within the supply chain and for service providers to formulate contract-winning business plans.
China’s Largest Offshore Oil & Gas Producer Chooses Radwin for Offshore Oil Platform Connectivity The China National Offshore Oil Corporation ~ the largest offshore oil and gas producer in China ~ is using Radwin’s high-capacity Point-to-Point systems to connect corporate offices to offshore oil platforms located 86km apart. A manager in the Communications Department of China National Offshore Oil Corporation stated: "We looked for a solution that would allow us to extend communications from our offices on land to our offshore oil platforms in the sea. The VSAT links we were using provided low bandwidth and didn't satisfy the requirements of our growing network data services. After an intensive evaluation process we chose Radwin’s links because they were the only systems capable of delivering high capacity over tens of kilometres. Today we couldn't be happier; Radwin’s systems operate in high humidity conditions, over water and even in situations where there is no direct line-of-sight."
Communications and IT Solutions at Offshore Communications Exposition Cutting-edge products and services from more than 75 companies will be showcased before the oil and gas professionals in attendance. Offshore Communications showcases unique products, services, applications and technologies for the communications and IT needs in the rugged offshore drilling environment.
For more news, as it happens, visit the website at
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IsatPhone Link Brings Voice Service to Fixed Locations Supporting both single and multi-user capability, the service is aimed at sectors that typically operate in remote areas which are not served by terrestrial networks including: oil & gas, mining and construction as well as utilities and aid agencies. The global fixed satellite phone service is based on the IsatPhone Pro handheld phone. The IsatPhone Link will offer the same voice capabilities, as well as email and low-speed data services, in a fixed installation. For remote communities, IsatPhone Link can be deployed as a pay-phone. IsatPhone Link also offers voicemail, text and email. Circuit-switched data provides low-speed data access up to an effective 20kbps. Free texts and emails can be sent to an IsatPhone Link through the Inmarsat website. Inmarsat partnered with Beam Communications to launch two IsatPhone Link products.
OffComm News ~ Winter 2011
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Interactive Submarine Cable Map
TeleGeography’s (www.telegeography.com) submarine cable map is an interactive tool that shows you the location of various undersea cables. It is based on the company’s Global Bandwidth research ~ a comprehensive and authoritative source of data and analysis for long-haul networks and the undersea cable market.
Updated regularly, the map depicts 188 active and planned submarine cable systems and their landing stations. Selecting a cable route on the map provides access to data about the cable, including the cable’s name, ready-for-service (RFS) date, length, owners, website and landing points. The cables shown include international and US domestic submarine cables with a maximum upgradeable capacity of at least 5 Gbps. The interactive submarine cable map can be fully appreciated online at www.submarinecablemap.com
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For telecoms, oil and gas companies, offshore installation managers, communications specialists and IT departments, OffComm News is the only magazine to provide such essential quarterly insight and reference material for the remote communications industry ~ globally.
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Connecting operational critical missions and the people based in these harsh environments. OffComm News is a trade focussed magazine covering a dv a nc em en t s i n communications for remote energy sites worldwide.
OffComm News ~ Winter 2011
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Maintaining & Entertaining Mark Lewis, managing director at Freedom Digital Networks (FDN), provides some insight to the mission critical connectivity possibilities opening up for offshore productions ~ such as ROV and conditioned based maintenance ~ and their operative crews.
With the cost and speed of vSat feeds greatly improved over recent months, offshore platforms and vessels have access to suitable connectivity. However, one of the greatest challenges for the marine industry is in adapting to new and ever changing technologies. Difficulties lie in implementation, infrastructure, the associated costs and the downtime involved in running cables to relevant areas. A technology called Power Line Communications (PLC) has been designed to bypass the need for any new cabling or major work to onboard structures requiring watertight / fireproof integrity. It means that marine vessels and offshore platforms are increasingly able to distribute a signal and provide services such as: internet access, VoIP telephony, IPTV, Video on Demand, room management and control PA and AV systems, CCTV, ROV control, conditioned based maintenance, asset management ~ and many more, throughout all areas, all enabled at the same time over one network. This kind of solution could solve another, high-cost area: staff retention. The need to constantly train recruits can have huge implications on productivity, delivery costs and morale.
The boredom factor has also been cited as a key area affecting the lifecycle of offshore workers. Lack of entertainment and access to the outside world while onboard vessels and offshore platforms leaves staff feeling isolated and unable to benefit positively from available rest periods. Access to broadband service; such as the internet, VoIP telephony and webcams, are often not provided ~ or are only available in a communal area, thereby limiting availability and privacy. FDN are currently in negotiation with a number of leading universities to create remote study and exam packages that can be carried out via specially designed, secure, low bandwidth webcam systems. The aim being to allow offshore operators the ability to provide their personnel with a portfolio of marine and non-marine based study options to help them feel valued and keep them motivated. In the meantime, with a PLC network, crew onboard can catch up on emails, connect with home and attend to personal finances over a private internet connection in the comfort of their own cabin, on their own device.
Freedom Digital Networks (FDN) specialises in designing and deploying high speed data networks that can run over existing electrical infrastructure helping to reduce the costs and disruption that can be associated with alternative new cable installations or wireless based solutions. For further information: www.freedomdigitalnetworks.com enquiries@freedomdigitalnetworks.com Tel: 0044 845 519 2164
OffComm News ~ Winter 2011
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Diary Dates October 25 – 27 2011 LAGCOE Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition Lafayette Cajundome & Convention Center, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA www.lagcoe.com One of the two largest petroleum industry conferences in the nation, attracting international attention. The products and services showcased represent a path to solution for our industry’s technical and operational hurdles. LAGCOE Technical Sessions are designed to highlight current issues and trends and they facilitate useful information exchange among technical and operational savvy personnel.
November 8 – 10 Conference November 9 – 10 Exposition Houston Marriott Westchase Houston TX, USA www.offshorecomms.com The Offshore Communications Conference and Exposition is the premier event providing communications solutions for the offshore and remote inland oil and gas community. The event will attract more than 1,000 delegates and features more than 75 exhibiting companies plus a full conference program led by oil and gas communications experts and innovators that examine today’s communications challenges and takes a look at the new technologies on the horizon.
November 15-16 2011 8th Annual North Sea Decommissioning Conference Ardoe House Hotel Aberdeen, Scotland www.decomworld.com Jack Shillito jshillito@eyeforenergy.com +44 (0)207 375 7598 OffComm News is a proud media partner for Decomworld2011. To celebrate our launch issue and this media partnership, a special discount code is available to readers of OffComm News.
Where Technology & Energy Connect January 11 – 12 2012 SCADA Asia 2012 Intercontinental Grand Standford Hong Kong enquiry@iqpc.com.sg www.scadasummit.com +65 6722 9388 SCADA Asia 2012 will focus on the latest trends, challenges and opportunities for SCADA systems from across the region. It will touch on all aspects relating to SCADA, showcasing practical case studies from the following countries: Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and India. Join in the conversation with a panel of industry experts who personally understood the challenges that you are facing.
February 15-18 2012 MTB, Oil & Gas, 2012 Dubai Samantha Glover mtb@coplandevents.com +44(0)1276 682898 Meet the Buyer is a programme of 1-to-1 appointments between project managers, contractors, engineers, technical purchasing managers and individuals responsible for purchasing within oil and gas companies together with supplier companies who offer some of the following services: electrical systems, environmental testing, instrumentation, fuels & lubricants, engineering, fabricators, hydraulic systems, maintenance & repair and much more.
March 14 2012 EIC Connect LNG 2012 Wembley Stadium, London, UK www.eic-connect.co.uk A series of open access workshops are hosted by the world’s leading LNG operators, carriers EPC contractors, all independently presenting their project plans and buying policies to companies who want to work with them on FLNG carriers, liquefaction trains and export terminals around the world. Each company takes an hourly session to an audience of around 100 with Q & A afterwards and the opportunity for suppliers to meet the procurement and project teams. To keep the event targeted and focused for both buyers and exhibitors, companies that supply goods and services into energy projects are first offered stand space, which is limited to 40 at each event.
Events for quality global networking & real live innovation OffComm News ~ Winter 2011
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Offshore – Off limits? Survey reveals provider opportunities from within sub user groups ~ on offshore installations
It’s a dirty job but someone’s got to do it. Thankfully, there are offshore workers on rigs around the world who suit up, chopper out and spend weeks working 12 hour shifts day in day out to get the energy resources from the ground. Frequently, their work requires them to be on duty 12 hours a day for 14 days at a time. Many others work away from home in remote places for weeks ~ sometimes months ~ on end.
P la tfo rm p rov ision fo r rec reat iona l communication can vary vastly. Much depends on location, accessibility and purpose of each installation. Some are better equipped than others which can be due to, amongst other factors, the purpose of the rig, location, age, bandwidth availability, security and costs involved for supplying additional connectivity for recreational use onboard. Some rigs are fully comms’d up, enabling those working offshore to keep in touch with friends, family; and attend to the business of life via online banking, shopping and using Skype etc. However, some are lacking in even the most basic facilities. A recently survey analysis reveals some insight. Answered by offshore workers, many from the UK, almost 90 percent of the respondents said that having a more accessible internet connection onboard would help them manage life and finances while away such as: internet banking, arranging car tax and insurances, booking holidays, online shopping, etc. The majority of respondents said that were able to access telephones and internet facilities less than a quarter or half the time they wanted to while offshore. Under 10 percent said that they were ‘always’ able to get access.
Better Access & Facilities Would Alter Morale Interestingly, almost 90 percent of those who responded said that wireless internet accessible 24/7 would alter moral and the working environment in a positive way. When asked what other communications functions would be, respondents answered with comments including: Internet access 24/7 Privacy for computer use More telephone access Accessible computer stations More opportunities for infotainment Employer funded options (for comms)
Workers offshore say: “I've worked in Norway, UK and US offshore, the best I’ve found is Norway StatOil, Wired or wireless in cabins, the majority of the cabins are single person room if in a twin the shift pattern allows you to have full privacy.”
OffComm News ~ Winter 2011
“I’m on a new flotel now, in Canada, with unlimited access. Cable hookup in the rooms for laptops, phone in your room for calling and an internet cafe. It’s not that difficult to set up and makes life so much easier. My wife loves seeing me on the webcam at work.”
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The Analyst’s Opinion A Captive Audience of Hidden Customers CSPs still missing opportunities in oil and gas industries By failing to understand the needs of end users, communications service providers (CSPs) are missing huge opportunities in the oil and gas industries according to Telesperience’s Research Director Teresa Cottam. We’ve all seen the graphs – data traffic up, revenues flat or falling, creating a so-called “revenue gap” that requires CSPs to find new sources of revenue and monetise usage more effectively. Yet, as is often the case, at least part of the answer is staring them in the face. Some of the easiest revenues for CSPs to grab today are from providing services to make business customers more effective and more successful, and a great example of this lies in CSPs’ approaches to supplying products to the oil and gas industries.
Typically, CSPs have supplied communications services on a wholesale basis to oil and gas firms. However, the industry’s requirements and the expectations of its workers have changed substantially in the last few years.
CSPs are missing out on nested business opportunities which, while less obvious, are potentially highly lucrative.
Like other companies they now require ubiquitous connectivity across their operations, a high level of QoS (backed by SLAs), and much greater bandwidth. Unlike most other companies, they also require all of this to connect some of the most hostile and remote locations on earth, and they require it to be combined with a very high level of security. This may not be a revelation, but many CSPs are still not effectively maximising even this opportunity. Worse still, they’re missing the nested business opportunities which, while less obvious, are potentially highly lucrative. One of the biggest pressures on the oil and gas industries today is actually the shortage of skilled workers. The workforce is aging rapidly and the industry is failing to attract sufficient young people to careers in petroleum engineering and geology. This is why the ability to recruit and retain skilled employees is now more important for the industry than ever before. But just as corporate expectations of connectivity and communication are rapidly evolving, so are the expectations of these workers. Being out of touch with loved ones and the wider world, for weeks at a time in remote gas fields or on rigs in some of the world’s most inclement locations, is something that all workers, particularly younger ones, are becoming less and less willing to tolerate.
OffComm News ~ Winter 2011
Yet, communications facilities for staff on rigs and remote oilfields are often inaccessible (with too few facilities and access restricted due to demand). Addressing this issue effectively would be a win-win for all parties concerned, resulting in a happier workforce, better staff retention for oil and gas firms, and new revenues for CSPs. Improving communications services provided to workers would help CSPs retain and build value within lucrative corporate accounts, and it has the potential of bringing in much needed new revenue. This opportunity is not to be sniffed at, let’s consider the figures. In September 2011 Baker Hughes calculated there were 3662 rigs worldwide. For the sake of an example, let’s assume that on these rigs there’s an average of 60 permanent staff and anything up to 600 contractors. That’s a rotating population of nearly two and a half million staff worldwide. Cont.../
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It’s not unreasonable to expect staff, or the firms that they work for, to pay £10 a head per week for communications services. For oil and gas firms paying all or part of this cost would be a small price to retain valued staff. However, a spend of just £10 per head per week translates into a worldwide opportunity of around £1.1 billion per year to provide communications services to rig staff. It’s also not unreasonable, I think, to imagine that CSPs could do even better than this by building additional value on top through the provision of entertainment services. CSPs would have to provide a communications infrastructure for workers that is separate from the corporate infrastructure whilst also being highly secure, as oil & gas firms would need to be convinced that the services would not adversely affect the security or functioning of corporate applications. The ability to charge workers for network-based services they are interested in, on a short-term or one-off basis, would also help maximise the opportunity although, as I’ve shown, rig operators might be prepared to partly subsidise the cost in order to attract and retain workers.
needs. What this shows is that while CSPs have traditionally sold to oil & gas firms based on the need of the business, a better understanding of vertical- and client-specific business drivers and barriers reveals this type of “nested” opportunity which can help CSPs retain valuable corporate accounts, as well as increase revenues. These workers are effectively a captive audience whilst on the rig; very clever CSPs might also be able to offer linked promotions to them when they return home – creating an “oil & gas workers service”, for example, that provides end-to-end communications for rig workers and their families - wherever in the world they find themselves. About the Author Teresa Cottam is Research Director at UK-based analyst firm Telesperience. She has over 17 years experience researching the global telecoms market, is author of a large number of influential reports, speaks regularly at industry events and is a judge at the GSMA’s Global Mobile Awards.
This is just the potential opportunity from better addressing the needs of rig workers. Many more thousands at remote oil or gas fields have similar
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In Print... Online... Offshore. Connectivity has a direct impact on just about every corporate bottom line. Some business operations are conducted in highly challenging locations and, for them, a whole new spectrum of issues ~ and innovations ~ arise. OffComm News is the global magazine dedicated to exploring developments in communications that are destined for some of the remotest places on earth.
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The Crew PC Internet access is a prime consideration for the operations crew onboard ships and rigs. In increasing cases, it is a deciding factor of whether or not they take on a contract. In the fight for the best workers, remote workplaces with an edge on comms facilities may well win the best crew.
One of the latest solutions to address this, and allow the work crew access to communications facilities on sensitive sites (such as oil platforms and ships) is Crew PC; a pre-configured device gives access to email and internet over a dedicated channel ~ that is completely separate from critical, business operational communications.
Features Crew PC uses a common interface, resembling a
standard Windows environment A data compression function can also be activated
to reduce the cost of web browsing Built-in firewall Operates over a dedicated pre-paid line which
avoids infecting business systems with viruses from private downloads or USB devices. The device ensures that business communications
remain completely unaffected by crew members’ communications activities.
The Crew PC is a preconfigured, onboard PC which is connected to a satellite data terminal ~ such as Inmarsat FleetBroadband or Pharostar ~ to provide instant plug-&-play access to data communications services such as email, chat and internet access.
Costs Cost considerations are constant for both crew and the shipping company. Management can benefit from the fact that Crew PC provides access only to designated email accounts and applications, preventing the downloading heavy files or software applications which can generate significant bills. The users are able to benefit budget-wise because the PC is ‘recognized’ as a mobile device similar to a smartphone. This means that mobile-enabled internet sites are automatically triggered to reduce the number of heavy image downloads. Buss Data GmbH, part of the German-based shipping organization Reederei Buss and a partner of Vizada, participated in the test phases of Crew PC. Swen Kleinau, IT Manager at Buss Data explains the advantages of Crew PC for his company:
“Crew PC has been developed to appeal to both crew and ship managers,” explains Alexander Krcma – Blanchard, Product Manager IP-Solutions at Vizada. “It’s easy to use and provides all the typical services that crew like to use while away for long periods of time, but ship managers are also happy to give them access to this because they know it’s a completely controlled environment.” Vizada provides Crew PC free of charge to shipping companies purchasing 100 or more Universal CardsTM. Universal Card is Vizada’s pre-paid communications service enabling crew to make voice calls as well as use internet, send emails and text messages over Inmarsat, Iridium and Thuraya mobile satellite terminals.
“We’ve been using the service since May 2011 and really appreciate the fact that it is preconfigured in a way that prohibits crew from installing software or changing settings. It has reduced crew comms admin to next to nothing and as a result we plan to install the system on more than 50 of the Buss vessels.”
OffComm News ~ Winter 2011
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OffComm News ~ Winter 2011
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Under Milkwood Solar Powered, DIY, Remote Area Internet
“For the sake of our business and our sanity we really needed to figure out how to get faster internet to our farm.”
In the truest spirit of remote communications investigation, the strap line for OffComm News magazine, we bring you a story of Do-ItYourself broadband. Nestled in a valley in New South Wales, Australia, Kirsten Bradley and Nick Ritar run a farm. This hidden valley is without ADSL connection or mobile reception so even mobile broadband internet is not an option. While there is a satellite internet connection for the vicinity, around 11am each day the connection dims, when all the other remote farm users jump online, slowing the connection to stasis. Not content to remain at the mercy of a painfully slow, package-limited dialup connection Kirsten and Nick decided to figure out a better option ~ all by themselves. “We went looking for remote area internet setups that could do this. Our dream was for a man to come out with the complete kit, set it all up, turn it on, say ‘it’s working now’ and then walk away after handing us an entirely reasonable bill. One problem: No-one does this sort of thing. At all.” It turned out that there was mobile reception on top of the nearest mountain, which just happened to be on the farm. They figured that it just might be possible to build a stand-alone system at the top of this mountain to convert the mobile broadband reception to WiFi via a mobile broadband modem and a 12 volt router, and then relay that WiFi signal about a kilometre down the hill. “All we needed was the modem, router, a solar panel, a battery, a big fat aerial to catch the mobile signal, another big fat aerial to transmit the WiFi down the hill to the woolshed, before the whole lot is repeated to transmit down to the farm house where we live and work,” said Nick. Nick built the system and this is how he did it.
First Stage Installation A 22dBi 850MHz Next G Yagi Grid Antenna, (from City Technology in Melbourne), was connected to a cable for the broadband mobile modem (Telstra Ultimate USB). This was then connected to a router (Draytek Vigor 2110N). The router connects by cable to an aerial for relaying WiFi down the hill (19dBi 2.4GHz Square Grid/Dish Antenna). This part of the system is powered by a solar panel (Lorentz 75 watt panel) which provides about 27 amp hours in six hours of sunlight. A charging regulator (Sunsaver 10amp regulator) and battery (Ritar 120Ah At the top of the hill an aerial 12 volt sealed battery) captures mobile reception. The stores power in the horizontal aerial is pointing at the event of days without nearest mobile phone tower. The sunshine. big dish aerial is pointing at the woolshed down the hill.
The power supply gear came from solarpumping.com.au. Cont.../
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Second Stage Installation At the woolshed, an aerial receives the WiFi signal from the top of the hill. This is connected to a Wireless Bridge (D-Link DWL-G810) and router (Draytek Vigor 2110N) to provide a WiFi network to the woolshed. Then, another aerial, mounted on the woolshed roof, relays the WiFi signal further down the hill.
The first stage installation is mounted in a weatherproof electrical switch box on a stand made from scrap metal, along with both aerials and the solar panel.
Third Stage: The Home Straight Finally, down at the homestead, yet another aerial sits on top of the roof that receives the WifF signal from the woolshed. This is connected to Wireless Bridge (D-Link DWLG810) and router (D-Link DI-624S). And, by all accounts, it works just fine. Kirsten Bradley and Nick Ritar are now connected to the world from their farm in New South Wales, Australia.
Case study Freedom Digital Networks (FDN) On board communications with Modus FDN installed a PLC network for Modular Underwater Systems Ltd. (MODUS) onboard a Subsea cable laying and construction vessel being mobilised to work in the North Sea. MODUS offer subsea hi tech solutions to the oil, gas and telecommunications industries, and with their state of the art subsea trenching, and Remote Operated Vehicles (ROV’s), they provide an extended array of services. MODUS are using the FDN PLC network on board its vessel to provide a cost effective, high speed data network, enabling it to access data from a number of strategic points on the ship ~ without the need to install additional cabling infrastructure. Turning the electrical ring into a data LAN The FDN architecture is using both the onboard power and coaxial cable infrastructure to deploy images from the ROV from the MODUS control room, through to the bridge and other mobile computing equipment elsewhere on board. Users can simply “plug into” the data network from any suitable power socket, turning the electrical ring main into a data LAN. Modus Project Manager Michael Waddle said: “With the PLC, FDN has provided an effective and reliable solution to what would have been a costly and invasive cabling run on the vessel. With PLC we can easily transmit any of the video or sonar pictures to the bridge, satisfying a requirement of our onward client. I would like to commend FDN on their resourcefulness and pragmatic approach to installing this system.”
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OffComm News ~ Winter 2011
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